Pinnacles Climbing: 30 Years and Counting

[JC w KC redux]

Great pics.

Dennis - I think Brad should be the Grand Master now  

He definitely ain't no millennial  

[F4?]

Congratulations Brad!!!

[Brad Young]

Congratulations Brad!!!

Thanks Factor.

On Saturday I led the route fairly early in the morning (so as to leave time for the rest of the first ascent party/mob to climb it too).

Here's some shot's Tricia took (what the hell am I doing in that first shot?):










Jim, Dave, and Bill followed next (Jim was kind enough to bring my shoes up to me!):

[Brad Young]

Dennis - I think Brad should be the Grand Master now  

He definitely ain't no millennial  

Millennial? OMFG, not me!

[squiddo]

Millennial? OMFG, not me!j

lol lol

Congrats Brad.

[Brad Young]

lol lol

Congrats Brad.

And thanks for the phone message Squiddo. You made the clearly correct decision (although we missed you!).

[Brad Young]

Tricia got this excellent shot of climberdude:




And good photos of Cruxluv making moves and then warming her hands:










Aaron walked up it:




King got a lap in:




Imagine this: here's a photo of Caitlyn, a student at U.C.S.C., the oldest daughter of long friends of our family. Caitlyn had never climbed at Pinnacles before (and hasn't climbed much at all yet). So as part of her first Pinnacles climb she's part of a first ascent:




And, on the opposite side of that spectrum, here's Alex, daughter of a Pinnacles legend (and doing pretty damn well there on her own too):

[squiddo]

And thanks for the phone message Squiddo. You made the clearly correct decision (although we missed you!).

Yes but still bummed to miss!

[Brad Young]

My business partner Scott tries to convince us that he can't climb. But every once in a while he tosses that fib aside and busts out some moves:







Here's a woman who practically lives on mud:







I thought that I had patented the "grimace while climbing" look myself. Here's Rob stealing it from me:







Noal may have saved my ass yesterday - he made extra sandwiches and sent one up to me to scarf while belaying. Damn good sandwich, Noal, thanks again:

[F4?]

Rob, you forgot your slippers??

[Brad Young]

Rob, you forgot your slippers??

Man, you've got a quick eye. Yeah, both he and J.C. followed in approach shoes 

[JC w KC redux]

Man, you've got a quick eye. Yeah, both he and J.C. followed in approach shoes 

The Kid did too. It was a mistake for me. I enjoyed it much more in climbing shoes when I led it.

[mungeclimber]

Had them slippers. Even used them on some 60 foot? 'scramble' that had 5th class climbing on it, but that won't ever be recorded anywhere. Oh wait, Steve might have video of me cruxing out!  

[mungeclimber]

I was squinting.

Grimacing requires being purple and even more pear shaped.

[JC w KC redux]

So far NOAL has the best form 

[Brad Young]

Next Brian came up, bringing my hat and down jacket (the wind had come up by now and I was actually shivering):







Everyone's favorite, Waldo himself. He topped out with a huge smile and a handshake for me:







Although the "looks easy from here" contingent was a big hit with the crowd due to two-year old Calvin, Calvin's dad was a huge hit with me for bringing up that said sandwich that Noal had so kindly donated (and then belaying for a few while I ate):







Whitney was next:







And then Tricia took a break. My camera's next shots are by Vicki, of Tricia following last (is it just me or do her legs seem to go on forever?):







Once the climb was done several of us shared shots of this evil and powerful concoction that Rob brought (and admit it - none of you knew that Solo cups came in shot size before these photos did you?);







And, to bring the event to a suitable and ridiculous conclusion, decorations were placed and photos taken:

[Brad Young]

So far NOAL has the best form 

No way - one of my first moves on lead was a nose-plant (or some such). It can't get any better than that....

[waldo]

Sweet. We were hoping you'd be coming out.
Geezer Pleezer went from a wish to a reality today 

The geezer is pleased!

[clink]

a nose-plant

You stuck your nose into a plant? Camouflage?

[mynameismud]

Millennial? OMFG, not me!

WHAT?!!!  Who changed this!!!!