4Runner Rock Climbers

[alirawk]

Hello Folks

Often when I look around this forum I discover other rock climbers, and by which I mean humans climbing rocks with hands and feet. I would love to get a thread going for us to connect. Perhaps do some wheeling to some remote crags and pull routes. Or locate belay buddies when on the road. And of course, a little beta is always welcome.

So if you're a climber, please consider posting on here. Let us know where you are (location/local crag), what sort of climbing you do (rock climber/boulderer/mountaineer), and level of experience (5.12/V5/Grade VI).

Hope to connect with a few you intrepid folks soon and maybe set up some expeditions.

Thanks.

 

[alirawk]

Los Angeles Trad climber

Location: Los Angeles (climb all around here: Malibu, Echo, Joshua Tree, Tahquitz)

Climbing preference: Trad, but happy to do sport or even top rope. Always happy to jump on some boulders too. Mostly though, I like jamming my nuts into cracks.

Experience/level: 5.10 trad lead in Joshua Tree, 5.11+ sport climbing.

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOLID PARTNERS!

 

[theesotericone]

Experience/level: 5.10 trad lead in Joshua Tree, 5.11+ sport climbing.

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOLID PARTNERS!

I was just thinking of starting a climbing BS thread the other day. So I'll play

I'm in Bishop CA. Been climbing for 17 years.

I do it all.

Lead 11 trad, 5.12 sport and boulder v8

Huevos is a great 11+ sport route in J-tree. It's located on Intersection and doesn't see nearly the traffic it deserves. It's got a pretty serious 5.9ish runout(groundfall) to get the first bolt clipped but it's super safe by JT standards after that. In typical JT fashion it's hard for the grade. lol

 

[Hepar]

I was just thinking of starting a climbing BS thread the other day. So I'll play

I'm in Bishop CA. Been climbing for 17 years.

I do it all.

Lead 11 trad, 5.12 sport and boulder v8

Huevos is a great 11+ sport route in J-tree. It's located on Intersection and doesn't see nearly the traffic it deserves. It's got a pretty serious 5.9ish runout(groundfall) to get the first bolt clipped but it's super safe by JT standards after that. In typical JT fashion it's hard for the grade. lol

How do you like living there? I've been climbing for around the same amount of time. Spent a few years in the Bay Area to have better access to places like Bishop, Tahoe, Yosemite, etc etc.

Been a boulderer almost exclusively. Climb around the V10/V11 range with the occasional V12, but if you put me on a sport lead, I'd probably sh*t my pants on a 10d.

 

[Bodie the Dog]

Me, when I need to.

Generally just mountaineering, but I've always enjoyed a good free solo, when necessary to get somewhere or when the rock is just plain cool looking. I've always been too lazy to carry all the gear, and for me, rock climbing is mostly a way to get past the obstacle, lol.

I've probably done more climbing inside of caves than outside under the sun, so I do have a couple harnesses and jumars, etc.

There is some nice rock in my area, and bet I could find you some first ascents if anyone is interested. I've been eyeing a small pillar above Bear Valley, and there's a 100'er buried down in the canyons near Monumental Ridge that I'd love to stand on top of.

I probably don't have to tell you all, but there's just something about standing on top of a pillar, with nothing but air all around you....

Mt. Lassen, circa 1987

 

[Bodie the Dog]

Owens Gorge area

How do you like living there? I've been climbing for around the same amount of time. Spent a few years in the Bay Area to have better access to places like Bishop, Tahoe, Yosemite, etc etc.

Been a boulderer almost exclusively. Climb around the V10/V11 range with the occasional V12, but if you put me on a sport lead, I'd probably sh*t my pants on a 10d.

Shame about all the visitation to Owens Gorge. I used to hang out there before the hordes discovered it. Are there really no good sites further south, or is this just the Mammoth Lakes/LA crowd? Otherwise, I'd fricken love to live near Mammoth Lakes, lucky bastard.

Here's a pic of one of the Monuments of Monumental Creek. Looks easy, eh? But I'm too chicken to go it alone.

 

[theesotericone]

How do you like living there? I've been climbing for around the same amount of time. Spent a few years in the Bay Area to have better access to places like Bishop, Tahoe, Yosemite, etc etc.

Been a boulderer almost exclusively. Climb around the V10/V11 range with the occasional V12, but if you put me on a sport lead, I'd probably sh*t my pants on a 10d.

Let's put it this way. I spent 6 years living out of my van and climbing all over the US, Canada, and Mexico. Bishop is where I decided to call home. It's truly year round climbing.

Funny thing is, before I moved to Bishop, I was exclusively a roped climber. Mainly trad. I'd boulder on "rest' days but that was about it. Then about 5 years ago I hit a small plateau in my roped climbing. I couldn't get up hard 5.12. I never worked stuff so if it didn't go down in two or three tries that was it.

