An early start to drive to So Cal without the morning commute in the Bay Area got me out over 152 and onto I-5 fairly quickly. When the rolling hills West of I-5 light up after a winter rain, it really can be quite nice. So started my post xmas week. It wasn't long before I had one final day before having to go back to work on Monday.
My appreciation for light has increased since getting a newer camera.
But there is much to learn... however, snow in So Cal is something to be cherished despite the lack of image composition...
Made it. Hung out. Ate...a lot. Helped with family computers, pulled out memories from boxes in the garage. Toy trucks, old comics and the like. Read my camera owners manual and learned how to turn off the flash while in AF mode. Victory is mine! Read other stuff...
Left So Cal late in the evening, and about 1am hit Paso Robles. I sacked out there. The next morning finished the last of the drive to Pinnacles to meet up with Magnum PO, JC, Nelkins, and the frequent flyer miles Waldo!
First things first, we got the final redpoint done on a new line. It was a blast to climb thru on this, soon to be 3.5 star classic.
After that, we weren't sure about rating and supplemental bolt placements. So we had some of the guys take some trips up the route.
Magnum PO working with the morning cold..
Nelkins cruising the route like a Pinnacles veteran...
But rightly 'eye opening' with a tested technique...
Waldo gets warmed up while we have the sunlight. Waldo "cleans" some dirt and small pebbles off the Self-Selecting Substrate Where the Sun Shines before stance bolting on the next project.
JC gets the benefit of the last light of the morning in his eyes.
Friends high on Costanoan are making a day of a classic moderate up in Citadel Canyon.
Then before you know it, 3 bolts go in by hand on stance over where the sun isn't shining. Magnum does one. Then Waldo another. JC a third. As the wall steepens you see Nelkins finding the luscious stance on the steep section for the fourth bolt. A Pinnacles classic in the making. Magnum PO scopes the possibilities off right, and JC mills about smartly.
Soon enough it's JC's turn again (more specifically because I'm soft and light duty because of the holidays vacationing). He pulls a brilliant move up onto a decent cobble and gets in the fifth bolt. Comfortable enough to speculate about the moves above.
Magnum is back at it. This shot reminds me of Valley old skool pics for some reason.
The ring of hammers is like a sing song bird trying to find the rest of his comrade birds. Perhaps shouting out a warning that nefarious animals are nearby.
Winding out the day, temps drop, colors pop and a smile grows.
Cheers,
Mungie
