Southern Yosemite Climbing Discussions

Beyond Southern Yosemite => Beyond Southern Yosemite => Topic started by: mungeclimber on September 14, 2014, 09:52:54 pm

Title: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 14, 2014, 09:52:54 pm
This just happened...

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3856/15057136150_73bc2232fc_b.jpg)

Strong Bad 5.8R **** Pro: selection of nuts, 2x blue alien to #3 camalot


Great crew came out. Some in a heroic effort with fashionable footwear!

Full trip report forthcoming, including first and 2nd ascent of the Senorita route!
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on September 15, 2014, 09:37:24 am
Rock eye candy. Looks like a lot of fun!
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: NateD on September 15, 2014, 11:30:48 am
Beautiful! Look forward to seeing more.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: YETI on September 16, 2014, 03:49:48 pm
Huge fail!

it's been 48 hours and no report on my desk!

BLAHHHHH!

WTF Hoffsters?
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 16, 2014, 04:38:26 pm
dude, I loaded pics on FB!

Maybe if you would reply to emails about line positions the topos could be completed! ;)
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on September 16, 2014, 11:23:28 pm
Hah Yeti! I've had to hit the ground running this work week since we got back... gotta get a few shots up yet.Tomorrow hopefully.

Had a nice time with a great group tho a couple of  folks were missed who couldn't make it out... 

Climbed up a line that looked to be improbable to me without bolts but pros up excellently with the first very long pitch turning out to be 5.7 beautiful, and mostly solid rock. Very fun climbing.

One snag... I was almost up a creek as I didn't know til the last minute when  about to start the hike into Hoffman and race the sundown, that I had left my hiking shoes by the door back home. We were extremely fortunate to have run into Em and Ger at the trailhead when we realized my predicament, and they both came to the rescue offering teevas and a spare of camp slippers so that I wouldn't have to go in stocking feet. Had the tune "I'll walk 500  miles.." in mind while hiking since the footwear was challenging. Ended up more spent than usual after only a day out there. Pools Sunday were just the ticket.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on September 17, 2014, 10:14:35 am
The Players

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100956.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100957.jpg)


(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100923.jpg)


(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100919.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100904.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100908.jpg)



(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100916.jpg)


(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100914.jpg)

In a peaceful place
(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100940.jpg)
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 17, 2014, 10:32:17 am
sweet! a big size image of Strong Bad! 

Stoke is high.

you can see each line distinctly, Strong Bad, Gatorita, and My Senorita!

Any more pics of that headwall off that camera? Perhaps off left a little?

Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on September 17, 2014, 10:53:28 am
Yes! To upload tonight.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: Dave on September 17, 2014, 01:36:42 pm
Righteous pics Susu! Nice camera. Picked up great detail.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on September 17, 2014, 02:35:44 pm
Hey thanks! Credit goes to the rock though - we are in the market for yet another compact camera. Open to suggestions btw.

Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on September 18, 2014, 10:19:50 am
Here are some more for the Hoffsters... whoop!

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100916.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100900.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100929.jpg)


(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100925.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100924.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100921.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100903.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100927.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100970.jpg)
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 18, 2014, 10:23:54 am
Here I go again with the email...

I spy, another line!

And check out all the majesty!

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae47/setageus/P1100925.jpg)

You can see that square gold block that is fractured all zee way around. Not the big one, the little one just off my left side.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 18, 2014, 10:33:20 am
allow me to obsess....

check it out! let's do this!

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/15256849386_d11cd8398f_c.jpg)

come in from the left side, starting way low somewhere.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 18, 2014, 03:22:28 pm
wish I could get away this weekend. I'd rage a one day assault.

Instead, I probably have to get a new suit. OMG
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on September 18, 2014, 04:36:36 pm
A new suit?! What is up? Hmmm, I saw a good sale at a local tailor's right next to a good sushi restaurant in our town fyi. Yeah, we didn't get enough time out there last weekend, so we might be up for playing something by ear before the time change.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 19, 2014, 10:51:35 am
My suits don't fit like they used to. :)  Been 10 years since I've had a work necessity to wear one.

