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New and Experienced Climbers over 50 #33

ErikaNW · · Golden, CO · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 410
Tim Schafstall wrote:

That’s an old link. Reservations now done through Idaho State Parks

Thanks - I found the timed entry through the state parks page. 

Brandt Allen · · Joshua Tree, Cal · Joined Jan 2004 · Points: 220

It took all my pathetic computer skills, but I finally got reservations for June 15 through 25! Looking forward to seeing old and new friends at City of Rocks again!

Idaho Bob · · McCall, ID · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 757
Brandt Allen wrote:

It took all my pathetic computer skills, but I finally got reservations for June 15 through 25! Looking forward to seeing old and new friends at City of Rocks again!

I had a similar experience.  But in the end got a reservation for June 14 through 22.

fossil · · Terrebonne OR · Joined May 2015 · Points: 126
rgold wrote:

Me, Gottlieb, Romano, Williams. There are others, but they have mostly headed West or vanished from the scene.  Still, there's an embarrassment of riches.

Wasn't Romano's handle on supertopo "the idle rich". I thought it very clever, right up there with Don Harder's mastadon.

Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

Man what a messed up system… 

Idaho Bob … are you sure of that link?

Finally figured it out, and on hold for 3 hours.
I was tossing days and $ into the “cart” only to be trapped in a viscous circle of confusion….
Finally Thelma - from Tennessee no less- came on the line and looked at my order and told me everything is fine….

The website isn’t made for phones. 

Site 63 June Sunday, 8th to Thursday June 12 … then off to the races in SLC then who knows. I am retired after all.

One regret I have in climbing- I never found out about the City, and the great climbing you can find, until 4 years ago.

Way past my prime.

Can’t wait 

Brandt Allen · · Joshua Tree, Cal · Joined Jan 2004 · Points: 220

Guy - So sorry we won't connect at City! I found today that another friend and I will only overlap by two days. I was so hung up on dealing with the reservation start-up thing that I didn't think to coordinate with others. 

Tim Bratten · · Balcarce, AR · Joined May 2017 · Points: 4,421

What a drag. When I used to frequent the City (1987 - 1994) we never made reservations and I don't recall  problems getting an open camp spot, even on weekends. In fact, when we went back again in August 2016 I don't recall problems getting a camp spot. Though maybe Joe made a reservation. 

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,375
Tim Bratten wrote:

What a drag. When I used to frequent the City (1987 - 1994) we never made reservations and I don't recall  problems getting an open camp spot, even on weekends. In fact, when we went back again in August 2016 I don't recall problems getting a camp spot. Though maybe Joe made a reservation. 

That was a million or so lower population in the areas that are easy distance to COR, plus, pre pandemic. That everything closed, only play outside stretch? Remember that? Every bit of outdoor anything left all the shelves, and COR started booking with families suddenly deciding camping was the thing to do. Even in July. Even in August. COR no longer had a slow season, and the State had to add rangers/employees, just to fight to keep up.

"BITD" is just that, sorry, feel your pain.

H.

M M · · Maine · Joined Oct 2020 · Points: 2
Tim Bratten wrote:

What a drag. When I used to frequent the City (1987 - 1994) we never made reservations and I don't recall  problems getting an open camp spot, even on weekends. In fact, when we went back again in August 2016 I don't recall problems getting a camp spot. Though maybe Joe made a reservation. 

Yeah, from around 1994 to 2008 it was easy to find a spot. Both the COR and Jtree sure have changed on that front. 

Tim Schafstall · · Newark, DE · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 1,358

Looks like I’m successfully Booked at Smoky Mountain for 8th thru 19th of June. Reservation website worked but it is far from flawless. I had to do it 2x. And no confirmation at all.  Just click and “poof” you’re back at the home page.

And damn is it expensive!

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, UT · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 22,793
Todd Berlier wrote:

In about 1990 my cousin and I drove to the COR straight from Cincinnati. Got there at sunrise after listening to a Stephen King book (one of the Dark Tower series: apologies I know these are fan favorites but I didn't like them) I think we went to Bath Rock, maybe, he led some 12a or b. If I remember correctly pretty straight forward until about 2/3 up where maybe 3 hard crimp moves brought us to a jug and easier finish.

The next morning we met the other 5 or so folks that lived there and they gave us a pink typed up guidebook more of a pamphlet to AF and we spent the next week climbing there and staying at the house.

Likely the Whip?  Rex Hong route.  Well above my pay grade.

Boyle's Wasatch Pickels...classic!  Fun stuff.

oldfattradguuy kk · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 172

Hey Todd B,   it was Dave Anderson who was killed in the life flight crash not Dave m.

