Quest for Mud (Special Edition)

[mynameismud]

I second the motion. Full PO or denied!

[Brad Young]

I second the motion. Full PO or denied!

Nah, we'll cut the guy some slack.

For every 100 old bolts he's replaced at Pinnacles he gets credit for one "in good style" lead, even if that lead is made while avoiding poison oak.

You've got a few more credits still coming, J.C.

[F4?]

Nope, you gotta press through the PO.

Rules are rules.....

[JC w KC redux]

You guys can press on through the PO.

We did both manage to get a little rock rash from the chimney if it makes you feel any better.



Mine





Kat marred her perfect tan and the last of the scabs are still falling off more than 2 weeks later. (pic was taken 2 days after the climb)

[Brad Young]

^^^

Yuck!

That old saying that "you can't fall out of a chimney?"

It doesn't apply if you bleed so much that you lube yourself right off.

How long before that ascent was your last COVID test. And I wonder how long any virus could survive in blood puddles on shaded rock.

[JC w KC redux]

I forgot to mention that when I was about 50 feet up the chimney, I whacked my funny bone like I never have before.
My whole arm started tingling and felt both numb and hot at the same time. Great timing to temporarily lose the use of an arm!

[F4?]

Sick, just Sick!!!!

You just gotta relax when inside the maw.

That and tape your backside.....free hair removal.

We need a stickie thread on maw routes sorted by the heinous grade.

[JC w KC redux]

^^^

Yes - because climbing an "easy" chimney for 100 feet unprotected is soooooo relaxing 

I wasn't going to post those pics but figured why not. My back looked similar after I climbed Flimsy Flume.

I remember Noal's back looking like that after climbing Toadstool.

I had a t-shirt on. Kat had her usual tank top on. It was another 95 degree day.

[JC w KC redux]

Quest denied.
As I foretold (I'm a soothsayer now) - the weather finally cooled down enough to be enjoyable and here comes the rain.
.22 inches overnight and 40 degrees this morning.
Yesterday was decent enough but life got in the way.
Seems to be a theme this year but we keep muddling through.

[JC w KC redux]

Just to keep things rolling.
Just when you thought it was safe.
The temp dropped 10 degrees in the last hour accompanied by almost a full tenth of an inch of rain - brrrrr for anyone caught out in the Monument this afternoon without rain gear. Must have poured.
Q: Why must it always be feast or famine?
A: Because Pinnacles is a place of extremes.

On a sad note, we lost Alex Trebek. 

[JC w KC redux]

Pounded in some bolts with Noal today.
Good to see you buddy and renew the quest.
Can't believe it was a year (last time we were out was 11-2-19)

[Tuff Chik]

Just in case anyone on here was planning to Quest for Mud Monday-Thursday this week.  PNP posted this on their FB page this week:

Due to road construction, the west entrance of Pinnacles National Park will be closed to all vehicles starting Monday, November 16 through Thursday, November 19. All park trails remain open, but cars must enter through the east entrance during those four days. We apologize for the inconvenience and we thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

[F4?]

It was nice today. I took James up Coastanoan. This was his 1st multi-pitch route. And what a route to get started on.

He kept re,I ding me around people, aren’t you in the guidebook???

Such a pleasant route.


WTF is up with the entrance fee...$30!!!

Where have I been? Wait don’t answer that....

[mynameismud]

Congratulations, must be cool to get our with you son

[F4?]

He puts up with my shenanigans, you know rapping off 1 but, down climbing with a slung knob as pro....usual pinnacles tricks.

[F4?]

Amazing day at the high peaks. So nice to clip new bolts up there.

1:45 from parking lot to Condor Crags.

Good to see you Brad!

I need witnesses that I am back in the Monument (as long as the entrance fee is free).

[Brad Young]

^^^

Who is this?

[JC w KC redux]

Spent a good part of today shaking my head and walking away from shit routes.
Finally got smart and went over and led Little Javelina.

F4 and James caught up with us before I pulled the rope and F4 took a lap.

Parking lot was a zoo. Trails were pretty crowded. Temps were nice.

Chatted with Dan in the parking lot afterwards and stopped by the winery to pick up our thrice yearly vino offering.

[F4?]

Thanks again for the belay!!!!

[JC w KC redux]

Thanks again for the belay!!!!

Sure thing dude - nice clean run.

Here's a couple obligatory butt shots from my lead.
There was a leaver draw on the 4th bolt at what I perceived to be the squeal point (pun intended).
I was already pumped and looking at the 15 foot spacing to the next bolt (Gavin spacing  )
There was no other choice for me except to go for it. I told Kat to get ready to catch me.
When I finally got through the next sustained section to a good stance, I told Kat I was probably going to stand there for half an hour.





Doing my best to rest early on.
I remembered Gavin telling me there was a section where you'd wish the next bolt was closer.
I could tell I was there when I got to the leaver draw at bolt 4 and replaced it with one of my own.



I had a couple scares early on. Moving out left past the first bolt, the rope somehow got hung on the top of my draws/gear loop on my left side (luckily didn't get clipped in to anything while I was moving - I always face my gates in). The first pic above was taken after getting that straightened out. The other thing that happened was the rope got hung on a flake between bolts 3 and 4. I couldn't shake that loose until I got through the sustained section from bolts 4 to 6. I used alpine draws on every bolt.


Rope hung on a flake between bolts 3 and 4