A good buddy told me I should go bouldering for a few months to get some power. That few months morphed into about 6 months. When I finally got back on a rope I crushed every route that had stopped me first or second try.

Since then I spend my summers in the Sierra, shoulder seasons roped up, and boulder all winter long. I've sent a few V10's but still consider myself a V8 boulderer. Meaning I can get it up it in a session, not 20.

I never liked projecting on a rope and still don't but I dig getting onto something super hard bouldering. The fact that something feels impossible the first few tries then suddenly becomes a maybe after 30 or 40. Then get's done after 41. It's brilliant.

 

[OkieMedic]

Ive always thought about rock climbing, but:

1. Oklahoma is flat
2. I'm afraid of heights

....Ok, so maybe rock climbing isnt for me.

 

[RAD4Runner]

Had only done top-roped indoor and little wall climbs, but mostly into general mountaineering. Please keep us posted if there's opportunity for less hard-core climbs in So Cal.

... I like jamming my nuts into cracks.
...

Watch her finger that crack!
That's a nice rack she's got!
LOL!

 

[txclimber]

Been climbing 15 years. 5.12, V7, sport and trad. Half the year climbing overhanging limestone in Texas, the other half in the desert of SE Utah climbing cracks.

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[Hepar]

Let's put it this way. I spent 6 years living out of my van and climbing all over the US, Canada, and Mexico. Bishop is where I decided to call home. It's truly year round climbing.

Funny thing is, before I moved to Bishop, I was exclusively a roped climber. Mainly trad. I'd boulder on "rest' days but that was about it. Then about 5 years ago I hit a small plateau in my roped climbing. I couldn't get up hard 5.12. I never worked stuff so if it didn't go down in two or three tries that was it.

A good buddy told me I should go bouldering for a few months to get some power. That few months morphed into about 6 months. When I finally got back on a rope I crushed every route that had stopped me first or second try.

Since then I spend my summers in the Sierra, shoulder seasons roped up, and boulder all winter long. I've sent a few V10's but still consider myself a V8 boulderer. Meaning I can get it up it in a session, not 20.

I never liked projecting on a rope and still don't but I dig getting onto something super hard bouldering. The fact that something feels impossible the first few tries then suddenly becomes a maybe after 30 or 40. Then get's done after 41. It's brilliant.

Nice. I considered Bishop at one point, but too far from the ocean and surfing is my other main passion. I really feel the PNW is amazing for both.

I hear you on the grades too. I've climbed two V13's, but would never consider myself a 13 climber.

And we have the opposite issue. I really need to get onto ropes because my endurance SUCKS.

Evilution is easily one of my favorite lines that I've ever seen/done.

Ive always thought about rock climbing, but:

1. Oklahoma is flat
2. I'm afraid of heights

....Ok, so maybe rock climbing isnt for me.

Don't let that hold you back. With the explosion of indoor climbing, there are gyms popping up everywhere. And I always thought I had a fear of heights, but climbing showed me that wasn't true. More of a fear of falling.

 

[tpham18nm]

Hello Folks

Often when I look around this forum I discover other rock climbers, and by which I mean humans climbing rocks with hands and feet. I would love to get a thread going for us to connect. Perhaps do some wheeling to some remote crags and pull routes. Or locate belay buddies when on the road. And of course, a little beta is always welcome.

So if you're a climber, please consider posting on here. Let us know where you are (location/local crag), what sort of climbing you do (rock climber/boulderer/mountaineer), and level of experience (5.12/V5/Grade VI).

Hope to connect with a few you intrepid folks soon and maybe set up some expeditions.

Thanks.

I'm thinking about heading up to Yosemite to do some climbing this July 14-19 (somewhere in that time frame). I would love for you to come climb with me and show me the ropes up there.

I prefer sport climbing or trad. I have cams from micro to blue BD (doubles from purple-blue). A set of Wild Country Cams and 2 sets of stoppers.

It'll be cool to climb, message me if interested.

 

[Koko4]

I've been climbing off and on since high school, but haven't kept up with it as much as I should. My arms are always pumped after a few routes. My girlfriend and I were in the habit of going to a local rock gym that offers $5 "climb cheap" from 7-9pm on Tuesdays, but we haven't done that in a bit. I enjoy top-roping at the gym, mainly because my girlfriend doesn't know how to belay sport. I've also been to a few outdoor spots - Yonah in North GA and Sandrock in Alabama. Absolutely nothing compared to what you guys have out west, though!

 

[KEWW Pro]

I don't fear gravity as much as I have a Profound Respect for it.


