Alabama Hills and Tollhouse

With exams graded and the semester over, Teresa and I headed over to Lone Pine for a couple of days of climbing at the Alabama Hills. The weather was warm and sunny, perfect for a couple of days of clipping bolts

Alabama Hills bathed in early morning light

 We spent a full two days climbing, we did a nice mix of easy routes and some of the "harder" routes at the hills. Teresa even did a bit of leading.

Teresa leading a nice little sport route at Paul's Paradise

Stick clip!

Penny came along of course, and got some good sleeps in

Sleeps?

We checked out some area I had not been to before, including the eye of Horus,  and we tried (and failed) to find the Oz wall.

What should we climb next?

 We a great time! When we got back, I still had some free time, so the following day I headed out to Tollhouse and climbed a bunch of easy multi-pitches with Lauren. We were treated to some cool clouds and fog in the valley

Summit of Tollhouse

Lauren topping out "Free and Easy"

Cloudy sunset

Danland in December

I love climbing in Danland. Its a wonderful place, located deep in the foothills at the edge of the Mineral King branch of Sequoia National Park. I went out there with Michelle and her friend Lauren, we had a great time playing around on the granite slabs and cracks

Michelle on P1 of DZ arete (5.10a)

I got to lead a several routes, including both pitched of the very interesting DZ arete. The first pitch was a short 5.10 crack, followed by a bolted slabby arete. 

Lauren on P1 of DZ arete.

The 2nd pitch of DZ aerte was a short, well bolted and very technical slab/face, which went at 5.10d/5.11a. I took a little whip on the crux, so the on-sight eluded me, but I got it 2nd go.

Me leading out on the crux pitch

P2 of DZ arete (5.11?)

WE then took some burns on my long standing project - Lizard run, 5.11d/5.12a. I almost made it through the crux, but not quite. 

Taking a shot on Lizard Run

Michelle takes a-go.

Michelle's dog Bart watched us the whole time. Well not the whole time, he did excavate a rather large hole at the belay station

Bart - looking regal

A great day!

New Jack City

After a couple of weekends off of any climbing, I managed to convince Teresa that we should head into the desert and climb at New Jack City. 

NJC - Parking lot filling up

 Its not a pretty place to climb, but the rock is challenging, and is not in a style that I am very good it. Steep and technical sport climbing on slippery volcanic rock.

Hmmm.. what should we climb

 It was pretty crowded, lots of 20-something straight out of the climbing gym. I am not the at best climbing when things are crowded, I feel weirdly self-conscious. I think also I am used to the nice solitude of places like Shuteye. I need to work on my self-confidence a bit maybe.

We spent a bit of time climbing in the Western canyon, which is a lot quieter, which I enjoyed. 

Sunset in the Western canyon

 

Some solitude in the Western canyon

 We found a nice mix of moderates for Teresa and challenging climbs for me. I took a lot of whips working through some of the routes.

Happy family!

 Overall a nice little trip to the desert. I'm looking forward to heading back sometime over the winter for some more!

Penny had fun as well