Dave Anderson was a great guy I still miss him and occasionally curse him for turning me on to quality tequila and the money it costs

Dave’s contribution to desert climbing is amazing and includes being one of the founders of the fuck the Super Bowl party which gave us the superbowl camp, it’s too bad it wasn’t named after Dave instead of a silly game 

K M · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2023 · Points: 0

First trip to COR was Memorial weekend 1965. Pretty much had the place to ourselves. That changed over the years.

Hope everyone has fun!

Tim Bratten · · Balcarce, AR · Joined May 2017 · Points: 4,421
Todd Berlier wrote:

Looked it up...it was Gemini. Guess I got the crux part wrong! Great climb btw. I can't remember if I followed it without falling, probably not at that stage. I remember Cairo was my first 5.11 and that route is amazing!

Cool! I know those routes! Cairo was one of my first COR 11a onsights as well (if not the first), a big deal for me at the time, but if t remember correctly it got downrated to 10d for a while (by someone - or maybe it was a picture in Climbing mag and/or Rock and Ice that said that? ). It seems like it's back up again! I don't remember who I was with (must have been Thom, Joe, Mike?). I must have done Gemini with Jose, cause he was my only partner who wanted to try 5.12s. 

Alan Rubin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2015 · Points: 10
K M wrote:

First trip to COR was Memorial weekend 1965. Pretty much had the place to ourselves. That changed over the years.

Hope everyone has fun!

You have me beat by over a decade!!! '65 was very early for COR. Even at the time of my first visit in 1978 we had the place to ourselves---other than some cowboys!!! At that time it was still very much 'under the radar', especially for climbers from 'the Coasts'. I have visited pretty much once or twice a decade ever since, and almost every visit things have become more organized and bureaucratic, until the current registration system is just too off-putting for me. I am so glad that I was able to enjoy the 'freedom' of those earlier visits. Still a wonderful place, though.

Cairo is one of my favorite routes there, sadly likely beyond me these days---sigh!!!!

K M · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2023 · Points: 0
Alan Rubin wrote:

You have me beat by over a decade!!! '65 was very early for COR. Even at the time of my first visit in 1978 we had the place to ourselves---other than some cowboys!!! At that time it was still very much 'under the radar', especially for climbers from 'the Coasts'. I have visited pretty much once or twice a decade ever since, and almost every visit things have become more organized and bureaucratic, until the current registration system is just too off-putting for me. I am so glad that I was able to enjoy the 'freedom' of those earlier visits. Still a wonderful place, though.

Cairo is one of my favorite routes there, sadly likely beyond me these days---sigh!!!!

Near as I can tell climbers from Ogden (Steinfel Club) were the first to explore. Those early guys happened to be my mentors. I was a young 15 years old on the first trip.

Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349
Brandt Allen wrote:

Guy - So sorry we won't connect at City! I found today that another friend and I will only overlap by two days. I was so hung up on dealing with the reservation start-up thing that I didn't think to coordinate with others. 

Fear not… I will most likely be returning to COR from races on the 16th for a day or three. I know I will stay in the BLM free place- and make a donation to Idaho Climbers- who maintain the Andy Gumps. I want to go Fly Fishing in Idaho. They have a good out of state license. And depending if Jan can swing a rod by then.

This is the only thread where we can all look back and remember when climbers were free, really free, to pursue excellence in our sport.
I have really enjoyed the talks by Gill, RGold and others about climbing in the SD Needles. Mark and Bobby always laughed at some of the inside jokes they shared.

I hope Tony is getting his legs under him. He has been F-Upped for much too long. A “simple surgery” ??!!
Lori - stay strong, hang on.

John Gill · · Colorado · Joined Apr 2019 · Points: 27
K M wrote:

Near as I can tell climbers from Ogden (Steinfel Club) were the first to explore. Those early guys happened to be my mentors. I was a young 15 years old on the first trip.

Around the summer of 1967 my wife and small child and I visited the COR for several days, camping in our VW bus. I don't recall any campgrounds, but where we stayed there was something I had not witnessed before: a nocturnal stream - water flowed only well after dark. I roamed around and explored but could find no evidence of previous climbing. The quality of the rock was a little disappointing, as I had gotten used to Vedauwoo and the beautiful quartzite of the Snowy Range. But I could be misremembering. I don't think I ever returned.

rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526
fossil wrote:

Wasn't Romano's handle on supertopo "the idle rich". I thought it very clever, right up there with Don Harder's mastadon.

That was Rich Perch.

Li Hu · · Different places · Joined Jul 2022 · Points: 55

Pretty busy at CES, don't think I can make it to Refuge Gym nor Red Rocks.

The winds are really strong by my house too. Will likely be spending my last week down south cleaning up the mess.

 Looking forward to the NorCal gym climbing scene.

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