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Climbing and ... Climbing => Masters of Mud -- Pinnacles => Topic started by: Uncle Stinky on January 30, 2009, 08:29:32 AM

Title: Camping
Post by: Uncle Stinky on January 30, 2009, 08:29:32 AM
Hey all,
My family and I are camping and climbing at Pinnacles during the middle of March, during our vacation. We want to camp during the week days when it is less crowded for 3 days or so.  I can't find the campground on the Web.  Any beta would be great on which campsites and any other hints would be great.  As would any recomendations on easy climbs for the kids, 5 and 10.  I was thinking of taking them up to the High Peaks and other out of the way places.  Thanks

Jeff
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: F4? on January 30, 2009, 12:20:51 PM
The Eastside campground is run by the NPS. Not sure where to get a reservation. Let me know when you do.
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mudworm on January 30, 2009, 02:35:12 PM
Here is the reservation link (http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Pinnacles_Campground_Ca/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73984&topTabIndex=CampingSpot).
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: joe on January 31, 2009, 06:32:09 PM
teaching rock (I've heard it alternately called school house rocks and boyscout rock) in back of discovery.  great place for kids.  sinbad if they're up for it.
the sisters are probably a must do for kids.
and maybe even upper crust if you're also wanting shade.
many of the high peak climbs will be closed due to raptors.  fun to hike though and take them through the bat caves. 
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: Uncle Stinky on February 03, 2009, 09:21:29 AM
Thanks for the imput. 
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: shenoa on April 07, 2009, 12:18:46 PM
I'm putting together a trip on the 17th, and this will be the first time I've stayed here after the NPS took over.  Needless to say, the sites are all reserved on Saturday night.  I don't remember Pinnacles being very crowded before, and I was hoping for some cancellation to work in my favor.  Has any one had luck with this?

Since there will be about 10 people camping, we'll need two sites and I really don't like the Walk In sites (#1 and #2).  I was hoping for some good news from someone here.  I must climb, therefore I must camp.
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mudworm on April 07, 2009, 01:57:03 PM
...I must climb, therefore I must camp.
Nice!

Hard to predict, but it's possible. For example, last weekend, we had one site (F4 booked it), but camping did not work out for any of us. If it happened to us, it could happen to others as well. For these sites, refund can be granted (minus $10) for cancellations as late as the day before, so I'm guessing for people who can't make it might try to get some money back.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: squiddo on April 07, 2009, 02:12:12 PM
wait....what happened? You guys had a site reserved and weren't able to use it??? Did I read that wrong? CRAZY!
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: F4? on April 07, 2009, 07:59:54 PM
Quote
wait....what happened? You guys had a site reserved and weren't able to use it??? Did I read that wrong? CRAZY!

Whew, you can read. The payoff for me was a St John's burger and playing with James.

Title: Re: Camping
Post by: squiddo on April 07, 2009, 08:00:59 PM
??? I can read? Wtf
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mudworm on April 07, 2009, 08:43:27 PM
Squiddo, we missed you at the Rendezvous (http://www.mudncrud.com/forums/index.php?topic=988.msg9817;topicseen#msg9817)!
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: squiddo on April 08, 2009, 07:08:31 AM
Thanks mudworm.....I know I missed you all too. I headed to the Valley. I know, I know....Selfish (as the wife would say).
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mungeclimber on April 08, 2009, 07:49:28 AM
what did you climb Saturday?

were you dodging ice bullets at the base of el cap like the rest of us?

i saw couple 2 man crews at Reeds on the way in, but didn't recognize anyone. 

this coming weekend is looking grim for the Yos forecast.  playing it by ear...
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: F4? on April 08, 2009, 09:05:52 AM
Quote
what did you climb Saturday?

Suspicious. The last time we were in the valley looking for Squiddo we found his car in the Awanahee parking lot...


Quote
were you dodging ice bullets at the base of el cap like the rest of us?
Munge, what were you on? Did LandShark want to do PineLine again?
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mungeclimber on April 08, 2009, 09:34:49 AM
Landshark came ultra close to sending Sacherer.

He got a #6 camalot above the chockstone. Hard to get feet started on the OW.

I may have shot one of these days at getting it.  Pumpy as hell down low.

