Lenticular Limbo on the Third Pillar (Maysho?)

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Messages 1 - 37 of total 37 in this topic
Impaler

Trad climber
Berkeley
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 14, 2008 - 05:20pm PT
There's a sentence of a description in the Fiddler and Moynier guidebook about this route on the Third Pillar of Dana. It says that it follows cracks (10d) on the broad face just right of the regular route and joins it a pitch or two from the top. It says that Peter (Maysho) did FA. Has anyone done this one? I'd love to get a more detailed description or a topo of the route before next weekend. I remember looking over in that direction from the regular route and seeing several potential routes. Thanks.

Vlad
HighDesertDJ

Trad climber
Arid-zona
Jul 14, 2008 - 05:24pm PT
I doubt this route is terribly obvious considering how many features there are on that thing. Sounds like an adventure!
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jul 14, 2008 - 06:07pm PT
Here's a route that's further right:

http://www.summitpost.org/route/157318/-one-that-almost-got-away-third-pillar.html
b.p.

climber
bishop
Jul 14, 2008 - 07:09pm PT
The topo is in the old Reid/Falkenstein guidebook, if you can get a copy. I don't have a scanner, but I could fax it, if you e-mail me. Good route, stout first pitch, links up to the regular route at the second to last belay.
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jul 15, 2008 - 12:04am PT
from Rock Climbs of Tuolumne Meadows Reid & Falkenstein ©1983

Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jul 15, 2008 - 12:10am PT
interestingly, there is not much info given in Reid & Falkenstein, it says Peter Mayfield 1980s but gives no other information on partners, and the date is pretty general. The topo is in the most recent Reid & Falkenstein...

Peter have any more info?

Also there is the North Buttress route, 5.7 by Phil Bircheff and Gary Ogg, 7/71, anyone know about this?

There is a climb on Ferdinand's Point, Minotar 5.8 put up by Claude Fiddler and Rich Cashner, 7/85... but no information, just where is Ferdinand's Point?
Impaler

Trad climber
Berkeley
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 15, 2008 - 01:20pm PT
Ed, thanks so much! I'll get on this one next weekend! Fiddler and Moynier guidebook mentions the name of the partner on the FA, but I forgot the name as I never heard it before.
BCD

Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Jul 15, 2008 - 07:04pm PT
The first time I set out to climb the Third Pillar, we got off route and ended up on some scary water streaks in between the two routes. Then we continued on Lenticular Limbo for one pitch, before it rejoins the regular route.

So I can’t really offer much info on the rest of the climb, but that one pitch was excellent. Clean cracks and corners. In my opinion, I think it’s even better (more sustained) than the lower stretches of the regular route.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:02pm PT
This might help.
A picture of that section of the wall:



In the picture below, the red line is a route I did in 1980: Pajamarama, 5.10a/b.
The green line depicts where I think Lenticular Limbo goes.
Perhaps Mayfield will pipe in and draw the line for us.

Karl Baba

Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
Jul 15, 2008 - 10:56pm PT
Whenever I've been up there, I'm amazed that there aren't more routes on that thing. (perhaps there are, and like tarbuster's, folks don't know)

Seems like there potential even to the top around to the left outside this image


Peace

karl

Double D

climber
Jul 15, 2008 - 11:37pm PT
Peter's partner, if I remember, was Scott Grafton. They both told me about the route shortly after doing it and it sounded really cool. I'm somewhat surprised that it hasn't had a stream of traffic on it from what I heard about the quality. I'm sure Peter will post up soon.

Nice photos BTW!

Mr. Grafton coming into and emerging out of Keyhole Pass from a trans-Sierra ski trip so long ago.



Ceciel Graffo, if you're lurking out there fess up!
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Jul 16, 2008 - 11:28am PT
August 1980, on my birthday, Scott Grafton and I went up on The Harding Route of Mt. Conness. Mayfield had loaned us his 7 mm trail line. As I was heading up the offwidth, it started to hail. By the time I did the traverse right into the next crack system, there was 6 inches of hail on the ledge at my feet and lightning striking the cauldron all around our backs.

With the help of that 7 mil we got down in about 15 minutes. Once out at the parking lot at Saddlebag, we found Fiddler and Keating barbecuing steaks from Claude's ranch in Auburn, which they graciously shared with us.

I know Scott went to medical school. He liked riding road bikes, was technical minded and very sociable.
Double D

climber
Jul 17, 2008 - 03:46pm PT
Bump for details from Maysho (or Maynotsho!)
Double D

climber
Jul 18, 2008 - 12:34am PT
Maynotsho?
Maysho

climber
Truckee, CA
Jul 18, 2008 - 01:38am PT
Showing up finally! I am in the middle of the busiest three weeks I have ever had, 220 kids for multi-day programs over 24 days. I am producing and guiding every day and night, and the crux is tomorrow and Saturday with 145 9th graders in the house, 11 guides in the field each day.

