Quest for Mud (Special Edition)

[JC w KC redux]

That steep stuff looks pretty cool hold-wise. I always thought that gray rock looked good but never even considered the route from the rating, no stars, the name and the gear protection. I just re-read the description and didn't realize there were so many bolts. I noticed there is no descent info.

[JC w KC redux]

I deserved to be hit by one of the many rocks he knocked off

Looking at the picture again brings the thought to mind "there's a roof there for a reason"

I "challenged" him to do the lead.

You "should" know better.
What's next? 536.6  Not Today  5.10c R ?

[Brad Young]

Actually, there’s a reason that there’s an ugly, loose, slanting wide crack there (that’s where most of the 30 or so pounds of various rocks he knocked off came from).

And perhaps he’ll choose to elaborate on the nature of the “challenge….”

[Marco]

Apparently he's gone from way out there climbing to way out there with a school project.

Unfortunately this this the truth. At least 6 days a week I am overwhelmed but that one Pinnacles day a week helps get me through.

Sorry about hitting Brad in the ear but I was too busy being puckered to be really sorry until after I got down. Turd merchant would be a great route if you could bypass the middle section but alas wide section is the obvious line and is extremely loose. Thanks Brad, for the support, belay, and putting up this route back when my school projects just involved coloring.




Also saw this little dude at Pipsqueak Pinnacle that day. Never saw a yellow hourglass before this, very cool.

[Brad Young]

Thanks Brad, for the support, belay, and putting up this route back when my school projects just involved coloring.

Goddamn whippersnapper. Made me laugh out loud.

Great photo of the spider.

[JC w KC redux]

At least 6 days a week I am overwhelmed but that one Pinnacles day a week helps get me through.

The "game" is they bury you with work to the point where you think you will never get out from under.
They also make you fulfill nonsensical requirements to keep you in school as long as possible and keep their coffers full.
Universities and colleges are businesses first and foremost.

If you think it's bad now - wait until you get into grad school - you're still working on your undergrad right?
I actually liked grad school better but I was already in my 40's and knew how to play the game (school of hard knocks).
Maybe it was also partly because I wasn't working 60 hours a week (at night) while I took classes.

Just keep tapping and turning - you'll get there - and some day you can have a bonfire with all the stacks of stuff you saved (thinking you might need them again). 

[Brad Young]

J.C., you're incorrect about his school status. He's in grad school with his formal, school studies. But still working hard on his undergraduate degree in Pinnacles climbing. It'd be easy to mix up the two.

Also, by way of explanation: I was belaying with a helmet. One egg-size rock hit the top/side of the helmet. No big deal. The other egg-size rock hit my ear, below the edge of the helmet. Although I lost my balance and then fell down between trying to duck and getting hit, I'd wrapped the brake side of the rope around my hand and never let go (not that the kid would care... he just continued to jettison more rocks).

[JC w KC redux]

J.C., you're incorrect about his school status. He's in grad school with his formal, school studies. But still working hard on his undergraduate degree in Pinnacles climbing. It'd be easy to mix up the two.

Also, by way of explanation: I was belaying with a helmet. One egg-size rock hit the top/side of the helmet. No big deal. The other egg-size rock hit my ear, below the edge of the helmet. Although I lost my balance and then fell down between trying to duck and getting hit, I'd wrapped the brake side of the rope around my hand and never let go (not that the kid would care... he just continued to jettison more rocks).

Now you made me laugh.

Damnit! I didn't remember what he told me and besides - he doesn't look old enough to be in grad school.

It doesn't seem like buying turds from a merchant constitutes undergraduate level work.

[Brad Young]

Hold it. Isn't what you question here:

It doesn't seem like buying turds from a merchant constitutes undergraduate level work.

Essentially the same as what you said in more words here:

The "game" is they bury you with work to the point where you think you will never get out from under.
They also make you fulfill nonsensical requirements to keep you in school as long as possible and keep their coffers full.
Universities and colleges are businesses first and foremost.

If you think it's bad now - wait until you get into grad school - you're still working on your undergrad right?
I actually liked grad school better but I was already in my 40's and knew how to play the game (school of hard knocks).
Maybe it was also partly because I wasn't working 60 hours a week (at night) while I took classes.

Just keep tapping and turning - you'll get there - and some day you can have a bonfire with all the stacks of stuff you saved (thinking you might need them again). 

  

[burnsbabe]

J.C., you're incorrect about his school status. He's in grad school with his formal, school studies. But still working hard on his undergraduate degree in Pinnacles climbing. It'd be easy to mix up the two.

What qualifies you to matriculate from Pinnacles Climbing University?

[JC w KC redux]

What qualifies you to matriculate from Pinnacles Climbing University?

It's like Hotel California.
You can check out any time you like but you can never leave.

[mungeclimber]

Well I was hoping for Herchel Berchel but I see that was not one of yours.
In the immortal words of mungie - INVALID WITHOUT PICTURES.
Nice trip report though - thanks!

zactly!

[Brad Young]

What qualifies you to matriculate from Pinnacles Climbing University?

When one enjoys every climb there. No matter how many "stars," and how good the protection?

[Brad Young]

When one enjoys every climb there. No matter how many "stars," and how good the protection?

Nah, that may be too extreme (and quality a person as not being too bright??). How about when they've done a certain number of clean leads there? One hundred? Two-fifty?

[clink]

 

When one enjoys every climb there. No matter how many "stars," and how good the protection?

Nah, that may be too extreme (and quality a person as not being too bright??). How about when they've done a certain number of clean leads there? One hundred? Two-firfty?

 An applicable psychiatric scale for diagnosis would be helpful.

 

[JC w KC redux]

 
 An applicable psychiatric scale for diagnosis would be helpful.

I'm not sure there is a reptilian psychiatric scale.
You can always find something to enjoy about any route - since no route is completely worthless.
If nothing else, you can revel in/enjoy the fact that you never have to climb the route again. 

[clink]

 Nicely put JC!

[clink]

 Still, a psychiatric scale for reference and maybe an 800 number or two to call, if a person reaches a certain number of checked boxes or to have knowingly elected to climb particular routes would make for a more comprehensive Pinnacles Guidebook.

[JC w KC redux]

^
 

[JC w KC redux]

Carried over from Weekend Update (even though it wasn't the weekend).

And so the mystery began (seen from the uphill side of the pinnacle):




Closer up (that doesn't look like a piece of nature):

What happened next?
Rope-a-dope (you can see the bag of pitons bouncing off the rock). The next toss was "successful" but...





Oops (and so it begins again_redux)





The next day





Testing holds in preparation to step out of the aiders (someone needs to wear brighter colors)





My turn





The bright spot. Or is it the dim bulb?