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Climbing while Interviewing

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Pontoon Master · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0

I'll be interviewing in the bay area in March, and I'm wondering what you all recommend for climbing. I figure I can make it an extended trip by taking some additional time off. The trick is I'll have to be in the bay area for a whole day. So one option is to stay near the bay area the whole time and climb at Castle Rock. Another option is to climb at a better destination and make a trip into the bay area for the day. What do you all think? I'll probably be renting a car either way. And for what it's worth, I was just at Joshua Tree and would rather climb in a new area than the same place twice.

TJ Brumme · · Marrakech · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 1,648

Boulder, sport, or trad?

Pontoon Master · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0

Sport or TR mostly. I enjoy bouldering, but not sure how the crash pad would work with the plane. Or maybe they rent them out. I'm also recovering from a finger pulley injury, so bouldering may not be the best for me. Some nice juggy routes or hand cracks would be great.

TJ Brumme · · Marrakech · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 1,648

Head up the coast and camp/climb along the way. Mickey's Beach, Goat Rock, Dry Creek Sea Crag (this is my favorite coastal climbing), and Salt Point State Park.

You can also head inland to Napa and climb at Mount St. Helena.

Pontoon Master · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0

What about Yosemite? Is it any good to go in March?

csproul · · Pittsboro...sort of, NC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 330
Pontoon Master wrote:What about Yosemite? Is it any good to go in March?
Sure would.
Alina Garbuzov · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 0

Are you interviewing for grad school at Stanford? I'm a student there right now. Sorry the weather sucks for you. When are you leaving the area?

Pontoon Master · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0

Grad school at Stanford... Haha that's a very specific guess out of all the places I could be interviewing in the bay area. The interview is for a job at one of the largest tech companies in the area. The date I leave isn't set in stone yet, but I may leave the 20th, interview 21st, and climb from the 22nd to the 29th, traveling back on the 30th. After a lot of research, I'm thinking maybe Mt. St. Helena and Yosemite. The bolt spacing at those places isn't as good as I'd like, but I can place supplementary pro as the routes allow. If the weather still sucks in those places, I'm thinking of Red Rocks or Joshua Tree as a backup. It's a longer drive than I'd like (plus I was just at JT a month ago), but I'd rather drive than climb in the rain.

Alina Garbuzov · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 0

One you put it that way, yes, I agree that it sounds like a complete stab in the dark. Well, Stanford interviews are happening now and this brings a lot of people to campus. I didn't consider you were asking about a trip way in advance.
Also, when I interviewed here, I also scheduled in some time for climbing and took a trip to Yosemite.
I think Mt. St. Helena and Yosemite and very different destinations. One is world-class and absolutely worth visiting during a brief stay in the area. Even if you are not a solid crack climber, there are many beginner climbs in the Valley on which to hone your skill. Did you do any crack climbing in Josh? I would not count on plugging any extra gear between the well-spaced bolts of Yosemite granite slabs. I would aim to get some crack climbing in. If you want, I can offer plenty of route recommendations and Yosemite beta.
By late March my guess is the weather is going to be good for you. Unless you get unlucky -- then you can always fly/drive south (probably Red Rock is a good match for you).

bergbryce · · California · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 145

tip: either schedule the interview early in the trip or tape your hands really well if you're doing any hand cracks. gobies look really weird on your hands during an interview.

EricF · · San Francisco · Joined May 2012 · Points: 120

Lovers Leap for moderate trad, owens river gorge for sport climbing, you have a good list of places, see what the weather is like when you show up

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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