Trip Report
A bridge over the River Owen's: A Photo TR
Saturday October 21, 2017 7:50pm
I've wanted for a while to do something concrete for the climbing community, and I suspected that once I moved to Bishop, I'd have the opportunity. It came knocking soon enough. With some very heavy releases from Crowley Lake--and more forecast--it was time to add/upgrade some crossings to improve crag access in the Owen's River Gorge. The unstoppable Marty Lewis was the MC. He sent out a call and a bunch of us showed up to schlep, lug, haul, and screw our way to glory.

The assembled luminaries packing loads. Lewis and Clark ain't got nuthin' on us:

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On our way down the Lower Gorge Rd.:

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Haul, schlep, haul....

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End of the line for most of the dollies--overland tote of the big boards from here:

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Assembled materials and milling climber folk:

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Peter embarks on his most ambitious lead:

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Running it out:

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He crushes!

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Marty and Peter take the measure of things:

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The bridge under construction:

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The carry down to the river:

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It fits!

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Darrel drills an anchor:

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Crank down the turnbuckles:

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MisterE makes a possible FA of the crossing:

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Marty and David race to the finish: Who will drive the Golden Screw?

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Done! 2.5 hours from parking area to finished span--boooyah!

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Ain't she purty?

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All that remained was, as Marty put it, "a half hour of high fives," and the trudge back out with the now empty dollies. We had a great time and got in a solid bridge, good for kids, dogs and aardvarks. Huge thanks to Marty for design, motivation, collecting materials and stooges to help. These things ain't free, so if you want to contribute, there's a tip jar at East Side Sports.

Climb safe and enjoy the fantastic weather.

BAd

  Trip Report Views: 4,350
Bad Climber
About the Author
Bad Climber is a climber from The People's Republic of Tehachistan

Comments
Russ Walling

Social climber
from Poofters Froth, Wyoming
  Oct 21, 2017 - 08:04pm PT
Pro effort... you dudes are the sickest™
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Author's Reply  Oct 21, 2017 - 08:06pm PT
Russ, you gotta come hurl with us next time. More bridges to come.


BAd
Russ Walling

Social climber
from Poofters Froth, Wyoming
  Oct 21, 2017 - 08:10pm PT
Someday... not during baseball playoffs though! Good job.
Dapper Dan

Trad climber
Redwood City
  Oct 21, 2017 - 08:14pm PT
no hand rails, what if I fall in?

joking aside that is rad.
hooblie

climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
  Oct 21, 2017 - 08:20pm PT
impressive demonstration of goodeggness. i'm going to sleep well tonight
rincon

climber
Coarsegold
  Oct 21, 2017 - 08:22pm PT
Kudos!
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Oct 21, 2017 - 10:41pm PT
BAM!

No sportardvarks! Lol
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Oct 21, 2017 - 11:41pm PT
hey there say, BAd... wow, YES!!! VERY WELL done...

wow, what a little ol' trek, to DO it, too...


love the pretty pup-dog!


thanks for sharing,this was fun... :)


edit note:

hee hee, was going to say, 'happy good eve'... but,
i could see that hooblie, was already going to sleep well,

so will save it for next time, :) ;)
Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
  Oct 22, 2017 - 05:30am PT
Faaaaanfreakintastic! Thanks, guys!!

Out of curiosity, any plan to seal that sucker up for weathering?

My favorite line: "Marty and David race to the finish: Who will drive the Golden Screw?"
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
  Oct 22, 2017 - 08:18am PT
Real men would have simply felled a mighty pine with their bare hands and laid it thusly over the raging torrent, Paul Bunyan style. But I guess rap bolting with that drill is what the kids are into these days.

A fine bridge nonetheless. Well done team.

Scott
justthemaid

climber
Jim Henson's Basement
  Oct 22, 2017 - 08:23am PT
Thanks again Marty and crew! You guys rock.

The high releases wiped out or seriously compromised a number of crossings to really popular areas. The Like BaD said: these bridges take $ , lumber and manpopwer to carry the materials in, so any donations are appreciated. I've got some large planks down in LA I'm hauling up in the next few weeks that will go in the kitty.
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Author's Reply  Oct 22, 2017 - 09:19am PT
Good news on the planks, Justthemaid. I think the next bridge will be for the Banana Belt, the base of which has been totally reworked--trees gone, river bed riprapped, etc. I'd like to see the crossing to Warning Signs beefed up/replaced. That thang waggles!

