Recent Posts

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Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles / Re: Quest for Mud (Special Edition)

« Last post by burnsbabe on April 24, 2025, 10:04:06 AM »

Woah, not even sure how you would do that if starting on the west side parking lot.

I always assumed that the West side parking lot was higher elevation than the East side (the hike from West side to high peaks always felt more pleasant). I just checked and I guess its only a 50 ft difference. Maybe its just the cooler formations you get to look at that makes the high peaks approach better.

We hiked Balconies Trail to the Old Pinnacles Trail, and got picked up at that trailhead by a couple of Brad's friends. They drove us to the East Side parking lot, and we proceeded from there. Of course there was also bushwhacking looking for this formation, and then having to do it all again, backward. We were both pretty dead by the time we made it back to the cars.

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Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles / Re: Quest for Mud (Special Edition)

« Last post by Marco on April 24, 2025, 07:34:42 AM »

I recommend not starting on the West Side if that's your plan for the day.

Woah, not even sure how you would do that if starting on the west side parking lot.

I always assumed that the West side parking lot was higher elevation than the East side (the hike from West side to high peaks always felt more pleasant). I just checked and I guess its only a 50 ft difference. Maybe its just the cooler formations you get to look at that makes the high peaks approach better.

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Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles / Re: Quest for Mud (Special Edition)

« Last post by burnsbabe on April 24, 2025, 06:12:54 AM »

Saw your comment on MP about Little Javelina, insane you let Brad belay you, I hear he still uses an ATC AND will drop people 100+ ft on El Cap.
How is South Chalone, never made it out there, is there routes?

The hike was gorgeous, though I recommend not starting on the West Side if that's your plan for the day. There are definitely routes on the way there, so you could stop every so often and climb some, and then keep going. There was only one route on the formation Brad was interested in.

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Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles / Re: Quest for Mud (Special Edition)

« Last post by Marco on April 23, 2025, 02:31:55 PM »

Spike's Peak is a great formation.

Saw your comment on MP about Little Javelina, insane you let Brad belay you, I hear he still uses an ATC AND will drop people 100+ ft on El Cap.

I don't think I'll be doing 14 miles to Chalone Peak again anytime soon

How is South Chalone, never made it out there, is there routes?

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Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles / Re: Quest for Mud (Special Edition)

« Last post by burnsbabe on April 23, 2025, 08:25:56 AM »

I had a great time out with Brad and company (thanks to Bruce for the rebolting guidance, even if things didn't go as expected) over the last three days. I don't think I'll be doing 14 miles to Chalone Peak again anytime soon, but on the positive side, almost any approach in the park seems like, well, a walk in the park now.

Spike's Peak is a great formation. There are a ton of fun, moderate things in the area to have a good day with, and it'll be easier to orient, I'm sure, when all the routes are gathered in one place. Thanks to Gavin for that FA work.

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Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles / Re: Climbing Advisories and Closures 2025 (Protection of Nesting Birds of Prey)

« Last post by Chris Henry on April 19, 2025, 08:52:53 PM »

I’m glad someone spoke with them. They were so glaringly obvious from across the canyon.

Willful ignorance or worse!

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Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles / Re: Climbing Advisories and Closures 2025 (Protection of Nesting Birds of Prey)

« Last post by Brad Young on April 19, 2025, 07:25:04 PM »

They likely won't get the itch to climb Lava anytime soon again.

Alright, that was pretty damn good, Waldo.

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Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles / Re: Climbing Advisories and Closures 2025 (Protection of Nesting Birds of Prey)

« Last post by waldo on April 19, 2025, 07:21:37 PM »

They likely won't get the itch to climb Lava anytime soon again.

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Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles / Re: Climbing Advisories and Closures 2025 (Protection of Nesting Birds of Prey)

« Last post by Brad Young on April 19, 2025, 06:48:08 PM »

Pretty disappointing to see two European women who climbed Lava Falls today. They claimed that the "closures aren't on Mountain Project," which I don't think is true in the first place. And what about the signs. Willful ignorance, it seemed.

But justice was served in the long run. Plains justice perhaps? Jennifer saw them later in their tank tops, sitting on the side of the trail trying to get into some shade.

Both of them tucked well up into fresh, gleaming poison oak branches.

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Everywhere Else / Re: LA Spire Direct TR

« Last post by Marco on April 15, 2025, 05:41:07 PM »

And I napped too:

Great minds....

Also great pictures.