TheLittleUnit
Trad climber
SF Bay Area
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 29, 2009 - 07:17pm PT
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Hi,
I am looking to do Incredible Hulk (probably Red Dihedral) this July 4th weekend and was wondering what conditions are like? Has any one climbed it this season? What are snow conditions like? Is the creek (I believe you have to cross Robinson Creek?) flowing hard?
Also, what is the best way to drive there from the SF Bay Area?
Thanks for your help,
Wendy
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
way, WAY out there....(OMG)
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Jun 29, 2009 - 10:08pm PT
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Hulk bump.
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stella
climber
cali
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Jun 29, 2009 - 10:44pm PT
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check the post about the matterhorn, conditions at the hulk should be fairly similar. never been up there this early in the season, but if i had to venture a guess, i would say probable snow on the approach up little slide canyon and at the base, and definitely snow in the descent gully. could be totally wrong though. the creek is probably flowing pretty well right now. its been pretty hot in the sierras and things are melting quickly. if you ever want to have the hulk to yourself though, now would be a good time to go. oh yeah, your fastest drive should be over sonora pass. hope that helps.
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jsb
Trad climber
Bay area
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Jun 30, 2009 - 08:55am PT
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JakeW
Big Wall climber
CA
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Jun 30, 2009 - 10:00am PT
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The Hulk is currently impossible, the river is raging and uncrossable, and the glacier in the canyon is blue ice, too hard for crampons. The entire formation is frozen over with ice, plus half the routes fell off this winter. What's left is choss, like the rest of the High Sierra, Croft has retired and just sobs at home in front of the TV.
But really, this is Cali, its late in the season for the Hulk, only the cool weather and thunderstorms have prevented the masses from crushing and buffing every route. Cross the creek on the log. The approach is easier with the slight amount of squishy snow to speed travel. Positive vibes is cleaned of its winter debris and chalked up. Venturi too, for the most part, and probably a few other routes. The descent gully is somewhat snowy but good to go...but be careful, I once saw a van sized block roll down it...we were looking around to see where to hide in case it made it all the way to the flats.
Its been an amazing year for thunderstorms, like the old days almost, or the Rockies. Start early, bring your coat, and be ready to retreat. The plants are loving the water, so the flowers are lookin good! The forecast looks good for this weekend...supposedly no chance of storms...hmmmm...do we believe the future-casters and fortune tellers?
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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Jun 30, 2009 - 10:39am PT
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Hi Wendy,
Was this an unrope solo? You know, it's safer with a partner. I can still get away this weekend, might be able to go with you. I've done it before. It's awesome! Also, if you don't weigh too much, I'll carry you across the stream so your feet don't get wet. I bet the flowers will be gorgeous this weekend, too. Shoot me an email, let's talk...
Footloose
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TheLittleUnit
Trad climber
SF Bay Area
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 30, 2009 - 01:29pm PT
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Thanks for all the info and the generous offer, Footloose :) A little wading is no big deal. I'm all for lightweight climbing/travel but I have an awesome partner lined up (jsb in fact!) I'll take the mosquitoes over the thunderstorms.
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nuts
climber
az
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Jun 30, 2009 - 01:37pm PT
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Wendy, what day are you climbing? hearing of alot of people up there this wknd.
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TheLittleUnit
Trad climber
SF Bay Area
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 30, 2009 - 01:49pm PT
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nuts,
Not sure, Sat. perhaps? This is a pretty last minute trip and I have not looked into the wilderness permit situation (might have to do car-to-car if it looks filled up). Are you planning on climbing Incredible Hulk (which route?) this wkend?
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Josh Higgins
Trad climber
San Diego
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Jun 30, 2009 - 01:51pm PT
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I believe that I've climbed it in April. I'm sure you'll be fine up there....
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nuts
climber
az
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Jun 30, 2009 - 02:03pm PT
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Prob sat car-to-car. Either PV or the Red D. Maybe we'll see ya up there.
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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Jun 30, 2009 - 04:20pm PT
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Wendy,
Figures... The good ones are always taken. :)
Oh, I get it now. That's YOU GUYS in his picture... And you're the Little Unit!
Happy climbing!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jun 30, 2009 - 06:53pm PT
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Best climbing in the Sierras- I'll be there in a few weeks.
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cultureshock
Trad climber
Wall Climber Wannabe
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How about some good directions to the log crossing? Last year we got a bit wet wading across the marshes.
Cheers,
Luke
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TheLittleUnit
Trad climber
SF Bay Area
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 6, 2009 - 11:20am PT
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cultureshock,
Check out the Route Beta section. I just posted some beta on how to find the log crossings and avoid wet feet.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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The Wilderness sign hasn't moved, it's just plain gone. I have images in my mind of some redneck's campfire. There are other earlier signs as well. They have always been there. You are actually crossing several boundaries on the approach. But the one you want is gone. The exit to Little Slide Canyon is right on the boarder to USFS (or whatever) land. No big deal, if you can't find the mouth of Little Slide by just looking up, give up now while you are still alive and go home.
The log dam is hard to locate 1st time, but I would spot it again by looking for a rock outcropping that drops pretty much down and into the stream and reaches 2-300 feet up the slope. This is about 2-300 yds downstream of the mouth of the canyon. The meadow is more or less open to the stream at this point, so very little wandering in the woods. The rock outcrop should be visible from the main trail. The dam is about 100 ft or less from the downstream side of the rock outcrop. Boulder past the outcrop (up 5 ft, over, then down) and follow the obvious trail all the way to the Hulk from there. If you can't locate the log jam, just plowing straight through sans shoes takes 10 - 100 mins or so longer, depending on luck, route finding and how wet you are willing to get.
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cultureshock
Trad climber
Wall Climber Wannabe
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TheLittleUnit,
Thanks for the beta. I'm pretty sure the we ran into you guys at the hulk. I think you met my partner in the parking lot before you hiked up. (did you have a red Mini and a yellow haul bag back pack?)
We found the log crossing and did the 3rd class river way. I tried to give pretty explicit directions on my blog. Enjoy the TR:
http://dreaminvertical.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/how-to-enjoy-the-incredible-hulk-a-trip-up-positive-vibrations/
Hope you had fun. We took a while on Positive Vibrations but caught up with the party behind you on the last two pitches of Red Dihedral.
Cheers,
Luke
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TheLittleUnit
Trad climber
SF Bay Area
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 7, 2009 - 02:07pm PT
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Hey cultureshock, my partner was carrying a yellow haul bag and I was wearing a red jacket at times, but no red Mini. Were you the party climbing PV on Sat? One of you was wearing a green shirt and yellow helmet? If so, I took some pictures of you while I was hanging out at a belay :) I can post them or email to you.
When we got down we checked to see how you guys were doing and were glad to see you and the party behind us making it down the gulley with daylight left. PV looks stout!
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