|  | 
  Well, the snow has mostly melted, I walked around a few of our pitiful
 local Boston crags, pawed the earth.  We've been in the gym a bit, but
 it's been six months now since we last climbed outside (Pawtuckaway).  I went
 down cellar and dusted off our gear, pulled out my slim rack, and headed
 off to the climbing shop, not to buy, but just to look and think and price.
  There are a number of engineering changes this year, to popular pro.  Mostly
 in cams (about which in the SLCD topic).  But I've noticed two new things
 in wedges.  There is a new design called Coconuts (Blue Water ?), or at
 least new to my knowledge, that looks quite strange.  One side is a curved,
 the other "stepped" with horizontal bars.  Presumably for combination
 placements ?  I never did any stacking - I'd use a friend.
  The other thing I noticed is that DMM's walnuts have been redesigned, and
 the cutouts on the sides are replaced by a wide cutout in the "back".  So
 if you are filling out, or replacing in a set of them, you'll wind up with
 a mix.
  Since my son will be out of school next week, I may take a bit of vacation
 time and spend a day or two at Quincy Quarry or perhaps Pawtuckaway.
  bb
  
 |