Yosemite Bullet Point TR

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Messages 1 - 13 of total 13 in this topic

Nkane

Trad climber

New York, NY

Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 11, 2009 - 12:50pm PT

Narrative TRs can be repetitive, and since my camera ran out batteries on the second day I can't do a photo TR, so I thought I'd just lay out some thoughts on my first climbing trip to Yosemite.

After how many trips to Yosemite is it safe to drive? Having spent a week there, I was still craning my neck to look at the walls, and only paying scant attention to the road. Will this ever change?

The Valley has a lot in common with Manhattan, where I've lived for the past year: the extremely vertical landscape, too many people crammed into too small a place, slow-moving tourists, over-eager law enforcement, inflated prices, high crime rate, and a certain majesty that demands that you keep coming back, despite how much you want to complain.

The bears are for REAL. They are not overhyped at all. And they're much scarier up close and personal than in pictures. No one tells you how thickly muscled they are, and how they stare you down.

Some F*#KING ASSHOLE stole my Knob Creek and my partner's Pilsner Urquell out of the bear box at the Manure Pile Buttress. See my Manhattan comment above.

Seriously, who does that.

Crack climbing is fun. I need to find ways to practice and get better at it.

Finding a place to sleep up there is a pain in the ass. I would have had a lot more fun and gotten a lot more climbing done if I hadn't spent so much time and energy figuring out where I was going to sleep each night.

The coffee at the Meadow Grill is not bad.

If the guidebook says "well protected by Tuolomne standards," it's still not a good idea to fall.

Some phone pictures - Lembert Sunset:

My very first tape gloves:

And you can never have too much Tunnel View:

Josh Nash

Social climber

riverbank ca

Aug 11, 2009 - 12:54pm PT

those are very keen observations especially about the crowds....

bluering

Trad climber

Santa Clara, Ca.

Aug 11, 2009 - 01:09pm PT

Nice!

Knob Creek, huh? Good to see you drinkin' the good stuff!

That sucks it got pilfered (prolly by a dirtbag loser).

Captain...or Skully

Social climber

Boise....

Aug 11, 2009 - 01:11pm PT

Now, now.....Lots of us STILL call ourselves "dirtbags" proudly.

hooblie

climber

Aug 11, 2009 - 01:41pm PT

long ago it came to me that the valley at least is a dislocated urban park. it's not the first thing that comes to you, but an aquired skill of working the seams, slipping by via the cracks in the system, eventually becomes second nature. when you find yourself becoming an "adept" you'll know you've arrived and can take your rightfull position in the stakeholder class most directly connected at the gritty, visceral level. the reward is title that, like those miracle loaves, can be divided without being diminished

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Aug 11, 2009 - 02:06pm PT

point #1, can't tell yet, only driven there for 30 odd years and I'm still gawking. It is safer if you have a sun roof, or a convertible, though.

Clint Cummins

Trad climber

SF Bay area, CA

Aug 11, 2009 - 02:35pm PT

Nice TR - astute observations!

Jingy

Social climber

Flatland, Ca

Aug 11, 2009 - 03:33pm PT

Cool TR.. even without the pics... I got the gyst!

Love the thoughts... And they are true!

Cheers

altieboo

Boulder climber

Livermore, Ca

Aug 11, 2009 - 05:40pm PT

Its better if you let someone else drive. That way you don't have to worry about crashing.

murcy

climber

San Fran Cisco

Aug 11, 2009 - 06:02pm PT

Bullet Point is so rarely climbed anymore.

sully

Trad climber

Aug 11, 2009 - 06:32pm PT

So true about worrying about where to sleep instead of enjoying climbing. You want to get on a route but need to stand in the Meadows or Upper Pines lines at 8:30 to get a site.