Scott Grafton and I did it 1980, spitting precip on and off for most of the route, full blizzard on the last pitch and for the hike down. We were super stoked and thought the route was real quality, especially since it joins right before the best part of the classic route, and adds three 5.10 pitches to get there. We originally called it Tugboat Annie, but then I decided that the fine route was deserving of a name with more gravitas, and changed it. Scott went on to a career as a leading neurology researcher, still gets out for occasional forays with Claude Fiddler.

I think Tarbuster's photo shows it right, Karl Baba's shots are from a bit too far right to show the opening pitch.

First pitch involved going up the prominent corner then, traversing out left to double cracks on the arete. With the pro technology of 1980, the opening moves on the arete seemed a bit stout and sporty, like you might rip a piece and slam back into the corner. Probably not too bad with the newfangled stuff. 2nd pitch had some 4th class, then a short bit of 10a finger crack. 3rd was cool, a thin crack to the right side of the flake below the "Ear" of the regular route, then your onto the awesome regular route summit pitches.

Hope you get-er-done Impaler, and let us know how you like it!

Peter
Double D

climber
Jul 18, 2008 - 10:31am PT
Thanks Peter (Didsho!) If you or Claude have access to Scott's contact info (or any one else for that matter) please email it to me. I'd love to touch bases with him again.
Hoots

climber
Toyota Tacoma
Jun 29, 2012 - 01:25pm PT

Topo drawn after climbing route on June 25. Ratings as we found them. Your mileage may vary. Semi serious route, there are more than a few sections where blowing it will leave you hurting.
A couple things to consider:
-Don't traverse too low on first pitch. There is a thin seam higher up that you take over. Otherwise it is pretty grainy climbing very high above gear. I can imagine climbing this on 1980 gear being interesting.
-There is a major death flake in the middle of the double cracks. it dropped down a couple inches when i touched it. Should have trundled, but didn't.
-Thin (00 and 0 C3s protect the last pitch before meeting up with the regular route. Pretty heads up climbing, no fall terrain for sure.

Good route, you are stoked when you make it up to the regular route and can turn the high focus level down a bit.

Here are a couple more pics.


Also, does anyone know the source of the many new bolts on The One That Almost Got Away? Looks to be bolted as a free climb, the old topo shoes A2+ and only 2 or 3 bolts... Looks kinda good!

Impaler

Social climber
Berkeley
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 29, 2012 - 02:05pm PT
Damn! I forgot about that one when I moved away from California shortly after starting this thread... Thanks for the info and sweet pictures, Hoots. I want to get on it all over again now!
Hoots

climber
Toyota Tacoma
Jun 29, 2012 - 07:44pm PT
Here is a reply from Alois Smrz regarding the bolts on The One That Almost Got Away:

Hi Ryan,
I have been told about it. It is not my doing and nobody asked me if it would be ok to bolt it. No one came forward to say I did it, either. Wimps! I don't agree with it, but I'm too old to go up there to chop it all. We did not place any bolts on the FA, used knifeblades only. At the start of the headweall pitch, there was one existing bad spinner bolt and one hole which we assumed were partly drilled by the Lenticular Limbo guys on their FA (the two routes meet at this point, just one spot). Pretty sad, this was a very good mini-wall in a wonderful alpine setting, not a sport climb. Sorry, I'm an old school, I think it is unethical to alter someone's existing route, especially since there is a reasonable knifeblade seam all the way on that pitch. We tried to make it harder on ourselves during the FA, not easier. I would hope people respect what we tried to do and leave it be.

splitclimber

climber
Sonoma County
Jun 29, 2012 - 09:41pm PT
another perspective



Maysho

climber
Soda Springs, CA
Jun 30, 2012 - 12:39am PT
No...the "Lenticular Limbo Guys" did not drill any bolts, nor did they even think about carrying a bolt kit...puhleeze...we were good climbers enjoying a short alpine rock adventure...

Nice job Hoots on the climb and the topo above, was how I remembered it!

Peter
Impaler

Social climber
Berkeley
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 10, 2012 - 12:18am PT
Finally got on it yesterday. Awesome route! The first pitch is definitely the crux. Sustained and a very pumpy warm-up. However, the hardest moves are probably on the 3rd pitch where you have to layback a rounded edge with tiny gear way below you feet. There is an RP with a broken cable there that is nearly impossible to see because it's so small - definitely makes you think before casting out on that section! We managed to do the whole route in 4 pitches with a 60 m rope. You can stretch the 2nd pitch all the way to just below the 10d. The last is still the money pitch!



P.S.: I saw chalk on some of the cruxes, so I guess it gets done a bit.
This shortcut only takes an extra 3 hours

Trad climber
Santa Barbara
Apr 12, 2013 - 12:45pm PT
OK... I've held off for 33 years. But it's time to confess. The reason it was going to be called Tugboat Annie was that Peter had to pretty much haul me up the whole thing. Whoever said we were "hardmen" on another website should revise that to "hardman". Peter. I was just the domestique on the job. I completely forgot any and all details until the pictures here.... Ah yes... That touchy little leftward traverse. You can really get launched with a wall smacker if you start too low. That was a blast. All done with hip belays and hexagonal nuts.
Bruce Morris

Trad climber
Belmont, California
Aug 25, 2016 - 12:33am PT
Ed H wrote:

There is a climb on Ferdinand's Point, Minotar 5.8 put up by Claude Fiddler and Rich Cashner, 7/85... but no information, just where is Ferdinand's Point?

