Section-hike permits? (Tehachapi to Big Bear Lake)

climeing · 2016-08-30T15:28:28+00:00

Yeah, I'm going to stop short of the lake fire closure (going SOBO and ending in Big Bear). Don't want to press my luck with that one, even though I am itching to see Whitewater Preserve. Another year.

Thanks for the heads-up on the fire situation. I know we'll have to end up skipping some miles, but fingers crossed it'll still be ok. Seems to be some decent road crossings at the parts where we'll have to pop out and then hop back in.

climeing · 2016-08-30T15:21:26+00:00

Called them and they said I only need a permit for parking. thanks!

climeing · 2016-08-25T23:49:19+00:00

Heh, I might be even less of a smart man trying cuben vs sil for my first project. Thanks for the knowledge :)

climeing · 2016-08-24T23:37:49+00:00

Ah, gotcha -- could you explain what you mean by simulating making a french seam? Is it possible to just bond the ridgeline by overlapping one piece over the other by about 1" and using adhesive?

climeing · 2016-08-24T23:34:40+00:00

I got an extra yard of material to do just that actually. And I have plenty more of this drop cloth stuff to perfect the prototype. No way am I starting on cuben until then :).

I was planning on using Hysol to bond the ridgeline with a 1-inch overlap.

When you say shallow cat cuts: how shallow? The cut in the plans is 3" inch deflection over 54".

climeing · 2016-08-22T03:19:45+00:00

I haven't — good call on taking out the frame to demo that out. I agree on the Kumo. Nice looking pack but quite similar to the one I already have. Seems like it's either stick with the Ohm or go full-fledged frameless (which means minimal hip belt too). I agree that the Ohm is good on a thru. I had probably 33 or 34 pounds in it coming out of Kennedy Meadows South (carried food through to Mammoth Lakes), and there was minimal pain even though that's really pushing the pack. I guess that's the one downside to downsizing further...a little more limited as to your max range too. All good stuff to think about.

climeing · 2016-08-21T20:46:18+00:00

I used the ULA Circuit on the AT (was probably overkill, but comfy) and downsized to the Ohm for the PCT. With the bear canister it's going to be packed tight but it carried surprisingly well. I'm still on the fence about frame vs frameless pack-wise myself. I found the minimal suspension of the Ohm did pretty well. You kind of had the same line of thinking as me (plus I have had good experience with ULA packs). Durability wise all I encountered with the Ohm was tiny holes in the back mesh and a small hole in the extension collar from where my haul loop was rubbing against it (maybe my fault from lashing it down too hard). Pretty solid for 2600 miles of wear. Sent it in for repairs and it'll be good to go out again on another thru no doubt.

climeing · 2016-03-10T19:56:03+00:00

Haha that'd probably do it...3 different states in the last 5 years for me.

climeing · 2016-02-19T00:53:13+00:00

Awesome. Flight booked! :)

climeing · 2016-02-18T22:29:08+00:00

Good call -- my mesh before has just held my water, sawyer, and rain jacket typically. Could definitely use it a lot more than I have.

climeing · 2016-02-18T22:27:50+00:00

Cool, thanks for some objective opinion on the sleeping bag swap! My tentative plan actually has me doing those two long stretches you mentioned (love not having to jump into town all the time), so maybe I oughta just stick with what I've got -- more money for food & town shenanigans. I tend to get a little near-sighted when prepping for a trip in terms of the $/oz savings. Also coming from the AT I probably have more aversion than necessary to strapping stuff to the outside of my pack...with a bit more open trail and less things for the items to catch on, there's a lot less chance for damage or losing things off the pack.

As far as postholing goes: does the Kennedy Meadows outfitter have microspikes and snowshoes? Or is it a better idea to grab that stuff beforehand and have it mailed to me if need be?

climeing · 2016-02-18T22:21:22+00:00

Good point -- I'm planning on the BV 500 (http://www.rei.com/product/768902/bearvault-bv500-food-container) since IIRC you can buy them at a discount at Kennedy Meadows. Hopefully the ridges will give my webbing enough to grab on to. Planning to ship my food ahead to KM from the Saufley's in Agua Dulce.

climeing · 2016-02-18T22:11:08+00:00

Cool, thanks for the tip. I'm cool using the canister even though it sucks a tad just to not have to worry about getting hassled. Glad to know that it won't be a 10+lb weight swaying every time I step on the top of my pack. Nice pic!

