Tuolumne Meet – September 2016

CC Meet September 2015 (Tuolumne Meadows and the Sierra East Side)

Seven CC Members and guests met on a cold, wet and smoky Sunday evening at a campsite (@ 9000ft) above Mammoth Lakes (only 15 minutes from its bars and restaurants). Cold and wet from a cold front then crossing the Sierra, and smoky from the 100k acre fire then burning out the North Entrance to Sequoia National Park only 50 miles away.

Monday morning: The rain had cleared the smoke, but left conditions only just above freezing. The meet leader’s local knowledge suggested a visit to lower elevations, 30 miles South, and 5000ft lower, Bishop and its famous Happy Boulders.
Tuesday some climbing was attempted in the Meadows but an early rain shower stopped play.
Wednesday again started cold as three of the party set off into the Yosemite backcountry for a 3 day backpack, local knowledge again suggested a secret local climbing venue, “Area 13”. The climbers headed into the forests NE of Mammoth, Andy/Tim took their hire car down the 4×4 access not knowing how the 4×4 system worked, while Nigel/Tracey used a two wheel alternative access, fun was had by all climbing the 5 star Wild Will’s Arête (5.8 sport) and other amazing routes, (if you can suspend belief about climbing on baked mud).
Thursday Nigel/Tracey took a break from climbing and visited the Bristlecone Pine Forest (home of the oldest living tree on the planet), while Andy/Tim experienced camping with the bears in the Meadows and discovered the very restricted eating options.

Friday the climbers reassembled in two ropes of two for an assault on 10900ft Cathedral Peak’s SW Face, supposedly 700ft of 5.6 / 5.7 (HS / VS), only four 160ft pitches accurately described on the topo; but with another three 60ft pitches of 5.6 above, then 30ft 4th class scramble to the summit. Both parties failed to find the easy way down the 4th class descent and resorted to abseiling, arriving down at their cars just before the back packing party.

That Saturday the Tuolumne Meadows services finally “closed” for the winter; the shop was dismantled & the free buses stopped running – it had all been expected to close a week earlier.
Saturday more climbing & bouldering in the Meadows before the whole party assembled in Giovani’s (aka Mammoth Pizza) having achieved most of its week’s objectives., before dispersing to do further exploring in Sierra.

Nigel Barry