The Balls Southerm Yosemite

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Messages 1 - 56 of total 56 in this topic
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 10, 2013 - 12:52pm PT
Last week it was super hot in Oakhurst over 100 degrees the whole week, so it's up to higher ground to find some releave, Amy and i checked out The Balls area, at 7500 feet and a cool little creek and a cold beer to chill at, way better :-), we waited for things to cool off before we looked around for a place to climb, when things cooled down we checked out the boulder garden slaps area, and right up hill from the start of the trailhead we found some short fun moderate newer climbs, great place to bring newbee climbers, fun slab climbing with lots of bolts, The Balls area is a mellow and beautiful place to hang out, happy climbing mike a.
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 10, 2013 - 12:52pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 10, 2013 - 12:53pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 10, 2013 - 12:54pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 10, 2013 - 12:54pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 10, 2013 - 12:55pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 10, 2013 - 12:56pm PT
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
Jul 10, 2013 - 01:39pm PT
Mike, I'm tempted to tell you not to let the secret out, but I haven't been alone there in years, so the secret was out long before you posted. I love this area. It's much cooler than the Valley or even Fresno Dome, has a distinct "high country" feel with colorful scenery and fun climbing.

Thanks for the posts.

John
Jonnnyyyzzz

Trad climber
San Diego,CA
Jul 11, 2013 - 05:54am PT
I love it!! This was the place I was introduced to climbing at age 11. 5 years later I climbed all over there while working for a outdoor adventure camp based out of Bass Lake. Returned again some years later climbed the Toad and camped at Jackass lake with a girlfriend. I love that area, many great memory's for me. Lots of rock to explore out there for sure. Sorry these are not great pics from some old slides. My first climbing trip
msiddens

Trad climber
Jul 11, 2013 - 01:17pm PT
TFPU...gotta check this place out one day. PS- love your Picts....,,you are always waving at me;-)
mucci

Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
Jul 11, 2013 - 01:21pm PT
Nice Mike!

Great oldschool shots, love the joe brown helmet!
Kalimon

Social climber
Ridgway, CO
Jul 11, 2013 - 01:49pm PT
Looks fun . . . thanks for the post. Didn't R.R. climb there BITD?
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Jul 11, 2013 - 03:37pm PT
The Balls are a mountain range within the Sierra Nevada, in Madera County, California. They are "glacier-carved granite domes" and have been described as "looking like smooth scoops of butterscotch ice cream".--Wiki

Like the Needles are pistachio-flavored, right?

A wannago place, for sure!

Are you listening, T Hocking?

Our kinda spot, I bet, and close to Visalia.
mctwisted

Trad climber
e.p.
Jul 11, 2013 - 11:43pm PT
sneville

climber
Jul 12, 2013 - 12:32am PT
Mike,
Nice pics. Were you at LE on Saturday? I though I saw your truck

Sean
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 12, 2013 - 12:42am PT
good evening, sure was, was that your hammock???
Fletcher

Trad climber
The great state of advaita
Jul 12, 2013 - 12:51am PT
Coolness! Now on my list. Not far from my bro-in-law's in Clovis.

Eric
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Jul 12, 2013 - 01:52pm PT
Discovered The Balls on a meandering trip guided by the Southern Yosemite guide (Spencer's?) Good times, didnt see another climber for the whole week, but it was two decades ago.
RyanD

climber
Squamish
Jul 12, 2013 - 08:32pm PT
I'll bump a climbing thread, looks like a neat place!
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Jul 14, 2013 - 08:01am PT
crazy horse

Trad climber
fresno, ca
Jul 15, 2013 - 02:38pm PT
there are other folks besides J who would like to keep the balls off the internet.
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 15, 2013 - 03:44pm PT
hi all, come on how, like climbers are really going to go up there if i post stuff on the net, and how many times have you been there???, and if you do go alot, how many climbers have you seen there???, most climbers want to go to t-meadows and or the valley, not southern yosemite! i think it's a good thing to share all this beauty with others, that is one of the problems with southern yosemite, is no one wanted to share info, on fa's and stuff they put up, and the end result was and is people bolting over established routes, the same routes with multiple names, and a ton of california fa's, so i am sure the stuff i post no one really pay's much attention to it any way, so i think your secret climbing spot is safe from the masses, happy climbing mike a.
sneville

climber
Jul 15, 2013 - 03:44pm PT
Matt,
Funny how the Balls did not make it in the new guidebook but lost eagle did. I agree with Matt, both places should be kept a secret especially lost eagle. That place can't handle high traffic.

Sean
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Jul 15, 2013 - 04:37pm PT
Done a couple of routes on Nightwatch. Good stuff!

Hey Mike, I keep running into Mike Hernandez and Campagna at CRSP on the weekends. I thought Mike was you when we introduced each other.

Cheers!
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 15, 2013 - 04:43pm PT
hi, if crowds are boging you down at castle go to hernandaz's hide out, fun mellow spot, happy climbing mike a.
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Jul 15, 2013 - 04:47pm PT
Yeah, Mike, he mentioned it but I didn't bug him for details. Yet.