Must have shrunk. ;)

I wouldn't blame you for wanting to get back out there. I know you're holding out on getting on the left side of that Pinnacle!  ;) 

Alternate approach sussing? 

Camp at meadow at end of road. Hike via contour slightly up and across. I'm recommending not going down the trail, since you would have to do the approach up distance anyways. We need an easy in for c2c.

Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: splitclimber on September 19, 2014, 12:25:50 pm
Thanks Rob for all the good beta for Hoffman.  Just joined the forum. :)

I'll post some photos from our trip a few weeks ago and give some beta about finger rock.  I think I have some close up pics of the west face route that Pat and Brutus did. 

Golden Tower is an awesome climb and hope to come back to sample more of the goods. 
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 19, 2014, 01:18:55 pm
sweet! Would love to see the pics!

Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on September 19, 2014, 01:30:13 pm
Welcome splitclimber. Looking forward to your photos!

Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 21, 2014, 04:45:25 pm
East Wall of Hoffman DRAFT topo

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5595/15128442707_e58334e165_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: DaveyTree on September 21, 2014, 05:48:01 pm
Sweet. Nice going. Def bugging to get up there before duck season starts.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: John on September 21, 2014, 08:51:02 pm
Def bugging to get up there before duck season starts.

The ducks called and said it was way cool if you went up there well into duck season.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 21, 2014, 09:03:15 pm
heh

don't listen to John, he's quackers. :)
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: DaveyTree on September 21, 2014, 11:04:05 pm
You will all understand when you taste the bacon wrapped duck at camp. Soooooo good.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 21, 2014, 11:27:18 pm
you had me at bacon! 

With all the precooked stuff in packages out these days eating like a king in the backcountry isn't half as hard as it used to be, but duck confit?!?!?!  BAM!
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: John on September 22, 2014, 06:48:42 pm
Duck wrapped in bacon? Wow, that sounds awesome.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on September 22, 2014, 10:21:05 pm
Yeahuh. I haven't had duck in so many years but remember it tasting really tender and I would say rich, as in it being very savory. I just like the garden variety sure thing when I order at a restaurant... but am curious.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: DaveyTree on September 23, 2014, 12:10:14 am
Wild duck tastes nothing like a restaurant. They leave the skin on it which is where all the fat is. This is very lean, except for the bacon. Add in a little jalepino and herb spread inside and it doesnt get any better.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: YETI on September 23, 2014, 10:14:07 pm
Davey, we are going to have to share a ghetto camp kitchen.

Duck is awesome.

Do you have dogs?  Last duck I shot was a banded wood duck.  Mounted it and hung up the 20ga browning.

Private or public lottery?
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: DaveyTree on September 24, 2014, 02:10:09 pm
I do have a lab and she is pretty good in the blind. I hunt both private and public in a season. Mostly public but we do a lot of scouting and always finish above the curve. I have plenty of meat in my freezer.
.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 26, 2014, 04:23:57 pm
Hey John, were you still looking to update the whole enchilada as far as topos?

What data were you missing? 

Let me know how I can help. I probably have time this weekend now.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: John on September 27, 2014, 07:05:01 am
Rob
What I really need are more photos, mostly of the far left end. I doubt the angles I need exist. The topo I started only shows the left side up to the Leversee Route. I want to have Burninator as the last route if I can squeeze it in but would probably need to switch to a landscape view to make it all fit.

Maybe some photos will get me motivated. I have been busy lately and not working on topos that much.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 27, 2014, 11:05:45 am
awwww, don't take away Burninator from the right side topo. :)

Split er down the middle. with right side of Red Tail tower be the touch point between the two?

No worries, either way in all seriousness.

Yeah the left side pictures are pretty limited. I have one or two for left of the tower.

Doing the alternate approach would give a better left side topo vantage point. Man, if I had thought about it would could have done that hike this weekend in the rain.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on September 27, 2014, 12:58:06 pm
sent some pics over your way.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: John on September 27, 2014, 03:12:46 pm
Thanks for the photos, they help alot.
Are you doing a full right side topo? I would prefer to split the two sides at Leversee/Burninator since Leversee starts out right and then cuts back left.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on October 05, 2014, 11:19:04 am
Yeah, that split makes sense. Will send some more photos from yesterday.