BAd
hooblie

climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
  Oct 22, 2017 - 11:42am PT
you guys got some kinda problem with fun?
jeff constine

Trad climber
Ao Namao
  Oct 22, 2017 - 04:30pm PT
I heard Mr E dropped a critical nut in the river! LOLOLOL!
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Author's Reply  Oct 22, 2017 - 06:20pm PT
Nope. All was fine. LOL.

BAd
L

climber
Just livin' the dream
  Oct 22, 2017 - 08:30pm PT
Excellent job you most Excellent of men!

Nice TR, BAd.
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Author's Reply  Oct 23, 2017 - 06:38am PT
Yep, Frostback, when you absolutely must have a rope gun, might as well have the best.

BAd
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
  Oct 23, 2017 - 08:38am PT
A great big thanks to all...

rottingjohnny

Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
  Oct 23, 2017 - 08:45am PT
Looks like the Jay Jensen rig..?
phylp

Trad climber
Upland, CA
  Oct 23, 2017 - 09:39am PT
This is amazing work and a great service to the climbing community.
Banana Belt could be a tough one. DWP has altered the landscape so much there. I hope something can be figured out.
I'm not sure how widely known it is about the donations jar at Eastside Sports. For years it used to sit out on the counter near the cash registers, but it's hidden away now. But all the folks who work there know where it is - just tell them you want to make a donation and they get it to the jar.

Rick A

climber
Boulder, Colorado
  Oct 24, 2017 - 03:25pm PT
Great work, all! This is the sort or thing that makes for a great climbing community.


Only downside is that it makes it easier for dogs to get to the crags.

Just kidding! I love dogs really. I kid, I kid.
LuckyPink

climber
the last bivy
  Oct 24, 2017 - 04:40pm PT
wonderful contribution, thanks for just gettin' out there and gettin' 'er dun.
susan peplow

climber
Joshua Tree, CA
  Nov 28, 2017 - 05:15pm PT
As many of you know the ORG has been experiencing water releases which have changed the river and access to much popular climbing areas. Bridges are in need of revamping to gain access which requires both manpower and materials. An example of such efforts is the recent bridge installed below China Wall (showcased in the TR) which took 8 people, 3 hours and cost nearly $250 in materials.

All proceeds of the auctioned guide will be donated to the bridge replacement project for ORG. For those of you that desire the guide this is a way to snag it and give back to climbing community.

The guide is in perfect condition with no shelf wear, no drawings/markings or highlighting. The spine is new and never been cracked.

• The starting bid, like Gorge routes, is steep... $100
• Auction ends ???, let's get this started
• Signed by Marty Lewis

Post your bids at http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=3034138&msg=3034138#msg3034138
or message me directly.

~Susan
bobinc

Trad climber
Portland, Or
  Nov 20, 2017 - 06:13am PT
I'll start the bidding at $100.
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Author's Reply  Nov 20, 2017 - 07:32am PT
Great idea, Susan. Hah, I'm already priced out of the bidding! But, yeah, we need more good bridges. MisterE did a pretty good job of beefing up the Warning Signs crossing--new tight static hand line and another board that braces the original--but it should really see a total replacement. I think, too, we need a new one at Big Tower/Pink Face. MisterE put in a good bridge, but these high flows have left it mostly under water. I've seen folks climbing over there, but I don't know how they go there, perhaps a traverse from Diamond Wall, but that looks like a PITA. Anyway, lots of good routes there that should have easier access.

Bid on, one and all.

BAd
Splater

climber
Grey Matter
  Nov 20, 2017 - 11:00am PT
If there aren't enough bids,
maybe forced conscription?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_over_the_River_Kwai
bobinc

Trad climber
Portland, Or
  Nov 24, 2017 - 08:03pm PT
Thought someone would have outbid me by now.
susan peplow

climber
Joshua Tree, CA
  Nov 28, 2017 - 05:16pm PT
Bidding moved to private thread - http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=3034138&msg=3034138#msg3034138

Christmas present for your favorite sport climber ?!
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