Good Call on Courtright!

I got three routes there and did lots of the anchor rebolting some ten years ago.

...and Courtright has plentiful free roadside camping with no crowds. You may have the place to yourself that time of year. If we get early storms the road is likely to close.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX5bszW1smc[/youtube]

How about a trip to the west side of the Sierra for an introduction to California? Moro Rock and Alta Peak in Sequoia come to mind. Check out those big trees, too. Then a spin up to Mineral King for some of that Southern Sierra high country atmosphere.

You'll have a lot to choose from with the variety of mountains in California. Too much snow in the mountains could mean Joshua Tree would be perfect. Lots of great places to hike in the Coast Ranges when those drives to the Sierra get too tedious. I used to carry a map of the state with roads that I had driven marked with black pen. If I saw a large space on the map without a black line, I would head that way to do some exploring. You can find some great spots that way.

Did some time at Santa Maria High back in the 70's. The school motto was 'We don't give a damn'. The city had a variety of smells that ranged from oil refinery byproducts to agricultural arial spray to sewage. Probably not like that anymore.

Greg and 3Deserts,

I really appreciate all these suggestions guys. The more I here from everyone the more excited I get. It seems like almost limitless possibilities and all of them sound so amazing! I cannot wait to make it over and start on a lot of these trips. But keep the suggestions coming, I want a long list!

3Deserts wrote:Also, you'll see Morro Rock, and want to climb it, but don't: you'll be arrested, as it's protected due to the Peregrine Falcons that live on top.

No true.

Only portions of MR are closed and for only 3-4 Months. The designated closure area/s migrates each Spring as the nesting Peregrines select their location. The area and routes involved are clearly posted at the parking lot. The entire east and south faces are open year round. If you have an questions as to the closures, you can contact my buddy Rene Ardesch who pretty much over sees most of those Peregrine Closures throughout SEKI NP at 559-565-3341, press 1 then press 6 and ask to be transferred to Rene Ardesch who is down at the Three Rivers Entrance Office, during normal working hours Mon-Fri.

Dman, Cathedral rarely keeps snow on it due to its moderate elevation and SE aspect. If snow has come down, it could be more of a factor on Russel's E Ridge, but it really depends on the year. Last winter we got a big storm in October, and then virtually nothing till Feb.

Keep them in mind, and check conditions near the time!

butitsadryheat wrote:Different Morro Rock

Oooops!

Will, Dman, ya got some extra info regarding a valuable climbing area (Moro Rock, SEKI) easily accessible within three hours of VAFB at the edge of the Western Sierra outta of Visalia.

Well I could have told you bout the launch but sadly I am not there yet! I will not be there till the beginning of October! So don't trust me with any rocket launch info just yet!

I just moved out of Cambria(30 min north of SLO) last month, the central coast is beautiful!
Make sure you go to the farmers market in SLO on Thursday nights, the whole downtown shuts down.

As for climbing, look up Bishop Peak in SLO, there's topos everywhere online. Lots of single pitch climbs, nothing crazy and nothing compared to the Sierra, but if you need a quick fix it's not bad. Just watch out for poison oak.