Temporary Closure For South Half Of Machete Ridge

[Gavin]

Hey All -

Just a heads-up; I cross-posted this on the Climbing Advisories thread as well.

A temporary closure is in effect at the south half of Machete Ridge, covering all climbs from Pigeon Crack to the Hideout. This includes Derringer and Old Original. Note that this is a mandatory closure, not just a climbing advisory, and any visitors can be cited just for being found in the closure area. Closure signs clearly mark the access paths around the south side of Machete Ridge, past Corona and Dos Equis (both of which remain open).

The temporary closure was put into effect by park managers to protect sensitive wildlife from human disturbance, after several climbing parties were observed climbing on Old Original since the area was placed under the Climbing Advisories in late March. If you’d like more information, you can call the park at 831-389-4319 x276. Thanks!

[mungeclimber]

Old Original can be accessed from the North. Might be worth defining the northern limit to stop at, if ascending the descent route and going the reverse direction generally.

I didn't see a limit in the closure post.

[Gavin]

Good point, Munge. The closure applies to Old Original on the 1st to 5th pitch anchors for that line. For folks ascending up the Machete Descent - which admittedly doesn't happen much - they can still head up to the north end of Machete and the towers up there without being in the closure area.

[climberdude]

Gavin,

Thanks for the clarification.  A friend and I went up "Fish Breath Arete" in mid-May and I wanted to do the rappel bypass, but did not because we were not clear if the closure applied to the rappel bypass route.

[JC w KC redux]

"Fish Breath Arete"

[climberdude]

JC,

I know that pitch.  Like climbing a two foot wide pile of kitty litter.

[Brad Young]

JC,

I know that pitch.  Like climbing a two foot wide pile of unprotected kitty litter.

There, I tried to fix it for you 

[clink]

Who inspired the name?

[F4?]

Who bolted my vision?

[clink]

Who bolted my vision?

 I'm sure it was special

[F4?]

Broke my heat when I told brad, look at the cool line!
"Jim bolted it."

[Max]

Any idea on how long the closure may last?

[Brad Young]

Any idea on how long the closure may last?

I'm pretty sure that Gavin, who's by far the best person to answer this, is still in the High Sierra backpacking right now. So he won't get to this soon.

Meanwhile, so you don't think he's ignoring you on purpose, I can give a general, but accurate answer: this particular closure will probably remain in effect into early 2017.

[Max]

Thanks Brad! It's a bummer they had to close it because of climbers.

[Gavin]

Late to the party here, but Brad is likely correct: I'm guessing the closure will probably be in effect until December 2016 or January 2017, but I'll update folks as I get new information.