Castle Domes (Kings Canon) info?

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Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 16, 2012 - 02:43pm PT
Where do I find out more info on what has been established and where on Castle Domes? Mt. Bago? The Sphynx? Any guidebooks? Internet? Anything?

Trying to plan something interesting for summer...or future..

Thank you.
Nate D

climber
San Francisco
Feb 16, 2012 - 03:00pm PT
Previous short discussion, probably not that helpful, but who cares - adventure awaits.
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=561817&msg=562250#msg562250
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2012 - 03:51pm PT
Thank you Nate. Did you ever make your way up there?
guyman

Trad climber
Moorpark, CA.
Feb 16, 2012 - 03:56pm PT
You might wish to check out the Gorge of Dispair......more then enuf rock to keep one occupied for a few decades.....
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2012 - 04:16pm PT
Where do I get info on Gorge of Despair?
Gene

climber
Feb 16, 2012 - 04:20pm PT
Where do I get info on Gorge of Despair?


Secor has several pages describing the GoD. Also, I believe Ksolem has posted on the Taco about the area.

Best,
g
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2012 - 05:01pm PT
http://www.mountainproject.com/v/the-gorge-of-despair/107028672

some interesting stuff on MP...but no topos or anything...
rincon

Trad climber
SoCal
Feb 16, 2012 - 05:07pm PT
some interesting stuff on MP...but no topos or anything...

You're supposed to do all the googling, before posting this thread.

Did you even look at Summitpost?

http://www.summitpost.org/gorge-of-despair/152446
http://www.summitpost.org/mount-bago/740015
http://www.summitpost.org/the-sphinx/154841

There is only the Secor book, and the Seki rockclimbing guide. You should have a copy of those. AAJ has stuff too. It takes homework to know what has been climbed or not. If you're looking to do FA's, the best way is to go there yourself on a dayhike and scope lines that interst you, then research if they have seen an ascent.

justin01

Trad climber
sacramento
Feb 16, 2012 - 05:15pm PT
Here is some info
Fat Dad

Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
Feb 16, 2012 - 05:24pm PT
Kris Solem has some info on the Gorge of Despair on summitpost. Also, I'd check some old AAJ journals for info re Mt. Bago, etc. I remember reading about a long II or IV, 5.7 on Mt. Bago that described a long rib with orange chickenheads like Charlotte Dome.

"Adventure is out there!"
Gene

climber
Feb 16, 2012 - 05:34pm PT
I remember reading about a long II or IV, 5.7 on Mt. Bago that described a long rib with orange chickenheads like Charlotte Dome.

I'd love to hear about that line on Mt. Bago. I have a very vague recollection that the arete never exceeds 6 feet in width. The only description I have is from Roper:

At least one technical route has been done: from the meadow one will notice a very orange buttress split by a huge dihedral. The route ascends the right-hand skyline for 1,000 feet on excellent rock. IV, 5.7

Roper is such a tease.

I can imagine few things more fun than base camp in the area, hit the Bago route and Charlotte Dome. That would be a blast!

g
Fat Dad

Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
Feb 16, 2012 - 05:46pm PT
The Mt. Bago route is one that was reported in the AAJ. That used to be the only place to learn about things like the Mithral Dihedral, etc., at least before there started being guidebooks for every place. Lots of good info buried in those old AAJs. Isn't the AAJ's library available digitally for members?
Gene

climber
Feb 16, 2012 - 05:48pm PT
Fat Dad,

Don't even have to be a member....

http://www.americanalpineclub.org/site/aajsearch

g
rincon

Trad climber
SoCal
Feb 16, 2012 - 05:59pm PT

Could the tower just left of the center of this photo, be the Tower of Delphina?

http://www.summitpost.org/mt-bago-from-east-creek/312967
Click the link for a big picture
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2012 - 06:33pm PT
Did you even look at Summitpost?

http://www.summitpost.org/gorge-of-despair/152446
http://www.summitpost.org/mount-bago/740015
http://www.summitpost.org/the-sphinx/154841

There is only the Secor book, and the Seki rockclimbing guide. You should have a copy of those. AAJ has stuff too. It takes homework to know what has been climbed or not. If you're looking to do FA's, the best way is to go there yourself on a dayhike and scope lines that interst you, then research if they have seen an ascent.

Yes, I checked all of those before posting. SP pages mention there are 2 technical routes on Bago but do not have any indication where. MP doesn't have any info on them. Page for Gorge of Despair gives good approach beta, but info for where the climbs are and presence of description of routes is terrible (2 climbs that have good description are 11c and 12a...lol not for me). SP mentions there is no routes up the face on the Sphynx. I thought it was most likely b/s and wanted to see if someone here knew of any/done any?
If there is limited info on SP/MP it doesn't mean people do not climb those. So if anyone climbed any of the lines in AAJ or anything else please do share...

I went through Kings Canyon last year when my friend and I climbed Charlotte dome. I liked that place a lot, and thought there must be a lot of rock climbing there. I TRIED to research, but did not find great quality info, that's why I started the thread.

PS: I am AAC member, so I guess I should check the library. Have never done that before.
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2012 - 06:42pm PT
For sure will make my way up to this Tower of Delphina and will attempt to find that arete. Sounds super fun.
Mic

climber
Boulder, CO
Feb 16, 2012 - 06:51pm PT
If you are an AAC member, you can check out books from the library here in Golden. They send you the book and then you just have to pay return shipping. They have a copy of the Sequoia/Kings guidebook which is out of print and absurdly expensive. It has information on routes like Silmarillion on Castle Dome, put up by Jack Roberts, who unfortunately just pasted away.