The parking lot was full at CRSP at 9AM last weekend! Unbelievable. We think it may have to do with the new Falcon guide.

mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 15, 2013 - 05:37pm PT
hi, i was there at 9am yesterday morning, and it was prety chillin until 1:30pm, but i was smoked by then and ready for a cool beer, the weather is going to by not bad for this time of the year, so i think i am going there tomorrow after work for a little boulder sesh, happy climbing mike a.
Ricky D

Trad climber
Sierra Westside
Jul 15, 2013 - 06:07pm PT
If it bugs you guys that the Internet has discovered The Balls - I know a couple of locals over in Arnold Meadow who could blow a couple of bridges and close off the whole Upper Sierra Vista Loop to intruders.

bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Jul 15, 2013 - 06:08pm PT
If it bugs you guys that the Internet has discovered The Balls - I know a couple of locals over in Arnold Meadow who could blow a couple of bridges and close off the whole Upper Sierra Vista Loop to intruders.

If this goes down, let me know!!! I wanna watch.
Ricky D

Trad climber
Sierra Westside
Jul 15, 2013 - 06:16pm PT
How about I do this - I'll be going up to my cabin in the area in a few weeks and since I have Forest Service Winter Gate keys (perks of owning property in the woods) - I'll just lock the road gates behind me!

Then the Balls will be MINE...ALL MINE...HAHAHAHAHAA!
Ricky D

Trad climber
Sierra Westside
Jul 15, 2013 - 07:21pm PT
Mine All Mine HAHAHAHHA
Ricky D

Trad climber
Sierra Westside
Jul 15, 2013 - 07:46pm PT
Stay away from The Balls...people who look like this live in the area...

mucci

Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
Jul 15, 2013 - 09:47pm PT
You are my hero Ricky bobby.
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 17, 2013 - 08:41pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 17, 2017 - 02:32pm PT
I been climbing there alot this season and the road is still open was there the other day the temps were in the high 60's, but the whole season only seen John& Sue a couple time and the bolt Greebo's a couple times this season as well, but they are all at the (so called secret place) Lol doing their thing, besides that super dead there as far as climbers go, with all that said, some of those bolted routes are big fun :-), happy climbing Mike A. Ps That old guy is really sick those days and has not been putting up any climbs let alone doing any climbing!!!
Flip Flop

climber
Earth Planet, Universe
Dec 17, 2017 - 09:40pm PT
Bump for the goods
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 18, 2017 - 04:57pm PT
Hi bro, all good, I am sure you did not know and were thinking your were being funny, I get it, Not trying to get up on the soap box and preach, but I think what is soooo wrong with the taco, people can be sooo mean here on the Forum and would say things to other here that they would never say in person to their face!!!, that is why I almost never post any thing here on the taco I do not want to get all caught up in others bad energy, so not saying your like that because you said sorry and I think most here would never do that, cool Bro :-), but just saying wish more here on the forum would have more positive energy and not be soooo quit to put others down and show a little more respect to others!!! We all are on the same page and all are here because we all love climbing RIGHT!!! Just a thought on the Forum, Happy Climbing, Merry Christmas, have an awesome New Years, cheers Mike A. Ps hope to see you up here so we can talk climbing with cold beer!!! lol :-)
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
Dec 18, 2017 - 05:32pm PT
I like the place....
when all I could do was walk about 300 feet before I needed to sit down and let the legs/back de-spazz- I made 3 or 4 trips to the slabs just a bit down from the camp.

I found some nicely bolted face climbs... 5.7 and up. Really helped with my PT- climbing slabs got the legs working again.

I liked camping at that campground, big trees, old time bathrooms and colorful characters from Fresno/Clovis.

And Mike A .... I know what you mean about the rudeness so prevalent around here.... best to just ignore it. I think its just the net and people will write things down that they would never dream of saying to your face.

So the Road is still open?

Maybe Christmas at the Balls?

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good nite.


mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Dec 18, 2017 - 05:41pm PT
Bolts & slings is about all you may need.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
Dec 18, 2017 - 06:20pm PT
Minarets is NOT open.

Beasore is, but storm coming Wednesday.
OnsightOrGoHome

Trad climber
Fair Oaks
Dec 19, 2017 - 09:54pm PT
View from the top of Book of Revelation this past summer.
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Dec 22, 2017 - 11:01am PT
some of those bolted routes are big fun

Some of those bolts inspire confidence, to NOT fall :-)

Taken a month ago on an early route on the Golden Toad:

Ricky D

Trad climber
Sierra Westside
Dec 22, 2017 - 11:08am PT
What Munge said - Minarets Road is being rebuilt where last winter's rains undercut the road in 5 places. Only open to locals for an hour in the morning and an hour in the late afternoon.

Beasore is open, but watch for some serious black ice at the summit and down thru the Grizzly Road split.
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 22, 2017 - 02:32pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:10pm PT
Super fun time climbing and bouldering and parting at The balls this summer :-)
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:11pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:12pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:13pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:15pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:16pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:17pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:26pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:26pm PT
mike a.

Sport climber
ca
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2018 - 07:27pm PT
Climberdude

Trad climber
Clovis, CA
Oct 2, 2018 - 05:17am PT
Nothing but choss up there, best look elsewhere for climbing.
Minerals

Social climber
The Deli
Oct 2, 2018 - 09:24am PT
Mike, were you bouldering at the east end of The Balls in the afternoon on Friday, September 7th, and driving a Subaru Outback?
Messages 1 - 56 of total 56 in this topic
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