Planning my first trip to Bishop

I wasn't sure where to post this so if it needs to get moved go ahead.

Hi, I have been bouldering for about two years now and have done a small amount of outdoor but most of my time has been spent in the gym (the circuit in Portland Oregon).

Can I go by myself?
End of October?
I was planning on flying to Vegas, renting a car and driving the rest of the way and camping at the pit. (don't really want to drive but a possibility)
How long should I stay? (I was planning on a weekish)
What climbs should I focus on? (I project v6/7 in the gym)
Should I buy a book?
How many crash pads should I bring? (I have 1 bi-fold organic pad)
What do you suggest to buy for food if I fly?
Any other information would be great!

Thank you

Can I go by myself?
Absolutely.

End of October?
PERFECT.

I was planning on flying to Vegas, renting a car and driving the rest of the way and camping at the pit. (don't really want to drive but a possibility)
The Pit is far from the climbing, except the happies and sads. You will be relying on people to give you rides. I have friends who have lived in the buttermilks BLM, but they had vehicles. Either way, going there without a car is pretty tough and I've seen some people gut it out back when I lived there.

How long should I stay? (I was planning on a weekish)
Years. It will be a lifechanging experience to be in the mecca of bouldering in the SW. Many styles of climbing on variable rock with variable conditions and great weather year round...

What climbs should I focus on? (I project v6/7 in the gym)
Gym climbign does not translate well to the buttermilks, but the happies and sads are strong-friendly and you can flub some footwork and get by. Don't think about grades, if you are fresh to a new area and new to climbing grades will come in the future go to learn new things and overcome new challenges and you will have the time of your life.

That being said...
Happies
Heavenly path V0
Solarium V3
Hulk V6
Ketron Classic V4

Sads
Molly V5
The Fang V4

Milks
Bowling Pin V4 (sit or standing)
King Tut V3
High Plains Drifter V7
Seven Spanish Angels V6

Should I buy a book?
There is a select guide ( wolverinepublishing.com/bis…) that's a bit less expensive than the comprehensive guide, lighter weight and has lifetimes of bouldering.

How many crash pads should I bring? (I have 1 bi-fold organic pad)
1 is plenty. you can rent them in town ifyou have particular projects but if you hit the boulders at peak hours it is likely you can share pads on classics.

What do you suggest to buy for food if I fly?
There's a Vons in town

Any other information would be great!
Great coffee and hipster scene (if you need a summer camp girlfriend or whatever) at black sheep, also a spot to scare up a ride or partners for something. Same goes for the consignment store, Gear Exchange.

If you can, drive. It is worth the road trip and worth taking much, much longer than a week if you can spare. You will consider moving there after (or will just end up staying...)

many do.

Cheers.

Greg

Thank you! Great answers.... If I did fly and rent a car it would be for the week so I would have transportation.

You will always feel like you're leaving Bishop too early

oh right, duh. lol.

Mitchell Brunger wrote:
I was planning on flying to Vegas, renting a car...
How many crash pads should I bring?

Crash pads on airlines often generates the oversized baggage fee. Depending on the airline this can result in 2-way fees that exceed the cost of a new pad. I know of one airline that charges $50 for each leg of your flight. If you have a stopover enroute on both outbound and return, that's an extra $200. Check your airline rules with respect to the dimensions of your pad.

^^^^

good beta. Might be cheaper to buy a pad in town and sell it for a loss than try to take one with. Also, you can get a giant one and sleep on it... :)

GDavis wrote: Happies Heavenly path V0 Solarium V3 Hulk V6 Ketron Classic V4 Sads Molly V5 The Fang V4 Milks Bowling Pin V4 (sit or standing) King Tut V3 High Plains Drifter V7 Seven Spanish Angels V6

A good bouldering pad alternative for a shorter stay is to rent one from Wilson's Eastside Sports.
eastsidesports.com/eastside… I don't know what they are charging these days, but a quick phone call will get you an answer. They were very good to deal with on my visit to Bishop a few years ago.
One big plus to bouldering in Bishop is that you can pick your temps by varying your altitude driving up or down Hwy. 395.

I think pads at the gear exchange were 10$/day circa 2013

GDavis wrote:^^^^ good beta. Might be cheaper to buy a pad in town and sell it for a loss than try to take one with. Also, you can get a giant one and sleep on it... :)