--Mike Skaug
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Feb 16, 2012 - 07:15pm PT
Go there and report back.

Stop planning and start doing.

That's what being in the mountains is all about.

Some places should be explored, not researched.

Get the Secor guide and leave it at that.
guyman

Trad climber
Moorpark, CA.
Feb 16, 2012 - 07:27pm PT
The old Roper guide has good info on most of the towers in the GOD.... all are 5th class.... Kris and I did one of them. corporalie or something like that... we did the 3rd ascent 1st by Ax Nelson and friends in like 1955 , 2nd by a Couple from NZ... 1967 .... Us ... 1997 .... about 5.7 or so...

That was just ONE formation, by the EZ line..... if that sucker was close by a road it would have about 50 ways to top.

Big adventure.....
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Feb 16, 2012 - 07:40pm PT
If you're looking to do FA's, the best way is to go there yourself on a dayhike and scope lines that interest you, then research if they have seen an ascent.

A dayhike to the Gorge of Despair is a monster proposition. 24 mile r/t hike w about 6K or more gain going in, and 2K coming out and that just gets you a view of the place, not really close to any formations to size 'em up.

Stop planning and start doing.

I always plan before I do. This has really paid off many times. But I hear what you're sayin'.

Topo's??

I have put up everything you need to know about the GOD on Mtn Project & SP. One thing you don't need there is a topo. I'll give you this though: Take double ropes, 2 8.5mm x 60M. Take a light emergency bolt kit if you want to try any of the big hard routes. Take some old "leaver" gear, nuts or whatever for descents. Do a couple of the classics before embarking on an FA.

Vitaly, the Gorge of Despair is full on brilliant. Perfect rock. Huge approach. Logistics & commitment. If you get interested I could be talked into it depending on the timing. If you have a partner I'll be the mission photographer / videographer.
willm

Social climber
Oakland, CA
Feb 16, 2012 - 08:03pm PT
Awesome climbing content. I'm drooling all over my monitor!
ec

climber
ca
Feb 16, 2012 - 08:51pm PT
Got a code?...Canon...

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=34356&tn=0
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2012 - 12:32am PT
Go there and report back.

Stop planning and start doing.

That's what being in the mountains is all about.

I know a few things about doing part. But planning must come before, and winter is a great place to start (planning). I think it is A LOT better to start a thread trying to get people talking about Kings Canyon, rather than democrat vs republican political garbage that swamps ST from head to toe. Staying away from politics etc is exactly why I love mountains, and exactly why I like reading/participating in climbing threads, and connecting with others alike...
I been to Kings Canyon in the end of 2011. My first time (friend and I did Charlotte dome). Ever since I been thinking about exploring stuff there for myself, but did not really know where to start....starting this thread gave me a few more ideas. Thank you all for that. If anyone has more photos, ideas, stories, or anything regarding the area PLEASE SHARE!

PS: Ksolem email sent...
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2012 - 12:54am PT
Got a code?...Canon..

Started the thread from work. "Y" rarely works on my keyboard there...
ec

climber
ca
Feb 17, 2012 - 01:35am PT
Ahhhh, I see. My co-workers are always jamming our keyboards with crumbs or staples.

 ec
mooch

Trad climber
Old Climbers' Home (Adopted)
Feb 17, 2012 - 12:11pm PT
Vitality & Kris

Plans have been hatched to get out to Gorge Of Despair this year. Looking around July time frame. You guys are welcome to boot it out there with us. Email me later next month if you're interested.
Radish

Trad climber
SeKi, California
Feb 17, 2012 - 02:50pm PT
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 20, 2012 - 04:04pm PT
Plans have been hatched to get out to Gorge Of Despair this year. Looking around July time frame. You guys are welcome to boot it out there with us.

Sounds Great! May be able to come along. For how long are you going/with who? Will fazebeewwk you! : )

Radish, that dome looks really nice.
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 20, 2014 - 06:30pm PT

Took a while to get there!
sharperblue

Mountain climber
San Francisco, California
Jul 20, 2014 - 06:39pm PT
Vitaliy's Summer of Castle continues! Castle Domes is so huge and cool (and very nearly untouched by these lazy Cali types ;) - been too long since I went up that way. Reconnaissance Report!!!
go-B

climber
Cling to what is good!
Jul 20, 2014 - 07:32pm PT


http://search.aol.com/aol/image?s_it=topsearchbox.image&v_t=client97_searchbox&q=Castle+Domes+map+kings+canyon+


...sweet!
cat t.

Sport climber
Palo Alto
Jul 20, 2014 - 07:37pm PT


limpingcrab

Trad climber
the middle of CA
Jul 20, 2014 - 08:49pm PT
You two are obviously gonna have to share more info than that
cat t.

Sport climber
CA
Dec 2, 2014 - 11:35am PT
bump because there's now an AAJ article about this awesome route:

http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13201212971/Castle-Dome-Southeast-Arte#
Byran

climber
Half Dome Village
Sep 19, 2016 - 07:36pm PT
Bump.

I walked past these as part of a 6-day loop hike. The rock quality looks better in the close up photos from that TR, from the ground they looked sort of chossy. I thought the smaller (400-600ft) walls to the left actually looked like they offer the best climbing:


Messages 1 - 35 of total 35 in this topic
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