Title: Re: Camping
Post by: squiddo on April 08, 2009, 11:25:49 AM
Sacherer ROXS.....happy to have done that years ago. Is it still GREASY?

Ha, Saturday we checked out Sunshine cliff which was....isolated. Park on the side of 120 before Reeds. It's above the Cookie. Sunday we ended up at Pat and Jack. I'm planning on heading back again next weekend.
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mungeclimber on April 08, 2009, 01:08:04 PM
no grease factor at all. temps were good. Maybe in Summer it might feel like a grease fest.

are you climbing with those guys putting that stuff in?  neat area from all reports.
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: squiddo on April 08, 2009, 01:53:13 PM
I found the bottom crux to be slick. Sunshine is good with a LOAD of potential. Quite an approach and the hike out is a cardio shock. The guy that I went with had a boss put up some of the routes....
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: shenoa on April 09, 2009, 10:23:15 AM
Munge....trippy coincidence, we were camping at Upper Pines last weekend with some folks who did La Escuela on Saturday.  I may have seen you....two boats passing and all that.

Mudworm, thanks for the advice, I'll keep checking.  Here's hoping we won't get stuck in those crappy first come first serve sites!

If anyone wants to donate their great Pinnacles camping reservations (17-19) to my climbing cause, let me know.
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mungeclimber on April 09, 2009, 10:32:32 AM
Shenoa,

hah, yeah, we ran into Craig and Carolyn and company. They were getting their aid systems dialed in.

So you were camping next to them?  What did you climb on?  Did you see me and Landshark? 

We went and solo'd Sunnyside Bench route after Sachere and Cosita just as that wall was transitioning to shade. Great location with a bit a spray from the falls to add to the scenay and location.  I'm going to make that a standard end of day climb from now on.  Just plain fun, with a touch of "mungie" water in there chimney right now to make me feel at home.



Title: Re: Camping
Post by: shenoa on April 09, 2009, 10:58:53 AM
We were the noisy bunch down in #10 on Saturday night.  My apologies to whoever put in the noise complaint.  I counted 18 around the campfire that night.

Since I'm not sure what you or Landshark look like, I have no clue if I saw you.  I don't have much trad experience and Pinnacles hasn't been recommended as a place to hone those skills.  So, we just hung out around Swan Slab on Sat/Sun: Oak Tree Flake, Penelope's Problem, Claude's Somethingorother.  All in all, it was a kick ass weekend. 

Once I get more confident, I'm aiming for After Six and Munginella.  I heard aid climbing is a great way to get confident with trad fairly quickly, so I may go that route to get my butt in gear.  Heh.  Couldn't resist.
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mungeclimber on April 09, 2009, 12:57:52 PM
well see, there's yer problem right there... the gear actually goes in the butt, to prevent you from crappin yer pants on the scary aid climbing..  as they say 'it just Depends'...


 :o  ;D

LOL!!

nah, you wouldn't have seen us then, thought you may have been climbing with them but further down at Moby Saturday.

butt I definitely recommend aid climbing to get comfy with gear.  Pinns, eh, not so much.

Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mynameismud on April 09, 2009, 01:11:09 PM
I recommend climbing at the Pins regularly to get comfortable with your abilities.

If you can climb 5.9 in the Pins you can climb 5.9 anywhere.
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: shenoa on April 09, 2009, 05:01:33 PM
Mud, I'm set then!  Although there was a 5.9 start at Swam Slab that took several tries cause it was slick as snot.  It took me down a peg till I finally figured it out.  I was humbled nonetheless.

Oh hey, remind me never to lead with Munge, I don't want him thinking he can just stick his gear where the sun don't shine.  He's got funny ideas about placing gear.
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mungeclimber on April 09, 2009, 05:55:09 PM
me?

nah

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/3018661518_b0170bc19d.jpg)
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mynameismud on April 09, 2009, 07:47:15 PM
Yep Munge puts his junk in weird places.
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: squiddo on April 09, 2009, 08:12:28 PM
i'm grossed out
Title: Re: Camping
Post by: mungeclimber on April 09, 2009, 09:54:48 PM
Yep Munge puts his junk in weird places.

yup, tis called "putting it in the BACK of the truck"

y'all know what that means!

before I do that I put red nailpolish on it, so it doesn't get lost or stolen before hand.