Royal Arches Conditions?

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Messages 1 - 14 of total 14 in this topic

Mav

Trad climber

San Francisco, CA

Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 4, 2008 - 04:39pm PT

Thinking about doing RA + Crest Jewel this weekend if it's dry enough. Anyone got information?

Thanks!

spyork

Social climber

A prison of my own creation

Mar 4, 2008 - 04:50pm PT

I bet there is a lot of snow on the rim ATM. You would have to ask Werner though...

nutjob

Trad climber

San Jose, CA

Mar 4, 2008 - 04:54pm PT

A couple years ago at about this season, we got shut down at the pendulum traverse by "a 3 foot standing wave" as Zander put it.

I think a good strategy for success is to wear a wetsuit. It will keep you warm, and you'll really appreciate it during that traverse. When we ate lunch at our high point, I was musing about taking off our clothes and doing it naked, hoping to have something dry to warm up in afterwords... instead we rapped the route and had a snowstorm breathing down our arses as we peeled out of the valley.

Clint Cummins

Trad climber

SF Bay area, CA

Mar 4, 2008 - 06:07pm PT

Like nutjob said - the flow might be too high for the traverse after the pendulum right now. Last week, I swear I could make out a stream on the webcam! It does not look quite so bad this afternoon, but this morning it looked pretty shiny/reflective... In a week or so it should be OK for Royal Arches.

Crest Jewel would be epic right now because of all the snow on the approach and descent. That may be melted out sometime in late May.

webcams (you don't have to ask Werner - you can see snow on the rim right of Half Dome):

http://yosemite.org/vryos/index.htm

Gene

climber

Mar 4, 2008 - 06:14pm PT

Use the first pitch of the RA as a flow gauge.

rwedgee

Ice climber

canyon country,CA

Mar 4, 2008 - 06:34pm PT

If there's a huge waterfall to the left of the start or a lot of water in the approach path stream crossing you will probably get shut down.

nutjob

Trad climber

San Jose, CA

Mar 4, 2008 - 06:38pm PT

Or if you get soaked to the bone by icewater running down the smooth 5.6 chimney and your hands get so numb you start sketching on the holds in the back, then you might get shut down.

spyork

Social climber

A prison of my own creation

Mar 4, 2008 - 07:23pm PT

Me, I wouldn't venture up there just yet. But I'm a big chicken.

Nefarius

Big Wall climber

Fresno, CA

Mar 4, 2008 - 07:58pm PT

NOAA is showing a slight chance of showers on Monday, fatty. Doubt it will be a problem.

By looking at the first pitch, as Gene says, as well as looking up at the slabs, you can figure out what you're in for. I doubt it will happen right now though...

mike

climber

I have no clue

Mar 4, 2008 - 09:36pm PT

If dudes are kayaking down the approach stream, you might get shut down.

nutjob

Trad climber

San Jose, CA

Mar 4, 2008 - 10:23pm PT

This should turn into a top 10 reasons you might get shut down on Royal Arches this weekend:

10. There's a big waterfall to the left of the first pitch chimney
9. You want goretex boots to cross the approach stream
8. You get soaked by the bone-chilling ice-water run-off on the first pitch chimney
7. can't get that song "She's a Man Eater" by Pat Benatar out of your head
6. Spyork said you're a chicken
5. NOAA decided to save a few bucks and not swap out all those Intel processors with floating point precision errors a few years back, and their forecasts are off by a day or two
4. In addition to his political connections, it turns out fattrad is tight with Mother Nature, and she told him a storm might be heading there at the moment
3. you see mike paddle by the 3rd-class traverse in a kayak
2. you see Noah floating across the traverse left from the pendulum and he invites you on his ark
1. you forgot your snorkel

mark miller

Social climber

Reno

Mar 4, 2008 - 10:46pm PT

I like everyone of the top ten and that's why the BIG KAHUNA and I are gonna doit this weekend. I like a little snow on the last 5.4 traverse, it's the spice of life. Never Mike w/ no disrespect intended, you warm weather bastard. ;)