No Name Ridge The Balls

[mike a]

Yesterday was hanging out at the Jones Store and then when to the balls to climb around, I could see from the road drill dust on the left side of No Name Ridge so went up to have a look see. Some one has been putting in lots of bolts up there! climbed a few of the newer routes they were ok but to me it seemed way over bolted and the routes were not well thought out, was wondering if No Name Ridge is in the wilderness area? and is it cool these PEOPLE just slap up bolts any old place to say(I am a first ascentiest) please don't get me wrong, I love new routes but seems like some PEOPLE up there are reckless with the beauty of the place and its all ego driven, and not for the love of climbing but the love of their ego! and I am sure they are going to put out a guide book soon!!! I use too think these PEOPLE were cool and ok but these days I have lost all respect for them and look at they as a threat to one of my favorite area!!! just some thoughts from Mike A. happy climbing :-)

[daniel banquo merrick]

Hi Mike,

I have seen some very closely bolted routes ups there. Certainly not the style established for SoYo. This section of the Ansel Adams Wilderness (Formerly known as the Minarets Wilderness) is bounded at the 8000 ft contour so No Name isn't protected.

[DaveyTree]

Love the Balls. Haven't been for a spell. Too many other projects on the mind. Will have to make a weekend up there some time this summer.

[mike a]

Cool man thinks for the info and map, arechiga.

[DaveyTree]

Kind of odd how the boundaries come down so far in certain spots. Is that one the Sphinx?

[mike a]

It looks like the tempest! the sphinx is far left.

[susan]

I keep thinking that large one might be the Toad. Or BoR?
?

[susan]

Not Toad. Yeah that other does look like possibly Sphinx?

[daniel banquo merrick]

The layout of Balls has always been confusing, I blame Spencer. The top of BOR on the right is wilderness as is the top of The Toad in the center.

I'd prefer the wilderness went 50' from the road but that's just how I am.

[susan]

That's a good way to be Dan. Only, I'm glad for Spencer. Kept the adventure. (Added later: or better yet - what I'm really thinking of is the solitude.)

I was thrown about the Toad because visually in person the Toad appears close to the road to me, but the top of it does not. BoR really seems quite aways from the road in person to me. I wonder if that is the formation in the map around the word Balls maybe. Don't think Sphinx is in this quadrant, as I think that's far left of Portuguese creek.

[daniel banquo merrick]

Here they are labeled. Check me and if I have anything wrong, I'll change it.



Posted somewhere else:

[mike a]

Cool thanks sooo much for sharing that looks awesome to me, was up at the balls the pst 3 days, Jerry A  had a party up at bowler camp site, next to where is was camping, did not join his party was feeling anti-climbers parting not really part of that crowd! but checked out a couple of Jerry's newer routes at No Name Ridge, I found only the 2 of the far right climbs good, worked on I boulder project, one move away from sending, too smokey today to climb at the balls so went to the Jones Store for a burg and brew and climbed at Fresno Dome to escape the smoke, and check out a awesome swimming holes just below Willow Creek Wall, should check it out youall super cool on a hot climbing day, just below Willow Creek Wall Parking area :-), sure is awesome living there, still wondering when John & Sue is going to move up here!!! lol :-), Happy climbing Mike A.

[susan]

That is an excellent photo of the Balls. I wonder where you took that picture from, Dan, but I don't want to ask if your answer feels like giving away the goods. We have scouted some hillsides across the way for an ideal shot without nearly the fortune. 

I would have thought BOR is higher than GT. Anyway, there are lots of probable signs of non-wilderness type activity atop GT that I think we have all seen. 

John indicated to me after my last post that there are two Portuguese creeks, and one is unnamed on this map. The unnamed one is where John, Ger and me took up a habit one summer at the end of a climbing day, or what we called our Sessions breaks, of hanging out where this beautiful creek tucks under Beasore near the overlook.

Sorry to hear it's gotten smokey out there, as I would have been about ready to see this area again right about now. But good to hear ahead of time to avoid the long trip.... Honestly, so many dead trees gotta burn, much as I hate to say it for fires taking down the good evergreens left.

Glad you got out there while the getting was good Mike.

[daniel banquo merrick]

It was taken from the top of Jackass Butte with a telephoto lens. It's 5 photos stitched together.

[DaveyTree]

Awesome pic