Sussed out the high approach. While I was working the approach out, and thus going slow, I made the apex of altitude within 20 minutes. From there the contour was only nominally up/down. Two short brush sections otherwise open ferns and forest to the base of the left side of the wall. A fast knowledgeable team could do it in under an hour. My guess is 1hour 20m for /average hiker. 

The only trouble I had was the slope contouring gave me a blister from hiking sideways across it.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: susan on October 05, 2014, 04:03:29 pm
Cool Munge! Water source? Looking forward to your photos.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on October 05, 2014, 04:18:05 pm
Not this year. Potentially in wetter years you might have a small rivulet that is fairly small, located about 200 yards from the crag. Better bet is at the end of the road and trying to find those springs that feed the lower creeklets.  I didn't get that far down the road.

Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on October 05, 2014, 05:42:29 pm
Upper Approach:
From Wishon Reservoir, go across the dam following the pavement to the gate just before road's end. This left turn takes you to the dirt lot for the Rancheria Creek Trailhead. Go past this TH, veer right at the first fork, staying on the main dirt road (low clearance ok as of Autumn 2014). Follow it to a large dirt pull out before the locked gate. Hike the road from there to the first big left hand bend. At the bend go straight thru a small clearing with new growth trees instead of the road. From near the end of the clearing, veer up and left on bulldozer cuts with dirt berms then open forest until you rejoin the road (or just follow the road around the switchback).

Continue on the road for a about a half mile. After a seasonally lush/green area, and before the road starts to gently go downhill, look for a clearing with new growth next to the road. A yellow trail tape marks this faint hunter use exit point. Veer left into this clearing and enter a meadow area. Cross the meadow heading SE to gain the ridge in the distance. Don't go up the steep section of the ridge, elevation gain to the ridge should only be 50-60 feet or so. From that ridge contour left through some old growth timber stumps that has been cut and burned over the years. This goes a little uphill.

If done right you'll go up in elevation to a point on the ridge with a point of rocks and a meadow area below it on the South slope. Cross below the point of rocks at the top of the meadow/fern area. Contour around the slope heading for more open fern and grass slopes. Just beyond this open area of the ridge you'll start to see more boulders and something of a rock-band. Aim for the notch between two prominent rocks. Some short brush crashing as you go up between the rocks may be needed. If you approach and get to the break in the rock band you should now see the West side of Hoffman Mtn.

Contour across and slightly down to reach the base of the West side of Hoffman. To hit the toe of Hoffman where Redtail is, it may be easier to go down slope some.

[If you are not at the height of the rock-band, it is relatively easy to contour low as well if you pick your path right. If there is a lot of brush blocking the way, scout it out, look for a break in the brush. If there is no break, work around the brush slightly lower on the slope. Stay below the aspens.]

Either retrace your steps on the way back, or contour slightly lower on the way back. Also it is possible to hike down slope from the area at the rock-band to meet up with the lower section of road. You'll lose elevation this way and hike back up some of it on the road, but it is a good hiking surface.



Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: VM on October 08, 2014, 09:27:04 am
How tall is this wall? Looks like it has some wild features!
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: John on October 08, 2014, 09:31:07 am
Maybe 500'?
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: mungeclimber on October 08, 2014, 06:10:44 pm
Maybe taller, but not much.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: VM on October 09, 2014, 10:19:31 am
Looks like a cool cliff. I get kind of annoyed by the amount of granite in this state. So many cool places that it is hard to make up your mind where to go.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: John on October 09, 2014, 10:28:04 am
Sue and I joke, don't ever top out on anything, you will probably see something new and attractive from there and will forget about all of your current objectives.
Title: Re: Hoffman 2014
Post by: DaveyTree on October 09, 2014, 12:10:02 pm
Isn't that the truth. I have a 5p route waiting to be finished but keep finding new stuff that side tracks me.