scariest approaches in the valley

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climberweenie

Trad climber
San Jose, CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 27, 2005 - 05:36am PT
not talking tired, hot, confusing, etc.
talking pant-loading, make you feel kinda woozy when you look at it type approaches.

note, this is mostly a self-aggrandizing setup to share some pics later when I remember how to upload them.
aldude

climber
Monument Manor
Nov 27, 2005 - 01:16pm PT
N.W. face Clouds Rest - Chief Tenaya's curse for white men entering this canyon makes this approach tops on the bad juju list.
WBraun

climber
Nov 27, 2005 - 01:34pm PT
There are actually many, factors such as knowledge of the art of approach. Is one using his/her intelligence correctly or is one just sheep from guide book descriptions.

Even a common simple approach can become scary to the unprepared and inexperienced.
ThomasKeefer

Trad climber
Monterey, CA
Nov 27, 2005 - 01:56pm PT
Half dome slabs approach would probably be my vote.. 0ut of the approaches I have done.
Not that this was in the question but wierdest (maybe not scariest) descent is definitly Geronimo at Red Rocks.. a 5mm 'safety line' tied to a pebble at one end and a horn at the other to get you to the hole that you slither through to start the rap down.
bringmedeath

climber
la la land
Nov 27, 2005 - 02:07pm PT
When I helped my friend carry stuff up to the base of 9 O Clock wall... that was bad! We went up this loose gully. It just lets loose big rocks. We thought someone had to have been up there... but no just nature running its course. Josh and I took turns going up this one part. I was hidin behing a boulder and all this rock was just flying down besides me. At least it forces you to move as fast as possible and make the approach seem short.

But everything I've done(not much) in the valley is pretty solid compared to the mountains. Places with glaciers are just dangerous to begin with. I did this one big talus slope and you sink up to your knees in the loose sand and rock. It is just really active in that it is still changin daily.
Bruce Morris

Social climber
Belmont, California
Nov 27, 2005 - 03:36pm PT
Unroped approach to the top of the Dimitri B's "White Owl" to clean it from above in winter. 250 feet of wet munge plastered to a near vertical slab. Great views of the Owl Roof however and the valley of the giant (undone) cracks right next door.
elcapfool

Big Wall climber
hiding in plain sight
Nov 27, 2005 - 04:28pm PT
The courthouse.
James

Social climber
My Subconcious
Nov 27, 2005 - 05:06pm PT
One early Spring I hiked to the summit of Leaning Tower to be a subman for the day. We went up the Gunsight and then crossed Bridalveil Falls...half naked with big ass packs. I thought I was going to lose it and go over the edge...
matty

Big Wall climber
Valencia, CA
Nov 27, 2005 - 05:53pm PT
Church Bowl Tree.
Dog

climber
Nov 27, 2005 - 08:39pm PT
Leaning Tower with the pig strapped to your ass.



....without being clipped to the fixed line!
Gunkie

climber
East Coast US
Nov 27, 2005 - 09:15pm PT
I'm with Dog, that LT approach is freaky for me even with fixed lines and with only a 25% full pig.

I always found the 3rd/4th class to the base of the Prow/SFWC scary too. That one I've done with a 100% pig a few times.
Jaybro

Social climber
The West
Nov 27, 2005 - 10:06pm PT
The time I went to Mt Watkins in full spring runoff and got swept 100 feet downstream, with whitecaps and a haulbag.
dank

Trad climber
the pitch above you!
Nov 27, 2005 - 11:20pm PT
pine line
aldude

climber
Monument Manor
Nov 28, 2005 - 02:26am PT
Jaybro - THE CURSE!
JuanDeFuca

Big Wall climber
Northern Mexico
Nov 28, 2005 - 03:47am PT
Getting on the Steck-Salathe?

Getting to the start of the Nose?

Juanito
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Nov 28, 2005 - 05:41am PT
The Steck-Salathe approach is pretty exciting...
Wholly Mammoth

Social climber
The question is: where do I want to be?
Nov 28, 2005 - 10:47am PT
Despite not residing in the Valley, the slab walk off of Daff Dome is rather exciting!
can't say

Social climber
Pasadena CA
Nov 28, 2005 - 12:02pm PT
One approach that I thought was really cool, was the one up to Knucklebuster. The bolt on ladders gave it a bit of a Euro feel. While it's not really that scary of an approach, it does put you in a pretty cool place with nice routes and your own private waterfall.
HalHammer

Trad climber
CA
Nov 28, 2005 - 05:46pm PT
The Lost Arrow Spire Direct with 100% haul bags approach.

Nasty dirty slabby hills with the trail like 4 feet from 500 foot + drops plus gnarly 3rd and 4th class sections.


The descent of of Washington Column down the NDG with a still heavy haul bag takes the cake for the most sucking though. That was rough.


Oh and since it was mentioned..The Steck-Salathe approach is not that bad!
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
one pass away from the big ditch
Nov 28, 2005 - 08:50pm PT
werd to Leaning Tower approach up the gunsight and across the creek and up the back side.

cool place to be though... just a couple hundred feet about the tourons, but miles of wilderness feel.
Messages 1 - 20 of total 26 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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