After being on the bench for 8 months recovering from bilateral shoulder surgeries, once the doc said I could go climbing, I DID. :)
I decided to head out to California to climb at Lover's Leap, and Tuolumne Meadows. Here I am at a nice quiet bivy somewhere in Western Nevada along route 50 - the "loneliest highway" in America.
My basic car camping set-up.
I stopped at this tiny restaurant for breakfast in the very cool small town of Austin NV. Not much here, but a neat place nonetheless.
My first day climbing at Lover's Leap was with Dan and Charlie. We did a fun link-up that pieced together the full height of the cliffs.
Charlie coming up the first pitch of our day out.
Looking down at Charlie and Dan at the belay while I am leading the amazing arete pitch of Traveler Buttress. Really great position and exposure.
From high on Traveler Buttress, you get a great view of the east wall of Lover's Leap.
Charlie and I climbed another day at the Phantom Spires, an area that was new to me. It was really fun granite climbing on towers 100-200 feet tall.
Charlie texting a friend who was coming up to meet us to warn him about the very large rattle snake we just passed on the trail.
SELFIE! Having fun at Phantom Spires.
Charlie coming up one of the routes we did.
SELFIE!
The next part of the trip was Tuolumne Meadows. Here are some nice sunset colors from my campsite.
Here is Rick A coming up the first pitch of the classic "Crying Time Again" on Lembert Dome.
Here I am at the top of Crying Time Again, with Cathedral Peak etc in the distant background.
Rick and I on the summit of Lembert Dome.
Rick coming up the final crux pitch of Direct Northwest Face on Lembert Dome. This is a great route!
SELFIE! Loving the Tuolumne weather.
There was quite a bit of wind on this trip to Tuolumne as evidenced by the cool lenticular clouds.
One day we went for a hike up into the Conness Lakes area. Here is Poula, Rick, Gerry, and David.
Hiking into the Conness Lakes Basin.
One of the upper Conness Lakes with Mt. Conness in the background. A beautiful area.
Doing some climbing along the Tioga Pass Road.
Rick and Poula at the base of the wall.
Here I am leading a route.
Rick pointing to our next destination - a fun wall in the Ellery Bowl area.
A group dinner at the campsite at Junction Campground.
Rick coming up a very good route called Excellent Smithers on Medlicott Dome.
SELFIE. Late day light in the meadows.
Another day I did a day hike to the very beautiful Glen Aulen area in the Tuolumne High Country.
Great views along the hike.
More...
One of the classic iron trail signs in the Sierra.
Taking a breather to let the feet dry after a stream crossing.
Not far from Tioga Pass a little ways up a trail is the old mining town of Bennettville.
There are just a few old buildings left at Bennettville which was once a thriving mining community.
A beautiful lake above Bennettville.
It was a really fun trip and great to finally get out climbing again. :)
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