Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Flydude
Trad climber
Prather, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 30, 2013 - 01:00am PT
|
Will be headed up on Saturday June 1 around 9am to clean up and start to stabilize stuff. If anyone is interested...come on up...and bring a helmet, rope and a cell phone...dwight
|
|
rockklimber
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
|
|
|
May 30, 2013 - 12:27pm PT
|
Sorry for the delayed response. I was asked to move my photos from the Tollhouse Faceoff 2012 forum to a new thread, but I was in the Sierras this weekend and didn't get the chance to do it.
Dwight, thanks for creating this new thread. I looked at the picture you posted showing the debris field and I think you have the correct area where the boulder was originally located, but I modified the picture slightly to include a slightly larger area to the left where we encountered lots of debris.
I read through this thread and I agree that this boulder was possibly trundled off. The area where it was resting was relatively flat and doesn't look likely that that huge boulder would spontaneously break loose but who knows.
I saw the suggestion of doing a cleanup effort on June 1st. I live 3hrs away, but will see if I can make it.
I think it was micronut who suggested bringing a haul bag and wall hauler to bring up some of the larger blocks. I think that sounds like a good idea to minimize the chance of taking out some of the bolted hardware on the wall below.
A stiff bristle broom might be a good idea for the large gravel.
And a sign at the base to keep unknowing parties away until the cleanup is finished would be a good idea too.
Will see what I can do to make it up there and maybe see if I can recruit others.
Stan
|
|
Dapper Dan
Trad climber
Menlo Park
|
|
|
May 30, 2013 - 01:01pm PT
|
Wow it looks like you could slide a few bottle jacks under there and get it moving . Pretty reckless behavior whoever did it . Doesn't Tollhouse road run under the crag ? I wonder if the rock made it that far ...
|
|
kev
climber
A pile of dirt.
|
|
|
May 30, 2013 - 01:12pm PT
|
I think it was micronut who suggested bringing a haul bag and wall hauler to bring up some of the larger blocks. I think that sounds like a good idea to minimize the chance of taking out some of the bolted hardware on the wall below.
I don't know working top down to clean this might be safer. Lower down filling up your pig(s) as you go.
AS far as the gate goes about 5 years ago when it got put in it was routinely being ripped out by the local meth-head drunks. There is another way to drive to the top if you've got 4x4. Years back I had to deal with removing a piece of rebar conveniently hidden in a rut so as to keep my tire whole.
I might be there to help - my weekend migration patterns have yet to settle down this year...
kev
|
|
Dapper Dan
Trad climber
Menlo Park
|
|
|
May 30, 2013 - 01:41pm PT
|
The alternate 4x4 road to the top is pretty steep , but the huge ruts have been filled last time I was there . I think most 4x4's could make it ...
|
|
DaveyTree
Trad climber
Fresno
|
|
Showed up early for TT clean up and found Micro & Macro topping out on Free & Easy.
Paul & Dwight showed a bit later and the work began on TT.
Lower portions of routes between TT and Nuts & Bolts might have some sandy spots but should be clear of anything big.
Nice to finally meet you face to face Dwight. I will send you the videos of the trundling. Maybe you will be better apt at posting them.
Cheers for Micro's knee! It's feeling good but he needs some volunteers to mule the approach to he base of Capitan.
|
|
Paul Martzen
Trad climber
Fresno
|
|
Here is a blurry photo of the missing boulder before it was missing.
Here is a slightly less blurry version.
|
|
Ropeboy
Trad climber
Fresno CA
|
|
Dingus and Kev,
The current Tollhouse Traverse bolts are replacements for the old ones placed in 1960. This was the piton era, before nuts were available in this country. Pitons did not work well in the shallow wide cracks of the first pitch. This was when the standard rope length was 120 feet, and when one bolt was considered enough for a belay.
"first climbed by George Sessions, Merle Alley, and Jerry Dixon in Feb 60. They approached the cliff from the road below, a considerable effort in itself because of the thick brush. Climbing in mountain boots the first ascent party used five bolts and nine pitons." -Climbers Guide to Tollhouse Rock, Jan 84
So the bolt locations are historical and were in use before many of today's climbers were born.
Mark Haymond
|
|
Paul Martzen
Trad climber
Fresno
|
|
As we were cleaning up, we swept off a very large amount of sand and gravel from the area just below where the boulder had been. We also pushed off any chunks that were in unstable positions. All of these chunks quickly disintegrated as they tumbled down. This indicated to us that the boulder was highly decomposed.
It seems possible that the boulder went on its own when a critical support turned to sand. Two small sand piles along the lower edge of where the boulder rested, might indicate the locations of some critical support failure that allowed the boulder to drop and start tumbling.
It is impossible for me to say for sure, but a natural failure seems as or more plausible to me as a deliberate push.
Sure would be interesting if someone found and posted photos giving a good closer view of the boulder in previous years. It is an area where people tend to unrope and change shoes after coming up the Traverse or any of the main wall routes.
|
|
Al_Smith
climber
San Francisco, CA
|
|
Thanks for the clean up efforts!
|
|
Flydude
Trad climber
Prather, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 3, 2013 - 05:32pm PT
|
The rock is the smaller "egg-like" rock to the left of the residual and larger freestanding cap rocks. In all the debris seemed fairly decomposed but I wouldn't have wanted to be under it when it went. The whole face left of the Tollhouse Traverse looks like it got straffed. All the fixed pro I could see looked in tact but I didn't see the first two pitches of Shining Path or Elephant Walk. The Tollhouse Traverse was pouring sand like an hourglass...the first two pitches are probably a little grainy. Some of the larger loose blocks we trundled spun off little planets...pretty spectacular. I feel pretty good about getting the dangerious stuff off the face...dwight
|
|
Nate D
climber
San Francisco
|
|
Good work, fellas! Thanks.
|
|
labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
|
|
Thank you all for your efforts! I'm glad to hear it may have been natural vs trundled....
|
|
DaveyTree
Trad climber
Fresno
|
|
It was the first time I climbed with a broom holstered thru a gear loop.
|
|
CKR
climber
|
|
|
Oct 14, 2013 - 09:00pm PT
|
Was on the traverse today and noticed there is still alot of the grainy stuff from the 3 rd pitch up. No big loose blocks but it is pretty slick still.
|
|
Flydude
Trad climber
Prather, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 17, 2013 - 08:04pm PT
|
Better bring a broom up to the Faceoff this weekend.
|
|
rnevius
Trad climber
The Range of Light
|
|
|
Oct 17, 2013 - 09:41pm PT
|
Brooms are aid.
|
|
scotticus
climber
|
|
|
Nov 21, 2013 - 11:47pm PT
|
Anyone know the current status? How about camping? Heading up with a few friends this weekend, wondering if I should bring my Swiffer...
|
|
micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
|
|
|
Oct 10, 2016 - 02:30pm PT
|
Not too much rockfall that I'm aware of lately but it seems to me like Tollhouse Traverse is getting more and more loose flakes in its midsection every time I head up it.
Bumping all Tollhouse Posts on a slow Monday at work.....
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!