climbergirl blog

The Players: Vanessa, Matt, Walter, Dennis, and I
The Crags: DXM Wall & Pillar of Thoth
The Weather: Couldn’t ask for better
The Crowds: None
The Hours: ~7:30am to 6pm
The Eatery: Mt. Whitney Restaurant!!! (more…)

Upper ORG and Evan
Dennis, Tim, and Greg.

On Friday morning, Dennis & I met Greg, Evan, Matt, and Tim at the Upper Gorge pullout. Actually, we were 20 minutes late (a snaffu at Schat’s) but at least we had sandwhichs for everbody! On the hike down into the gorge, we caught up with Evan and Greg as they approached the “All You Can Eat Wall”. (more…)

On Saturday, Dennis & I drove up to local crag Fossil Falls. By the time we got there (9:30am) the gang was all there. They were finishing setting up 4 top ropes. And, a group of highschool students on a fieldtrip were hanging about gawking at the gear/ropes. Their instructor informed us that they would quickly be out of our way. Good, because it’s hard to communicate to your belayer with 30 highschool seniors mulling about below!

Tim V. accompanied by his step son and a friend had set up ropes on Bird$hit Crack (5.7) and the 5.10 directly to it’s right. Greg, Rebecca, Evan, and Matt were finishing up the ropes set up accross the East side of the canyon-one on the 5.7 arete and one on the 5.11 crack (thin up top). I set up a rope on the 5.8/5.9 wide crack to the left of Bird$hit Crack, then Dennis & I rapped down into the canyon. (more…)

Saturday morning comes like molasses in the winter. The workweek gnawed away at Dennis & I, leaving us feeling lethargic. We left for Alabama Hills at 9am (late in the morning). The drive was slow going-wind was picking up the desert sand and blowing it around so it looked like the Owens Valley was full of SMOG. But it was indeed full of SAND. We hoped it would not be so up in Lone Pine. (more…)

Ridgecrest local Tom R. recommended that Dennis & I check out Shelf Road. With it’s richly colored RED limestone cliffbands littered with bolts for climbing, we were assured to have a good time.

When I looked online, I found 81 routes listed, with lots available in the 5.10 and under range. Actually, there are 154 established routes at Cactus Cliffs with 90 routes rated 5.10 and below!!!

I could barely contain my excitement, when we pulled up to the parking spot and the really nice BLM lady (Corey) pointed accross the canyon at our final destination. BUYAH, DISCO, VOILLA. All phrases appropriately reflecting my mind at the time.

It was sheer beauty. We hiked for about 30 minutes and we were there staring at this cliffband. There were so many routes, it was just unreal !!!. (more…)