That said I am a nut for long (and short) rappels. Currently maxed out at 851' a couple dozen times off the New River Gorge Bride in WV but have my eyes set on a near future trip to rappel El Cap...[insert appropriate excited emoji here]

As a matter of fact Fayetteville, WV seems to get flooded with 4Runners on Bridge Day of all build types. Probably because there are hundreds of base jumpers, hundreds of rappelers, and thousands of otherwise adventurous type folks at the same place at the same time!

So not to divert the thread but I have been on the walls of the gorge down there too and if I remember correctly from a guided excursion our group took in '15, I managed to top out a smallish 5.10 without resetting to establish the top belay for the rest of the group. I have tons of respect for climbers and their patience and strength and perseverance. I would LOVE to get into that culture but how many hobbies can one man have?

I will be keeping an eye on this thread and hope to maybe catch up with some of you on a rock face during some random overland trip I schedule in the future. Happy Climbing!

 

[alirawk]

I'm thinking about heading up to Yosemite to do some climbing this July 14-19 (somewhere in that time frame). I would love for you to come climb with me and show me the ropes up there.

I prefer sport climbing or trad. I have cams from micro to blue BD (doubles from purple-blue). A set of Wild Country Cams and 2 sets of stoppers.

It'll be cool to climb, message me if interested.

Oh man -- I wish I could. We have family staying with us this weekend and then my wife and I hit the road for a bit of a road trip. Let's talk through DM and set up a plan in August or October (I'll be gone for much of Sept.)

Thanks so much for reaching out.

 

[GRNYGRN]

Been climbing for about 6 months now. At first I mostly bouldered in a gym but more recently (past 1.5 months) I've been climbing outside around the SD area. I've been climbing around 5.7's at the moment so I'm not as experienced as the rest of you. I'll be in Holcomb Valley in Big Bear this Friday climbing with some buddies if anyone is there. Leaving Thursday night, camping and climbing all day Friday.

 

[theesotericone]

I hear you on the grades too. I've climbed two V13's, but would never consider myself a 13 climber.

Most people today would though. I'm a bit old school in that regard. When I first started climbing my partner, who was way stronger then me, told me this:

"You can call yourself a climber of any grade when you can onsite that grade anywhere in the world 99% of the time regardless of style"

It's stuck with me and when I meet people I tell them I'm a 5.10 climber. I haven't fallen off that grade in 10 years and very, very, seldom fall on 5.11. People that just met me will watch me climb mid-12 and think I'm a 5.12 climber. Maybe to them I am but to me I'm not.

A few years ago I climbed with a guy who told me he was a 5.10 climber. We agreed to go climb at a local spot. He asked to hang the draws on the warm-up 10-. Sure man. It's 10 bolts in 100 feet. He hung at 8 of those bolts. 5.10 climber my ass. He still insisted that he was a 5.10 climber so I led up a 10+ that's one of my favorites. He couldn't do the crux. I had to go back up and clean my own gear. lol

 

[txclimber]

It's stuck with me and when I meet people I tell them I'm a 5.10 climber. I haven't fallen off that grade in 10 years and very, very, seldom fall on 5.11. People that just met me will watch me climb mid-12 and think I'm a 5.12 climber. Maybe to them I am but to me I'm not.

I'm the same. Must be an old guy thing, lol. Despite sending many 5.12's I still refer to myself as a 5.10 climber. Sandbag? Nah. To me that means I can step up to ANY 5.10 slab, face, crack, whatever and flash the route. That's what I was taught it means...years ago.

 

[theesotericone]

I'm the same. Must be an old guy thing, lol. Despite sending many 5.12's I still refer to myself as a 5.10 climber. Sandbag? Nah. To me that means I can step up to ANY 5.10 slab, face, crack, whatever and flash the route. That's what I was taught it means...years ago.

It's indeed an old guy thing. I can't wait till I'm 70 and can tell anyone who will listen about how 5.11 used to be hard. lol

Where on the same page though. When I first started climbing I wanted to climb harder not to brag or be the tough guy. I wanted to climb harder to open up more route possibilities to me. I started climbing in the Gunks and it took me 2 years before I ever even tried to lead 5.10. I used to stare up at Yellow Wall(5.11) and dream of pulling the multiple roofs.

That kept me motivated to climb my ass off. I got stronger, got better technique, and my lead head got super strong. I climbed almost every 5.10 there. Almost all of them where onsite. After a year of that Yellow Wall was next.

I sat at the base totally stoked and intimidated at the same time. If you haven't seen this line in person google it and check out the photo's of it. It's insanely steep. I looked at my partner and asked if this was a good idea. He told me get racked up and get it done. I did. I over gripped, placed more gear then I ever would on it again and finally stood on top of the cliff. It wasn't my prettiest onsite but it was done.

Then I looked over at Tiers of Fears(5.12) and realized I still had a lot of work to do. lol

 

[2cooler]

:der: I'd die of fear