yes you are lucky living so close to the gorge, the gorge is one of my favorite places to climbing, i have been climbing in the gorge since 1991, to date i think i have climbed over 350 routes, and since 2001 i have been able stay at my friend place in bishop by the kragens auto store across the street from where the old vons store use to be, no more sleeping in the dirt for thid old guy :-), it's great to wake up in the morning to a shower and sleeping in a soft bed, since 2005 when marty put out his last gorge book, lots of new routes have poped up, so when i go to the gorge these days i look for new routes that are not in the 2005 book making it feel new and fresh, and it gives me a chance to make a topo of the new stuff at the gorge and share it will other climbers, some of the new routes that amy and i think are really fun are, road wave on the road down to the gorge from the south gate, super fun 2 pitch route to the right of funky cole patina on penstock rock, fun route to the right of environmental terrorist at the banana belt, the fun rope stretcher "70m rope needed" route on the far right on the pub wall, the in my mind the best 5.9 in the gorge, crusher, on the pop tart towers next to 3.b.a., and 3 super fun new routes on the narrows east wall, a 5.9, 5.10b, and a short but super fun 5.11a, i heared about a new 5.10c at the banana belt that i am psyched to check out, so yes you are really lucky :-) happy climbing mike a.
