Holcomb Valley 8-29-09 Marty, Tony and I had a nice day of climbing and exploring Holcomb Valley Pinnacles. Since none of us had previously been to HVP, we spent some time checking out the routes and area. We entered via Polique road and parked at the southern entrance and then meandered around and finally got started on Lost Orbit Rock. We climbed Gravity Kills (10a, very soft), Cruise Control (10a/b, 1st bolt a ways off the deck), Bear Essence (10a), Benevolent Bruin (5.8) and Ursa Major (10c, very hard start). Then moved up to the shady Tombstone Wall and climbed Dead Man Chalking (10b), Tombstone Shadow (10b) and then in the same alcove turn around and Marty climbed Firepower (10d) and Sentenced to Hang (10c) on the Firepower Wall. By then my finger tips were dead, and we walked around checking out the north parking area and other walls/climbs. Once back to the south parking area we tried and failed to find the Entrance Boulder and then headed out the Van Dusen and back home

Did the Big Baldy Loop and hiked out to Cuca for some extra miles, plus I survived the Aetherians' gathering on Baldy today

Marty and I decided not to give the Minarets a try due to the t-storm weather, so plan B was to try Merriam's North arete. This resulted in a nice long hike . On Sunday, we got some slabby climbing in at the Portals up on the Chicken Ranch; Stand & Deliver 10b, Castaway 10c and Blackened Chicken 10d. Gooooood times in the Sierra with great company!

Dave Gillanders and I climbed the East Buttress route on Mt Whitney. We lucked out and didn't get any rain. Started ~3:20am and got back ~8:20pm. Another great day with great company on the classic East Buttress

Tony and I climbed at Suicide on a very warm and muggy day. The heat & sun seemed to add a point of difficulty to the climbing. ~3pm we were very fortunate to bump into Darrell Hensel, and he talk us into following him up Ten Karat Gold (TKG). After we all rapped down Rebolting D, Darrell toproped it. We climbed GrahamCracker 6, Peer Pressure 10a, Kitty Litter 9, Break Out 6, Funny Face 10a, Noondance 10a and Ten Karat Gold 10a. .....incredible day!