All photos by Nick Lake.
“Rope!” I shouted, tugging on the rope we were rappelling on. Above us, the sky quickly turned black. It didn’t budge. I yanked on it again. Small bits of debris rained down on us. Josh grabbed it and pulled. More debris came down.
It was clear, the rope was stuck. Night was falling fast and most of our party didn’t bring a headlamp. We didn’t expect Prusik Peak to turn into such an epic…
Normally when we head to Bishop, we camp. Tent sites are cheap at the Pit and free in the Buttermilks. Camping is easy and close to climbing. It’s kind of a no brainer.
This past trip over the long February weekend was a little different. We were spoiled with a stay at the Hostel California. Their slogan is “Pro climber luxury, dirtbag prices”. Read on to see if the hostel was true to its word.
What do you think of when you hear the word desert? Desolate? Barren? No. The desert is so much more than that. Rugged mountains, spiky trees, dark skies, sharp rock, red cliffs, Native American heritage… these are some of many elements that make the California desert a such place of wonder. These are things worth protecting.
The Department of the Interior and BLM want to reconsider the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, and the California desert needs your help.
I’ve never spent much time in the more northern parts of California, save for a flop of a summit attempt and a few days in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It’s only 4.5-5 hours away, nearly the same amount to drive to Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows or Mammoth. Over the Martin Luther King weekend, I tried to rectify this with a trip to Mount Shasta, both a city and a breathtaking, mystical mountain.
I talk a lot about hiking and backpacking gear, but climbing gear has taken a bit of a back seat. I’m excited to start sharing some of my favorite climbing gear, starting with bouldering, because it’s winter and I like napping on crash pads in the sun.
Here’s a look at my bouldering kit essentials.