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Joining climbers in Yosemite

PostPosted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:42 pm
by tedryan10
So I'm new to climbing, about 2 months in, usually climbing in the gym and some local boulder/TR spots in the LA area. I love Yosemite and it's been my favorite spot in CA since I moved west. Now that I'm climbing there's no question. I try to get up there every few months and am hoping to climb my next time I'm up there in Sept.

What I don't have is a partner. I'll climb with randoms I meet at the gym and crag or go with my wife who's slowly getting into it. What do you think the likelihood I could roll into Camp 4 for a few days and find some guys to climb with? As a surfer, I've been amazed by the friendliness of the climbing community but don't know the attitude in Yosemite.

Likewise, if anyone is a regular up there and wouldn't mind climbing with a beginner (comfortable on 5.10 and got a smooth belay ;) ), let me know.

Thanks, Ted

Re: Joining climbers in Yosemite

PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:44 am
by WML
You shouldn't have a problem finding a partner in Camp 4. Post on the bulletin board at the ranger shack there, make a post or two on MountainProject.com and Supertopo.com and I'm sure you can find more than enough partners for your stay. Trying to find rock climbers on this site in recent times is slightly more akin to trying to find a penguin in the desert...more the mountaineering/hiking crowd here from what I have seen.

Best of luck and enjoy the Valley.

Re: Joining climbers in Yosemite

PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:02 am
by Matt Lemke
WML wrote:Trying to find rock climbers on this site in recent times is slightly more akin to trying to find a penguin in the desert


Man what I would do to change this! Well I guess I am doing my best and that's all I can do at the moment.

Good luck in yosemite though! If you are comfortable on 5.10 after only 2 months of climbing you're doing pretty damn good! :)

Re: Joining climbers in Yosemite

PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 4:26 am
by jareds
note that 5.10 in the gym is different than 5.10 on the rock. Only adding that because you said you're relatively new.

have fun!

Re: Joining climbers in Yosemite

PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:30 pm
by tedryan10
Not touting skill, just looking to climb. First time climbing in Yosemite I'm not trying to start on 5.10's. Sacherer does look fun.

Thanks for the advice!

Re: Joining climbers in Yosemite

PostPosted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 2:10 am
by SierraSummits
If you're learning to climb trad there are a lot of awesome spots slightly closer than the valley ... Jtree, Tahquitz, Red Rocks, Eastern Sierra. Just be aware, as others have mentioned, that trad climbing technique, both physical and mental, is very different from sport and bouldering. It's hard to replicate slab, chimneys, liebacks, and cracks in the gym. I mention this because I was climbing high 10's low 11's in the gym and malibu and thought, incorrectly, that would transfer over easily to trad. If you've never climbing trad start easy, like 5.5 easy, for your first climb. You might be able to find climbers in the valley that would want you to follow, but you'll likely have more luck if you have lead experience, trad experience, and start to build out a rack.

Re: Joining climbers in Yosemite

PostPosted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 6:44 am
by tedryan10
Definitely understood. Like I said, I'm just barely getting started climbing so I do have a lot of groundwork yet to build. I should've led suggesting what I want to climb, not what I have climbed around here. Easy and safe for sure. I hear Facelift is the weekend I'm heading up there so I'll see how it goes or go up to Matterhorn if things don't pan out.

SierraSummits, definitely interested in all those spots. Be great to get some tips from you.