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WHERE I CLIMB

In a world made of rocks and water, I don't think I could be happier. Man, I climb everywhere. Once you are a climber, even simple moves like into the car become potential climbing problems.
Then there are the stupid climber tricks like bouldering around tables, or around two benches with a lit tiki torch in the middle!!

 

Where do I climb?

If I had to give only one answer, it would be Yosemite, the Mecca of granite cracks. From Santa Cruz, The Valley is a 4 to 4.5 hour drive. I think this is definitely worth it.

I've done a fair bit of climbing, in a fair number of places. I've climbed several routes in the Sierra Nevada, including routes at the Needles, on the East-side, Tahoe, and more. I've been to J-tree 3 times now (that I remember). I spent a month living in Toulumne Meadows during the summer '03.

The closest climbing areas to Santa Cruz are Castle Rock State Park and the Pinnacles National Monument. I've climbed at both, but I'd rather drive the 4 hours to Yosemite.

I started climbing, while living in Arizona. We had mostly Basalt cracks and wielded Tuff. I did my first lead on the limestone of the Pit ( or the Petit Verdon) in Northern AZ.

I spent 6 months living in Marseille, France. There is some pretty sweet limestone there!!! I would recommend climbing in The Calanques to any one spending some time in the region. I also made it out to Verdon, and climbed "le fil de le vent et le terre," the most photographed climb there (and I took pictures - but film, so there not on the site).

Last year I made a trip out to Colorado, where I did a little bit of climbing in Durango.

Then there are buildings, trees, and climbing gyms, or anywhere else I can satisfy an urge to pull...

There are lots of places I haven't yet been, but Squamish is perhaps at the top of the list.

For now, I do my best to spend as much time as I can in California's Sierra Nevada. From what I've seen, and what I've heard, this is some of the highest quality rock on the planet (as it should be - such young igneous rock).