Team Mammut: California

Showing posts with label California. Show all posts

Friday, April 21, 2017

More Bouldering in the Sierras

David climbing Saigon Direct (V9). Dave Vuono photo.

We've lived in the Sierras for almost two years now. Needless to say, in addition to climbing near our new home of Reno, we continue to spend as much time as possible in Bishop and Yosemite.

A Bouldering Trifecta

This spring, David took two weeks off from work to boulder in Bishop, California. Christine flew down to meet him during her spring break from school. David's two weeks turned into four due to a lack of available work back at home. Chasing cooler temps, David traveled from Bishop to Joe's Valley, Utah to Castle Rocks State Park, Idaho. Christine was lucky enough to follow to Joe's for five days, and even snuck in a weekend trip to Idaho to meet up with David and friends at the end of their trip. Once again, this trip was made a lot more fun by the company of great friends.

Druid Stones, Morale Booster

The weather continues to treat us very well, and I've been having a great climbing trip here in Bishop. Looking back, I realize that (for the first time ever), I've enjoyed a full year of climbing without any major new injuries. This is huge for me, and I attribute it to nearly a year of focused training and stretching.

For the first time ever, I can try hard, and try hard having had more than a month or two worth of fitness under my belt. Here's to another year without playing catch-up!

That said, David has been suffering from non-stop, terrible, fingertip skin splits, as well as a minor hand injury. This has basically stopped him from trying any of the problems he intended to get on, and has even stopped him from climbing altogether for 10+ days. He really can't even warm up when his fingertips are bleeding before he can put his shoes on.

Needless to say that when one person is suffering from never-healing, bad skin, and the other is only climbing but four hours, every other day, this whole "camping" thing starts to seem pretty tedious. Especially when the nights are long, cold, and windy. And we (two people and one dog) are sleeping in a passenger car.

Given this, we considered bailing (16 hours) north to Montana to recover. But yesterday we purchased a small, cheap tent at K-Mart. Suddenly, for just $35 (plus tax), we now have a place to store our extra goods, and a shelter in which to cook. Though this sounds stupidly simple and obvious, our newly emptied car and our windless breakfast were hugely morale-boosting.

I'm at the beginning of a 4- or 5-day rest period. My body and mind both need a bit of a break. David climbed for the first time in a while yesterday, somewhat without pain. He did suffer from one split fingertip, but he still climbed himself sore. He'll climb tomorrow, and we'll both have our fingers crossed for good skin.

Below are some photos of our first trip to the Druid Stones, as well as a short video I took of myself when I sent the Croft Problem (a V8 on the Lower Smoking Boulder, in the Buttermilks) all by my lonesome a few days ago.

View of the Eastern Sierras through a boulder pile at the Druid Stones

The Druids

The trail up to the Druids

The family, with Steve in the lead

David does Prostrate to the Higher Mind (V5) at the Druids

A video of me doing the Croft Problem (V8) all by my lonesome at the Lower Smoking Boulder in the Buttermilks

Friday, February 17, 2012

More from Bishop

We've continued to have an amazing time here in Bishop. The days have been generally warm, and the nights cold. As much as we freeze some evenings (and as much as we sometimes fantasize about sleeping in a bed/ cooking dinner in a kitchen some nights), there is something irreplaceable about seeing the sun rise and set over the Owens Valley every day.

As we settle into the climbing, I realize that I'm enjoying my time here much more than ever last year. Probably because I'm currently injury free and can actually try hard. So that's nice. And to keep ourselves injury-free (and showered), we've purchased a membership at the Bishop Fitness Center. We go in a couple times a week to lift weights, stretch, and shower.

Below are some photos from our last few days:

Happy hour at Whiskey Creek is an excellent way to eat enormous hamburgers.

Mono Lake is nearby, but even windier than Bishop.

The South Tufas of Mono Lake

After a day of climbing and a road trip to Mono Lake, cold Bratwurst and Sauerkraut on Little Caesar's Hot 'n' Ready pizzas sounded really good.

The moon setting behind Mt Tom's friend

Walking down into the Pollen Grains for our first time

The Lidja Boulder

David sending Drone Militia, V6, on the Lidja Boulder

(Very tall) Kevin making Jedi Mind Tricks (V4) look a lot less scary than it feels

Walking back to the parking from the Pollen Grains

A long-awaited Denny's breakfast

Happy hugs in the Happies, near Mr. Happy

The back of the Green Wall Boulder and Mt Tom

David sending the Southwest Face of the Green Wall Boulder (V5)

Sardine sandwiches near the Lower Smoking Boulder

Walking "home" from the Buttermilks

Thursday, February 9, 2012

First morning at the Buttermilks

David nears the super hard topout of Ranger Rock's v5

Kev-o does an awesome and short slab on Ranger Rock

Liesel wrastles with the Cave Problem, v6

David doing an ascent of Junior's (freaking sharp) Achievement, v8

Same

Mountain X-treme

Mt Tom and friend

David gives an end-of-the-day go on Saigon Direct

Same

OH! So that's why our fingers hurt.

Kevin also gives a day's end go on Saigon Direct

Looks like our Saturday rest day is well-planned.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

16 Hours to Bishop

It's been since the day before Thanksgiving that I've actually touched a rock (and seen the sun, really). Some months in Sweden, followed by weeks in Montana, a few airport sicknesses, and a car purchases later, we finally were able to leave Bozeman and head south to Bishop, CA.

The drive itself is 16 hours. So we got up at 4:00am and left at 5:00pm... and made it by 8:30pm (California time). Here are some photos of the drive. "Real" photos to come soon...

Monday, March 28, 2011

Bishop Eye Candy

In the past few months, I've taken a few trips to Bishop with friends. Following is a video by David Sjoquist that includes a fraction of the climbing we did! Thanks Bishop for all the fun!!!

Bishop from David Sjoquist on Vimeo.

-Christine Balaz

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Buttermilks, Bishop, CA

We just got back from a 5-day trip to the Buttermilks in Bishop, CA, with 530 miles of driving each way and three climbing days. Our first time there. Here's some photos... Enjoy!

-Christine Balaz