Pinnacles/Tollhouse conditions? Where to climb near SF when its wet?
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Relatively new to the Bay Area... where's the climbable tall stuff with as much rain as we've been getting? How are the conditions at the Pinnacles? |
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Don't even think about Pinnacles unless it has been dry and baking in the sun for at least 5 days. |
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That's what I was afraid of... Any other suggestions? Or am I stuck driving to Bishop and being cold? |
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Tollhouse is good as soon as the sun is shining. If it has rained recently, there could be some streaming down some of the faces and cracks, but it's a great winter destination on sunny days. |
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Thanks for the heads up on the guidebook, I may pick one up in Fresno given that its only $20. I also have the Southern Sierra Rock Climbing Sequoia and Kings Canyon book, which has a lot more than MP too. |
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The Southern Sierra guidebook is kind of hard to follow for Tollhouse and very rudimentary. The Tollhouse guide is much better (it's still no Supertopo) and really worth it if you will be going there multiple times, |
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There was bunch of snow at 4,000 feet last weekend up near Shaver Lake, lots more precip on the way as well. Tollhouse gets a lot of sun but it might not be getting enough sun to dry out enough, especially if there's snow at the top.... |
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My wife and I just did a night ascent of the traverse just this last Wednesday. The conditions were great. Some routes are rendered unclimbable a few days after rain though. Giant carpets of moss lie a top some of the routes and leak water, most notably Art Baker. |
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dholte wrote:That's what I was afraid of... Any other suggestions? Or am I stuck driving to Bishop and being cold?mountainproject.com/v/kernv… There is a TON of good cold/wet/rainy/snowy climbing here, up the road within 10min and west of the Lake.... on 178. PM me for more details, I have friends who drive from SLO to meet me, for you it must be shorter than the Bishop Drive... Free camping, unlimited firewood to burn.... ZERO CLIMBERS. It has made me forget Josh in the winter. |
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Tollhouse is great this time of year. It dries out very quickly after rain. I have been up there 48 hours after snow, and it's all good |
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Following up on this-- is anything in the Bay Area dry this weekend? I can go as far as ~Yosemite. North or south is open, but it seems like a lot of sandstone. |
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Go to the desert or go skiing |
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Haha, that's what its looking like. The only reason I'm pushing is because I've got a friend in town from Texas, so much for telling him that "it doesn't rain in CA." |
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Mt. St. Helena dries quick once the sun comes out. |
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For the record, it was dry(ish) in the Columbia boulders yesterday. It's actively misting now, but I'm holding out some hope for a couple of minutes at the Main area in the Labyrinth (which dries instantly) this afternoon. |
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Parkline slab in El portal. Or even west end of the valley. Perhaps sugar loaf. A friend climbed there two days ago said it was great. |
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SRB25 wrote: Ps: I live in SM and work in SC if you wanna climb some time.SM = Santa Monica, San Mateo, Santa Maria SC = San Clemente, Santa Cruz, Santa Clarita? |
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I think Parkline slab would be tough to climb in the rain, no? |
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SRB25- San Mateo / San Carlos? With Spring coming, we may be able to work something out. You climb at PG Belmont? I have a pretty regular partner, but always like meeting new climbers. |
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Things that dry fast up here in Columbia (roughly in order): Main area in the Laby, Horse Trail area in the state park, Lobster Claw area in the lower arboretum, and Panning for Nuggets/Gold Fever/Cellar Door in the upper arboretum. (All of these are dry in a couple hours. Instantly if it's sunny.) |
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In response to original post who lives in San Carlos, CA. Which falls between redwood city and Belmont. Of which San Mateo is the next city north. Lol smiley face. I had forgotten the meticulousiality and attention to detail of MP readers (and yes I made up that word). Target audience. I kid! |