Just another day...: June 2019

I usually don't arrive stateside until the heat of summer has begun, so have been enjoying the cooler weather and seeing all sorts of blooms - trees, flowers, bushes, weeds, even.

A last minute getaway to Pinnacles National Park was planned for Memorial Day weekend. Alex and I drove north Thursday and Maggie and friend, south, on Friday. The pinnacles were formed as a result of volcanic activity some 23 million years ago. This unique rock that can be tough on one's fingers.

All the camp sites in the park were booked, and we weren't successful nabbing a walk-in, so Alex and I went for a short hike Friday morning, but saved our legs for Saturday rock climbing. The highest peak is at a punishing elevation of 2720 feet! We went out to the coast for lunch dune walk after setting up camp in an RV park near San Juan Batista. There was plenty of space - trees for shade and grass - picnic table, fire pit, running water, flushing toilet, but no shower.

We got an early start Saturday morning to meet our hired guide from Santa Cruz based, Adventure Out. Marcello was very personable and knowledgeable, having spent his climbing career outdoors. The company provided all the equipment, and Marcello set up the top ropes on multiple climbing routes. He also gave advice for lead climbing.

We climbed a couple of routes at Teaching Rock aka Toprope Wall (elevation 1688 ft). Some people refer to this location as the camel hump because of the look of the rock formation. In the distance behind us was Discovery Wall and above us raptors and condors circled. An overcast morning cleared to bright sun and blue skies while the temperature inched upward. I was glad our climbing sites were shaded although we had to scramble a bit to get to an area called Upper Crust (elevation 1934 ft) above Bear Gulch Reservoir.

I was first introduced to the sport while in college at UCSC and it had been nearly 30 years since I had been to this park as it is too hot to visit in the summer when we are normally visiting. In the ensuing years, I've only climbed on man-made walls and indoors with the kids.

Checking out the routes at Tourist Trap

sitting on the "camel hump"

The routes we climbed had some amusing names, like When In Doubt Run It Out and Organ Grinder. Others describe a feature in the route, like Hole Route (see in three photos) or Center Chute.