Quest for Mud (Special Edition)

[climberdude]

I am somewhere down at the end of the rope out of view.  You know it is going to be narrow when JC advises take off the chalk bag and all items off of your harness.

[JC w KC redux]

I am somewhere down at the end of the rope out of view.  You know it is going to be narrow when JC advises take off the chalk bag and all items off of your harness.

I took that shot looking down while I was trying to catch my breath after being birthed.
I hadn't climbed up to clip the lone bolt yet. Still had some climbing to do to top out and figure out the belay situation.

[clink]

I took that shot looking down while I was trying to catch my breath after being birthed.

 Since Climberdude was the first being you saw after "being birthed", I will totally get it if you start calling him Big Daddy.

[Brad Young]

Waldo following Prune Pinnacle on this last New Year's Eve (photos by Caitlyn Rich):

[clink]

 Ride 'em cowboy, Waldo!

 I also had a Prunoscopy with Dr. Cook attending. He fortunately didn't flip the rope while I was doing the crux, so I wouldn't pendji if a hold broke.  Now that would keep you regular!

[Brad Young]

if a hold broke....

Nothing to worry about. No holds are ever going to break off of that thing again.

[climberdude]

Waldo, the holds are all solid on that route - can't understand why you are riding the horse.   

[waldo]

Ride 'em cowboy, Waldo!

 I also had a Prunoscopy with Dr. Cook attending. He fortunately didn't flip the rope while I was doing the crux, so I wouldn't pendji if a hold broke.  Now that would keep you regular!

Just channeling my inner Eastwood. When in doubt, sit it out!

[mungeclimber]

yeehaw!

[JC w KC redux]

I like the look on his face at the start of the ridge (pic 2).

[waldo]

I like the look on his face at the start of the ridge (pic 2).

I admit I wasn't feeling the joy of the hills at that point and may not have lived up to the maxim: "Take only pictures; leave only footprints." Pictures were taken. Prints were left.

[JC w KC redux]

I admit I wasn't feeling the joy of the hills at that point and may not have lived up to the maxim

Cochran said we hit a new low that day.  

We hit a new low.

Awful, ugly, and gross rock.
The worst route yet for me.
The consistency of dried diarrhea. When you hit rock bottom, chug a quart of prune juice and start digging.
A parade of shitfuckery.
The two square feet of drillable rock eight feet below the summit and the rappel were very good.  

[JC w KC redux]

We exposed a lot of mud the last few days. A different sort of quest.
Not the kind I particularly care to mess with.
This is what happens when your water supply line is galvanized steel, buried since 1963 and routed through 4 of your neighbor's yards. Pay the water company an exorbitant rate to relocate your water meter to your street and remove the old connections from the street behind you. Oh by the way - You are responsible for getting the line from the meter at the street to your house.

Kat takes a turn as we get closer to the end.





Done after 2 days of mud slinging. You can't see the 35 foot section down the front yard (under blue tarps). I would definitely rather drill bolts by hand in crud 

[Brad Young]

^^^

Wow. Textbook P.I.T.A.

[mungeclimber]

Pay the water company an exorbitant rate to relocate your water meter to your street and remove the old connections from the street behind you. Oh by the way - You are responsible for getting the line from the meter at the street to your house.

how much for the relocation on the meter? I used to work on a crew that did the connections between the main (tapping into a huge 36" main is something else!), and the meter, and painting the hydrants mostly. Can be fun laying pipe (no pipe jokes please)!


All copper from the meter to the house, yes?

[Brad Young]

It's been 34 years. Jim started Escargot in 1985. Five trips over the years. He and we finished it today.

I'm pretty sure it's the longest span from start to finish of any route at Pinns. I'll post a write-up as soon as I can get my notes back to Ellen.

[briham89]

With a 34 year wait, it's assumed really bad (climb quality)?

[Brad Young]

With a 34 year wait, it's assumed really bad (climb quality)?

You'd love it.

[clink]

It's been 34 years. Jim started Escargot in 1985. Five trips over the years. He and we finished it today.

I'm pretty sure it's the longest span from start to finish of any route at Pinns.

 Certainly done at a snails pace. Appropriate name. Congrats on finishing it.

[F4?]

THAT is typical Santa Cruz engineering at it's finest!!

Try having to dig a new sewer line under your house...yeah just like the great escape.

We used to hit the water line all the time in the front yard growing up. We got good at fixing it.

Finally, mom ran a NEW water line from the street.....way deeper than the old one.

Now back to Santa Cruz engineering....dad's old outside shower had no drain since it was on a deck. maybe there was a some plastic and a drain pipe, I can't remember. I do remember out front on the side of the driveway was a funny green wet spot......

So the water did go somewhere.

I miss Santa Cruz and it's odd ball engineering.


Mr Munge, yeah the laying the pipe would be fun....not the trenching.

And what is Jim doing all the way at the Pinnacles? Must be retired or something.