I believe Ferdinand's Point and the Dogs Head on Mt Dana are one and the same.
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Aug 25, 2016 - 11:29am PT
just where is Ferdinand's Point?
Would this be another name for Ferdinand's Nose? Or vice-versa.
This is the notable craggy outcrop that looks down on Tioga Pass from the north slope of Mt Dana. It's visible from the road for a couple of miles each direction.
Although since it was Ed who posed the question I may be way off base.

Trivia question of the week, no old-timers may apply:
Where does the name come from?
ablegabel

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Aug 25, 2016 - 11:38am PT
Wasn't he the park ranger at Tioga Pass for as long as anyone can remember.

 Eric Gabel
Bruce Morris

Trad climber
Belmont, California
Aug 25, 2016 - 12:26pm PT
Wasn't he the park ranger at Tioga Pass for as long as anyone can remember.

Eric Gabel

Yes, Eric, Ranger Ferdinand was a feature at the Tioga Pass Entrance Station for decades. He always individually saluted each tourist as they passed through the gate and added, "Watch for deer on the road" before they drove on. One of the lunch burgers at TPR is still named after him, as "The Ferdinand".

The Park Service busted him down and people said that contributed to his demise of heart problems down in San Jose shortly after they reassigned him to Crane Flat. Some say the problem was the much younger woman he lived with in his residence up at the Pass. Raised official eyebrows, but like Schultz on Hogan's Heroes, "I know nothing!"

When he passed, it was definitely the end of an era. "Fin de siecle, fin du monde." Unforgettable character. Pure Yosemite BITD. There must be thousands of stories and anecdotes. One of a kind!
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Sep 2, 2016 - 06:46pm PT
Bruce Morris

Trad climber
Belmont, California
Sep 3, 2016 - 01:36am PT

Okay, draw in all the routes on the Third Pillar, including the Third Pillar route itself. That show how all the routes fit together. Where are Peter Croft's variation to the left of the normal Third Pillar route?
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Sep 3, 2016 - 12:10pm PT
Bruce,
There are some great photo overlays of the Regular Third Pillar route by Mark P. Thomas on this thread:
http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Not-Another-Third-Pillar-of-Dana-TR-GoPro-TR/t12263n.html
Note: if you click on some of the photos you get very high res versions.
Example:
I've drawn the lines of the other routes on Steph Abegg's photo below, as it is from further back and shows the features a little better.
Bruce Morris

Trad climber
Belmont, California
Sep 3, 2016 - 12:55pm PT
I'll draw the lines of the other routes in on these photos, as they have better lighting or are from further back than your photo and show the features a little better.

Yeah, Clint, good public service. That should put matters to rest. Except don't you think there must be some unreported routes to the left of the Regular 3rd Pillar route? You must have seen Peter Croft's topo of the variations to the left. What about further left still? Maybe they haven't been done yet? Who knows.
splitclimber

climber
Sonoma County
Sep 3, 2016 - 01:20pm PT
I remember reading about a route on the formation looker's right of 3rd pillar. Can't recall if it was on supertopo or somewhere else.

thx Bruce and everyone else for working on these topos and overlays.

found the threads

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1228924


http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1716965&msg=1720355#msg1720355
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Sep 3, 2016 - 02:30pm PT
Bruce,
I added the full overlay photo to my post above.
I don't know about routes to the left,
except I heard you can rappel down that side. Haven't tried it.
I have climbed the Regular Route (2005), and the 5.8 version of the Direct Var. (2001).
Bruce Morris

Trad climber
Belmont, California
Sep 3, 2016 - 03:10pm PT
I did the Third Pillar Regular Route in 1975 and can't remember much except for the last 2 pitches where the business is.

That second picture with the lines drawn in nails it. All it needs now is a hand-drawn detailed topo ala Don & Falk. But this certainly sets matters straight.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Sep 3, 2016 - 03:24pm PT
Now that I've drawn the overlay, I want to go back there and climb all the pitches I haven't done yet!
BLUEBLOCR

Social climber
joshua tree
Sep 3, 2016 - 07:10pm PT
me too! Thanks for the beta, Bro's!
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
Sep 4, 2016 - 08:41am PT
Third Pillar Prancer here too
Why's Donini always busting on it though?


I really wish the folks who took me up there were lurkin' here.
We did a thing we wanted call it
'(four)4 Fur Balls In A Hard Place'
we all four fell off at the same place, so it was hard 5.11
looking at the pics isn't helping but I think it struck off left
After a pitch or two from the easier (alternate) Start?
There would be a two knife blade bail point, at the top of a (ten foot?) Seamless groove capped by a band of black rock?
Messages 1 - 37 of total 37 in this topic
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