Old Roubidoux Photos

Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 1 - 20 of total 64 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Largo

Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 4, 2011 - 12:22pm PT
There's a lot of really old archive stuff from around 1910-30 that has a "Twilight Zone" kind of vibe to all of us who grew up bouldering out at Roubidoux. On certain days the place could be stunningly beautiful.




JL

Gary

climber
From the City That Dreams
Nov 4, 2011 - 12:25pm PT
Roubidoux has it all. Everything a climber needs. All within a half-mile or so:
Rock
Hospital
Cemetery
Phil_B

Social climber
Hercules, CA
Nov 4, 2011 - 01:06pm PT
That place kept me sane in grad school.

I remember the time I finally got FiveNiner (.10a), that was a good day.

My dog got skunked *TWICE* coming down the trail one evening. That was a hell of a ride home.
Keith Leaman

Trad climber
Seattle
Nov 4, 2011 - 02:04pm PT
John, Those photos are really good! They are reminiscent of American Luminist landscape painting. Around 1970 I was wandering the hillside looking for something new and "discovered" this clean crack. I was so pleased to be able to jam up the thing and couldn't wait to show it to Paul. Further, I couldn't believe he climbed it this way! He called it a "solid" 5.9. (Another climbing 'site calls it 5.12 if a lieback). A slab route low on the hill there-"Wall of Glass" I believe it is called, was one of my favorites.
looking sketchy there...

Social climber
Latitute 33
Nov 4, 2011 - 02:10pm PT
^^^^
Nice shot of the Turtle Dome crack. I "learned" to jam on that thing and still have a scar on my left hand to prove it.

Great shots John, brings back lots of memories.

After a rain in the winter, Rubidoux could seem almost sylvan.
Fat Dad

Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
Nov 4, 2011 - 02:46pm PT
Those last two color photos are indeed beautiful. I was going to say they looked like Barbizon School paintings, but close enough.

I learned to climb at Rubidoux so, graffiti and broken glass and all, I really like the place. Climb there alot and you will not want for callous on your tips. Whatever old photos I have of the place (late 70s onward) are all going to be in my old room at my parents' place in the OC.
henny

Social climber
The Past
Nov 4, 2011 - 02:50pm PT
When green, as in JL's last picture, the mountain almost seems a paradise amidst the urban sprawl.

So John, I assume they hadn't invented color film yet when you took that first picture? And I thought I was old. (haha)

Does anyone have a picture of the resident goat that used to wander the mountain in the early 70's? Anybody else remember it?
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Nov 4, 2011 - 04:25pm PT
nice Cragman!


yeah, cool photos Largo!

Having grown up in my climbing formative teens, just down The 91 from Riverside, I seriously would race home from classes to get out to Rubberducks to send what I could (sans pads back then) in the afternoon light. Usually smogging, but after the greenery would come, and the new growth on the pepper trees would be lush, it really seemed like you were 'above it all' of the hub bub down low.

Off White

climber
Tenino, WA
Nov 4, 2011 - 04:52pm PT
That last pic in particular evokes my memories of Southern California at its best.
Largo

Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 4, 2011 - 05:11pm PT
henny

Social climber
The Past
Nov 4, 2011 - 05:18pm PT
Great picture JL! What a great problem.

That picture makes one yearn for the days when the wall was free of paint.

Counterpoint, a problem just to the left taken a year or two ago. Fortunately, the city has since done a decent sand-blasting job, and the wall has been somewhat restored.

A late 70's/early 80's picture of the Dimes.
looking sketchy there...

Social climber
Latitute 33
Nov 4, 2011 - 05:27pm PT
^^^^^
Dude, what is that around your neck -- an ermine collar?
henny

Social climber
The Past
Nov 4, 2011 - 05:30pm PT
Easy there, sketchy one...

There's a bunch of things about that picture that date it, that being one of them. Those sideburns were something "special"... Hilarious.
Largo

Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 4, 2011 - 10:35pm PT
Roubidoux has some of the biggest sand bag ratings ever. Auto pilot might only be 5.11, but you better be a 5.12 climber or you'll tumble all the way down to the cemetary. And Surrealistic Pillar at V1 is just wrong.


rottingjohnny

Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
Nov 4, 2011 - 10:48pm PT
Thanks Largo for the pics...I use to get off work early and drive my 64 Bel Air from Long beach on the 91 for a Rubidoux session...Those were the days...
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Nov 4, 2011 - 11:02pm PT

Anybody else able to get the stereo on the first image? It's actually an easy one.

I knew my years studying protein structures would pay off.

And yes the splitter is awesome.
Jereme

Trad climber
Bay Area, CA
Nov 4, 2011 - 11:22pm PT
Here is an old school photo of my father and uncle on Rubidoux taken sometime during the mid seventies.



TYeary

Social climber
State of decay
Nov 4, 2011 - 11:52pm PT
TY
dogtown

Trad climber
JackAssVille, Wyoming
Nov 5, 2011 - 01:19am PT
Hensel and Long; just a note. Its moves, problems and routes you guys did back then, that truly inspired me and others to push to levels once thought of as unachievable( for me ). True Rock Climbing Hall of fame guys. I love old school Photos!

Dawg.
PhilG

Trad climber
The Circuit, Tonasket WA
Nov 5, 2011 - 10:36am PT
Great thread, guys!
It both brings back memories and inspires me to go bouldering today.
I'll see if I can scan some slides and add to the mix.
Messages 1 - 20 of total 64 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta