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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Jun 13, 2016 - 04:36pm PT
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That sucks. Rangers leave it closed on the long weekend until the last day of the holiday weekend. Thereby they can say "we opened it ON the holiday weekend" but clearly not at a convenient time to be able to use it.
I still haven't been here yet. This failure must be corrected.
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nathanael
climber
CA
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Jun 13, 2016 - 05:24pm PT
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It was my first time up there. So so good, will definitely be making the return trip sometime soon. We had the most of the week to work with so we spent Sunday at Dome Rock, and then 3 full days at the Needles. And we had the place completely to ourselves. Wednesday was the busiest day with a whopping 2 other parties in the entire place. An absolute circus.
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EP
Trad climber
Way Out There
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Jun 13, 2016 - 07:14pm PT
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Last time I climbed there I took my old Stump Jumper and guitar while waiting for my friend to climb The Howling again. First day was the bike with no suspension. Flying over the handlebars and living to tell about it was memorable. Ate dinner, played guitar, and slept in the truck.
My buddy showed up the second day and we had our way with Herb Laeger's 5.8. He was so damn smooth in his day 5.10 was just too easy for him. The buddy wanted to jump on Stars and Stripes Forever next, but I was feeling the bike crash and opted out.
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selfish man
Gym climber
Austin, TX
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Jun 13, 2016 - 07:19pm PT
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Thanks for the information, guys. Mountain biking that road sounds fun, but we have people flying in and driving a rental, so, logistically, that would not work too well.
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YogaSquirrel
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jun 21, 2016 - 01:45pm PT
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Hey All!
Does anyone know if there is access to running water via the kern river?
Also if you have hiked in and camped at the base how much water per day per person did you bring?
any help would be appreciated. Planning on heading out there this Thursday to Sunday> would love it if we could spend the whole time in the back country without coming back to the car.
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nathanael
climber
CA
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Jun 21, 2016 - 01:56pm PT
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We gave it some thought and looked around but I don't think you'll find any water without hiking wayyyy down the valley to find the Kern or some other river. There were a few patches of dirty snow but that was 3 weeks ago.
If you're climbing hard, especially in the sun at all, you'll likely go through a lot of water. 4 L per person per day? Depends on what you're cooking. Basically big wall rations.
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Coach37
Social climber
Philly
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Jun 21, 2016 - 01:58pm PT
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The thing about the Needles that cracks me up, is that the shitter at the trailhead is sitting right in the middle of a spring. You could have probably put a potable water source right there drawing off the spring, little hand pump or something.
Instead, someone decided to put the poop there instead of 100yds away uphill back toward the camping. WTF?
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jun 21, 2016 - 04:28pm PT
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I thought the gate was open. No?
There is no running water at the Needles. The Kern is quite a distance and about 4,000 vertical feet away. I have packed in there for the weekend, but the packs were heavy because of the water, and even then we were pretty thirsty because he couldn't carry that much with all our camping and climbing gear. You could definitely do an overnighter, say Thursday and Friday, but I wouldn't hike in for any longer than that.
BTW, my wife would appreciate your profile picture.
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kovarpa
Mountain climber
Bay Area
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Jun 21, 2016 - 09:25pm PT
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Road is in a great shape.you can drive a gti all the way to the trailhead, just slow.
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Grippa
Trad climber
Salt Lake City, UT
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Apr 26, 2017 - 06:13pm PT
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Anyone venture up yonder recently?
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kev
climber
A pile of dirt.
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Apr 26, 2017 - 07:20pm PT
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Also curious about Dome Rock access...
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Apr 26, 2017 - 09:10pm PT
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Hwy. 190 is closed just south of Ponderosa until about Memorial Day (meaning you need to approach from the north, through Camp Nelson), but it's not a far walk on the road to get to Dome Rock. I sometimes ski it in the winter and it doesn't take long. Mt. bikes would make it really quick.
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mooch
Trad climber
Tribal Base Camp (Kernville Annex)
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Apr 27, 2017 - 08:21am PT
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Additionally, Sherman Pass Rd. is open to the Long Meadow gate, allowing access to Ghost and Spirit Rock. However, the gate allowing access to Long Meadow and beyond (The Domelands) is locked. I know a few folks who have cabins out there, who also live in Kernville. They've been working to get Sequoia NF headquarters to open it up before Mother's Day weekend. Of course, most of these people have burly lifted 4x4's.....
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nathanael
climber
CA
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Highway just opened up, road to the Needles still closed of course.
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mooch
Trad climber
Tribal Base Camp (Kernville Annex)
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Hey Jeremy -
I'm pretty sure you can get out there from Johnsondale but I'll check it out this weekend.
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mooch
Trad climber
Tribal Base Camp (Kernville Annex)
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Can't commit to anything until the weekend of the 20th. And even then, I'm busy setting up things for Kris's slide show. Put me down as a 'maybe' but would love for us to climb soon! Gotta reconnect. BTW, I wasn't clear on your phone number when you posted it last time. email me at climb_on_dude@yahoo.com please. :)
I'll go up to road's end to check out the trail to the base of Voodoo this coming Friday morning.
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hooblie
climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
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he said
UPDATE
Good news for those that are thinking about hitting up local climbing areas during the weekend of the slide show. First, Lloyd Meadows Road is OPEN! This is the road that heads north from Johnsondale, out to the climbers trail for the base of Voodoo Dome (part of The Needles), approximately 13.5 miles from turning onto that road. Maggie and I spent 4 hours doing "spring cleaning" (lopers in hand) on the trail..... boy, did it need it! Lots of overgrown sections. Easy to read now....all the way to 'White Punks On Dope'!
Next, the Great Western Highway is OPEN too! Went to Dome Rock first......access road is dry and snow free! Went to the Needles Lookout Rd next. Sadly, there is a 5 ft diameter tree blocking access about 1/4 mile down the road. No idea when the forest service will cut it back. Possible other trees laying over the road too.
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