Notes in italics are from Michael Riches. Unannotated entries are from Guillaume's voting page.

The Price of Success by Dingus Milktoast

Risk and pain management...??? I loved it, If it don't hurt, it ain't worth doing. Dingus has captivated all of us with his flair for writing, I couldn't choose the best of his, because IMMHO they are all the "Best of the Best"...(even something like simply brewing coffee is turned into a stellar Mini TR) Thanks for sharing, the pain and the joy of your climbing life.

U Notch Couloir and the North Palisade by Dingus Milktoast

TR: Back Home Again by Mad Dog

We very seldom get a real good look at the personal lives of those we admire...families are forever, cherish these moments...

What I Did on My Halloween Vacation by Mad Dog

The North Face of Mt. Ritway by Mad Dog

Weekend with Brutus and Em by Karl Baba

Ahhh, the "Valley"...Mecca, The only thing better is be in the Valley with friends...

Smooth Sailing Away by Dawn Alguard

Dawn deserves way more then just a pat on the back for the "Best of the Best". Again, of all her TR's I am at a loss to say any one of them is better then the other. And her dedication to the group deserves a special thanks...You are most definitely the "Best of the Best"...Thanks for all you do.

Not-so-Trad Girl: A Confession by Dawn Alguard

The Big Slide by Dawn Alguard, Hensley Evans, and Mike Rawdon

The Salajit Collectors by Amanda Tarr

Some of us collect stamps and some...uhhh, wellll, other things...We want full version of this trip, one of these days...

Good climbing with good friends, what more could a person ask for...

True climer spirit (never say quit, look deep inside and do what ever it takes to excel...).

I wished I was dedicated enough to keep a journal, to be able to sit back on those miserable dayz where nothing but misery presents itself and reflect on something positive would be great...thanks (I still want to know where you buried Mick...)

Bad Sign by Russ Walling and Walt Shipley

Resolution Arete by Andy Gale

This one almost fits the Bigwall category...If you'd have only brought the Pig and the poop toob...(Ohhh yeah...and the Rabid inc. Sloped Ledged Suzi Doll, sized fit under the standard issue space blanket...)

Good climbing, good story...

Hueco...it'll never be the same...Good writing, good story...

Morbidity, Stupidity, and Divinity at the Leap by Melissa

Undoubtedly, the best way to introduce yourself in these parts is to write a great TR...loved it.

Balancing on the Pillar of Despair by Melissa

To Err is Human by Steven Cherry

Accidents are everyone's worst fear...To have the strength to face your mortality and write a constructive and objective look at your mistakes takes a lot of courage...

True Luuu...So if we give you an award, will you poke yer head in and say Hi, every now and again...???

Very good look into the private life of climber. We too often write only about personal gains, it's very refreshing to read about the rest of the people behind the climber...

It is so hard to look at potential problems and admit, to the world no less, that you were seriously "out on a limb"...Well written self critique...

Damn fancy pants liberalists at the ANAM by slide

A humorous look at the lighter side...

We all love a good "Epic"...Sometimes I wonder how we make it through those early days...

Young love...Cherish these days (and fer hell's sake, keep her away from the Miller Light...).

Short and sweet, loved all of your TR's...

Bees and such aren't considered enough to up the rating of the route...sorry, ya gotta take them as they come...

Someday I hope you and Bernard cross paths again and when you do don't forget the TR...

Never Were Warriors by Andy Cairns

Drinking From the Fire Hydrant by Alex Chiang

So we probably ought to give Larry some credit for this too, Great Tr...

Looonnnng climbs are always the best....

You should probably have been in the Alpine section, but I liked this TR, too. Sooo...yer stuck in the Rock section...Thanks...

Ahhh, those were the dayz...Buttttt, I'll bet life with the SO is better...(Most of the time...)

So, let me get this straight...Cabe wrote it and you submitted it...???

How many stars does it take to make great weekend...???

Ahhh, the start of a wonderful and painful relationship...

As long as we learn, we grow...

The Longer the better...

Ahhh, the road trip, good job...

Marco Polo by Brutus of Wyde

Journey back from hell by David Harris

Domestic violence is never funny by Sue Hopkins

Taylor Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park by Ben Heavner

The Femur is the Strongest Bone by tradkelly

Pulp Friction by John Byrnes

Big Wall

Washington Column by Brutus of Wyde and Eric Coomer

 

The things we do in the name of recreation. Great Story, by not one, but two of our best...I was going to use "Bonzai" for Brutus' TR, but thought I could award "Two" of our best with one fell stroke. Brutus creates a masterpiece with every keystroke. I would be hard pressed to try and choose on of them over the other, for each of his TR's are truly the "Best of the Best" no matter which category they're in...Thanks Brutus, oooppps...gotta go, here comes the Nurse...

Lunatic Binge by Rex Pieper

 

Again, the things we do...

Ice

The Day at the Circus, a Recreational Therapy Excursion by Brutus of Wyde

 

Toto...bring him the bone for this one...Sweeeet

Happy New Ice! by Paulina Varchavskaia

 

Short, sweet and hoping to hear more of the groups newest 'cicle Gal...

Gym

How not to pick up chicks in the gym by Sue Hopkins

 

O.K...we all have bad dayz, so when the Doc gets that look in 'er eyes..."pick another gym"...Very funny and a great look into the madness we all feel, every now and again...(Men, who needs 'em...)

Bouldering

Pistol Grip by Jason Liebgott

 

Problem solving...Good for the spirit.

First Ascent

Mt. Warning by Phil Box

 

To be the first has always been the test of a true climber...

Alpine

Climbing Cho-Oyu by Guillaume Dargaud

 

has written a lot of good Alpine stuff

Young, fit, and immortal by Marc Andreé Giasson

 

And a climber is born...

Baker by Mike Garrison

 

Just an afternoon stroll...??? Love that area...

Hiking

My Trip to Nepal by Inez Drixelius

 

Wonderful trip, wonderful report, the world is a crazy place to reside and to wander about in, glad things worked out the way they did and you were able to get back to us...

Most Prolific Writer

Little Annapurna by Mike Mahanay

 

Mike has submitted sooooo many great TR's in the last few years. I chose this one only because I couldn't decide which of many, of his, was the best...

Little Tahoma Peak by Mike Mahanay

Mount Maude by Mike Mahanay

Most Creative

A Grand Day at the Gunks by Tom Cikoski

 

Tom has a wonderful sense of humor and his writing reflects his joy of living...

Most Bizarre

Climbing by Gaper the Bumblie

 

Wellll...it was most definitely different...

"Climer" specific lingo

Having a look at Agitez Bien (5.8) by Reginald Braithwaite-Lee

 

O.K...the words were definitely taken from the "English language", but unless you are a "Climer" you'd have thought it was Greek...

In Memorium - Tom Dunwiddie

Trad climbers strike again on Shelf Rd.

 

Somewhere in the cosmos is that eternal bigwall...I hope you're at least halfway up by now...Rest in Peace...