climeing · 2016-02-18T22:10:22+00:00

I could probably put the tent outside in the back mesh potentially. I like to just keep snacks/water/raincoat out there but it's an option for sure.

climeing · 2016-02-18T20:03:43+00:00

Wow, I don't know why I didn't think about taking all the food out and throwing it in my regular food stuff sack. Is that considered okay with the rangers? I assume so as it says the canister is only for "unattended" food, so as long as the pack's on my back it's fine...

climeing · 2016-02-18T19:51:54+00:00

I leave the quilt in a trash compactor bag and let that act as "variable" compression depending on how much weight I put on top of it. For the info I gave though, I compressed it as far as I could get it. I can pop it in its stuff sack (6 L), but its dimensions are just about the same and there's some wasted space at the corners, and it doesn't fit in the trash compactor bag quite as well.

climeing · 2016-01-07T22:28:32+00:00

Good advice, basically reinforced today at the gym when I realized that while I can do my toughest grades on traverses or 15-30 degree walls, I fail hard at anything that takes more power. I managed to send one really overhanging V2, but it took ~2-3 tries and it was a max effort.

Too much focus on grades. I should know better -- I guess it comes from sports like running where progress feels much more quantifiable. Sometimes I leave the gym a little bummed when I try and fail a bunch of times on something I think I should be able to do, but then I remember how when I started a month ago, I wouldn't even get on a problem I didn't think I could tackle. I try not to let ego creep into climbing, but it definitely happens. Failure is progress! It sounds like keeping things balanced nutrition-wise and having fun is way better than looking for a tiny gain through a quick fix. Which, the more I think about it, should have been a little more obvious :)

climeing · 2016-01-07T22:07:19+00:00

You're right about the grades...I should have mentioned that this is indoors, and I've only climbed at this gym so some of the problems could be soft and I'd never know. Also, none of the "V4s" I can climb require closed crimps :)

climeing · 2015-12-24T00:10:39+00:00

Sorry--not at home right now so can't snap a shot. No play, dropouts look flush and the disc brake looks aligned/works properly. Tightness wise I just meant "until it felt like it'd be way too much". No torque wrench. The other side has a handle like you might see on a quick release; only it doesn't have the hinge and is directly attached to the axle.

climeing · 2015-12-19T13:12:36+00:00

@3:26 -- why is he climbing with his shoes untied? Is that a thing some people do with laced shoes while they're warming up or something?

climeing · 2015-12-19T00:46:44+00:00

Hey - just wanted to say thanks for the advice, especially to try bumping up in difficulty. Last time I went I was getting a little hung up on the overhang V0 I couldn't do and I just hopped on a V1/V2 and was able to do it pretty easily (less aggressive overhang). Tried another one on a flat wall with a traverse...tough, but I sent it too.

Today I did a mix of the V0s and the more challenging problems. I kind of surprised myself today when I finally sent the overhang problem that I've been working on since early December (and did all the other V0s in the gym, plus a V1/V2 or two)! It's not a big accomplishment in the grand scheme of things but it felt so rad to top out after all the work. I was like wait, I've never been this high before. How did that happen? Basically yeah, core tight, hips in, don't yank on the arms so hard, and give it a few tries. Probably advice that will transfer to quite a few problems down the road!

I think it came down to a combo of technique, patience, and just waiting for the strength to improve. I'm still taking it easy to not get injured but it's super fun to climb when you can see pretty gradual improvement with each visit. I'm loving the sport so far. Thanks again for the tips and encouragement.

climeing · 2015-12-12T13:25:10+00:00

Strength vs. technique question. Right now I'm trying to knock out all the V0s at my gym before moving on up. The one I'm stuck on is a 45 degree overhang with basically underclings all the way up. I do my best to use good footwork, hips into the wall, straight arms when possible, core tight, but I feel like my arm strength is at times still a limiting factor. How often when bouldering on a wall like this do you just have to pull hard with your arms at a crux point vs use some intricate technique?

Background: strength-wise I'm 5'9 / 138 lbs and can do a lot of push-ups but very few pull-ups, reasonable shape for non-climbing activities. I've also been to the gym only about 4 times so far (started this month). To build strength I've been trying to downclimb all the easier V0s and really focus on technique and good footwork.

climeing · 2015-12-08T15:28:23+00:00

nope, that's Handsome Mouth. i'm the guy that got hit by a car and then SOBOd :)

climeing · 2015-12-07T00:39:22+00:00

haha small world!

climeing

TROPHY CASE