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Climb with Cables Down

PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:03 am
by from_mars
Hi Everyone,

About 3 weeks ago I tried climbing half-dome with the cables down. My arms got pretty tired after about 60 feet of climbing. I came back down, but a gentleman came along who in the blink of an eye just seemed to walk up the cables. On the way back down the mountain, he gave me a few pointers on how to navigate the cables. Turns out he has a bit of mountaineering experience. I was wondering if anyone else out there has gone up with the cables down. The guy who went up seemed to think (assuming it's dry) that it shouldn't be a problem for most people except for the confidence factor, which I know causes alot of problems; i.e. people will drown in water they could walk out of, and others will fall off mountains under the best of circumstances. My question is whether anyone out there has done this? Would clipping in with a simple harness (Alpine Bod from Black Diamond), sling and caribiner be overkill.

Thanks

PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:23 am
by bill-e-g
A woman who was "very experienced" died last year when she tried this feat.
My recollection is that the weather wasn't so hot for going up so I don't
know what she was thinking.
I think you were smart turning back...
I've thought about going up too but then say to myself "why?".
So I can have the place to myself?
So I can say I went up with the cables down?
I'd worry more about getting down than climbing up...

Since you backpack I'd just recommend that you camp close to it and then just get up very early and summit.
There will be very few people up there then...

There is another good forum: yosemitenews.info
You might want to check that one out. I'm certain people will reply to a
post like this in mass saying "please don't".

Be safe ... there are alot of peaks to conquer that dont require ropes :)

Matterhorn, Conness, Hoffman, Dana, Piute, Tower, Forsyth, Volunteer, Red, ... and on...
Also, the middle and south dome of Starr King...

Have fun

PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:12 pm
by from_mars
Hi Bill

If I decide to forgo half dome I was wondering if you or anyone has gone to the top of Quartzite Peak just southwest of lake merced. From the map (national geographic #206) it looks like a day hike from the campground, though it is off-trail. I guess my main concern would be whether there's a class 2 climbing route. Any more technical and it wouldn't be safe for me. It's already off-trail with a river crossing; which might make it somewhat difficult for me.

Thanks

Roland

PostPosted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:29 am
by bill-e-g
Here's another couple ideas for dayhikes for you.
- If you haven't been to Merced Lake do that first...
(the section from Moraine Dome to there is spectacular)
- How about the Diving Board instead of HD itself
(this is on my very short list of todo's... I'd be there this wkend
but the wife bit on the YoseFalls->El Cap->Rockslides loop)
- Quarter Domes
(you did Clouds so this may be ... )

Quartzite Peak:
Haven't been there but I've looked at it.
Obelisk Lake is also on my short list (Quartzite Peak used to be
Obelisk Peak) too. I've been planning on xcountry all the way
from Starr King to Obelsik... just haven't done it yet.
Anyway...
River crossing? Which way were you planning on going?
You don't need to ford the river unless you are going up the Grey Peak Fork.
And I wouldn't do that unless you are going to Ob Lake.
The route to Quartzite is up the Clark Canyon.
Maybe you are thinking to go all the way to Echo Valley before going up
Clark Canyon???
I'd start heading up that way before you cross the 2nd bridge.
Start up by the stream on your map... (the one west of Clark Canyon)
then go due east to hit Clark Canyon... then up up up...
You should look at Google Earth and plan your route... It is so useful.
It doesn't look toooo bad... I know that people have gone this way to
Mt. Clark ... just not me... not yet...

As you know there may still be snow in Clark Canyon. There was still
alot 2 weeks ago.... Be careful...

Whatever you do please post, I'd like to know how it went.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:25 pm
by from_mars
Yeah,

The reason I got hung up on Gray Peak Fork was because I was reading an internet account of a trip to Obelisk Lake, a favorite apparently of the rangers. These individuals crossed at a point not far past the ranger station, and picked up some old calvary trail that's out there. Sounds pretty interesting, and depending on the circumstances I might actually go for Obelisk Lake instead.

You're right about Google earth. A great tool for getting a feel for the topography of the trail. The trip to Merced Lake in and of itself looks like it goes through some very interesting terrain. Trying to tackle Quartzite Peak from Gray Peak fork would be very tough I think. Going up Clark Canyon, a lot easier.

Thanks, now hopefully the weather will hold up for another week or so.

PostPosted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:37 am
by bill-e-g
I have to correct myself... Mt. Clark used to be Mt. Obelisk