Southern Yosemite Climbing Discussions
Southern Yosemite Categories => General Discussion => Topic started by: mike a on September 05, 2020, 08:01:51 pm
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Hi all, looks super bad for our be-lover southern Yosemote, just e-vac from Shuteye and the Jones Store area, fire took out Apply orchard and J.Ross cabin area and Rock Creek and Fish Creek om Minarets Rd as well as Mammoth Pools Reservoir and Wagner's Store which is gone by this point!!! the fire is heads up towards The Big Sleep Area and some areas at North Fork are on e-vac orders, Grizzly Rd closed and Beasore Rd at the lake at road 274 is closed as well, the thunder from the fire making its own weather and dark at day light was unreal today with ash raining down the size of oak leaves was crazy!!! Hoping for the best, but at this point looks super bad!!! if I hear of news of things with this fire will keep all in the pool, pray for the best, cheers Arechiga!!!
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Mike,
We almost got caught in the fire at grey eagle. Fire from Shaver was burning all day then things got really close and we barely got out of there. Fire was spotting all over minarets road burning past the beaks towards Minerva. Spot fire all the way to jackass. This was around 3:30. We went out grizzly road with a Congo line of RVs that did not understand how fast the fire could move. Hey stopped and asked people for directions! Drove by the store but did not have time to stop in.
Just read spot fire jumped the ridge to Peckinpah road now “ Peckinpah Fire”. All together this fire burned 36000 in less than 24 hrs! New evacuation for clover and Arnold meadow. Sounds like fire burning up canyon past mammoth pools. People there are shelter in place.
Keep me posted Mike if you hear anything else. Too bad about the apple orchard. Hopefully they got out of there safe. The ridge is gone! Sad day probably an illegal fire.
Also thunder from fire was crazy.
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From a Sierra Online news article, “Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, said in a tweet that a “massive pyrocumulus cloud [is] indicative of extreme fire behavior, & pyrotornado may have occurred” on the Creek Fire.“ Why it was snowing blackened tree debris, and yes oak leaves in the afternoon from the direction of Electric Eagle.
Sean as soon as you declared “THAT doesn’t look right something is wrong“ at about 3ish, THAT being smoke roiling from what looked as close as the other side of the Red Feather formation in front of Red Eagle, we began high-tailing it outta there. John lowered from Book of Spring Pages, & Sean and Marc from a project nearby, leaving some gear and cleaning the rest in a rush... Then we were all running down the steep trail with our heavy packs, with the smoke getting worse and glimmer of fire and wall of heat getting hotter. Got to the trucks and hucked everything in so fast it was a mess but we tore out of there. I was imagining the couple mile drive down the dust clouded road to Minarets road as being on fire. Thankfully it was fine yet. That road is so lined with downed trees and hundreds more dead trees that would so easily ensnare in a nightmare of possible ways. Worried about people we met going to Fallen Eagle but glad they had left already. We could see the hillside below Minarets covered in fire and spreading fast and knew it was going to jump the road too soon where we were. You could see the fire spreading on the hills towards Jackass Rock and the Fuller Buttes. We had hoped to go to the Balls later this weekend but knew by then that we should have left the whole loop road when we first noticed and said it seemed like a storm and even tornado was being created by the fire, debris carried aloft and coming down miles away, and next the rolling thunder and lightening flashes over that next hour or more.
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That was pretty wild, running from a fire. By the looks of the intensity of the fire burning on the hills across from Minarets, opposite the shuteye pass road, the fire must have headed up the ridge. We saw something flaring up on the South end of the ridge, just below south beak too. That area below south beak is already burnt from the French Fire and still has a fire break cut out.
I hope everyone got out ok.
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Holy sheep dip!
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Wow!........this is So Heartbreaking!! Glad you guys are good.
I Too, hope it was not an illegal campfire that started it.
People suck anyway!! A few Sundays ago I went for a quick bouldering session up to Chilkoot.
There were some campers that had left their trash in a still hot firepit, smouldering away.
Luckily I had two empty gallon water jugs that I filled up a Beasore Creek and went back to drown that bitch!!
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Morning all, so glad you all are safe and made it out ok!!! Hoping for the best up there!!! ba safe happy climbing Mike A.
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Pretty sure me met these guys on the gray road, they were climbing fallen eagle:
https://twitter.com/mf/status/1302469581697507328?s=20 (https://twitter.com/mf/status/1302469581697507328?s=20)
We made sure to turn away from the fire source.
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Yes they must have left much earlier than we did. It was probably really hot at Fallen Eagle.
John you had said we should check out the fire before we started climbing for the day and it looked far enough away at 8ish when we drove down Minarets several miles. Agh that moved So fast and we couldn’t see quite how close it had gotten due to the obstructing hills until so late.
Tx Mike glad you are fine too. We had hoped to stop by over the weekend for that beer. Ahh well.
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I just remembered seeing a camp fire at fish creek on friday. People just don't do the math on the current situation. I can't help but wonder if some dumbass had to have a fire and it got out of control like what started the French fire.
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Glad all of you got out safely. Saw illegal fire activity when we were at Piyau in early summer. I've never seen so many people back there ever. lars
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Thanks Lars, Mike and Ger! Glad for the same and all of you.
So sad too and full of wishful thinking that some areas could be spared, though... this is hard to even speak of... looking at the map and weather forecast. Would take a miracle.
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Several people I know and know of were packing and made it out by evac chopper or by hiking over to the east side. Got word that Barry Chambers and his wife above Auberry got are safe and Kenny Rose was climbing on Kerckhoff Dome when the fire started but is safe.
The southern edge went up and over the 4 lanes taking out Cressman's store and almost every house on Cressman's Bluff area.
Tollhouse and Square were burned and the fire has reached the upper portions of Burrough Valley. The east side it has reached Bald Mountain.
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So good to hear folks making it out ok and being fortunate that their houses made it. I am wondering about so many we’ve come across over the years out there and all the usual suspects and hope all are ok. Wondering about Arnold Meadow, Jones store, the homes in the area and around Beasore and Grizzly, hoping they make it through ok. Imagined having to hike to the East side in the event the loop road closed from fire and if the French Trail is being maintained... Wonder about having to rustle up the cows... and if we’ll hear of more wild animal sightings soon. So many different stories/ perspectives to come from this and wish to hear them. And I hope the missing hiker is finally found and alright. At last look, piyau had not burned nor the balls nor beasore road nor Lost eagle. But this fire isn’t going to just stop on its own. If it could only rain and rain now.
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Please don’t post information regarding whose home and who’s not. There has been some looting in the meadow lakes /Auberry area. I am under evacuation order but me and my neighbors are all staying behind mostly cleaning our guns...hahaha!
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Thermal satellites appear to show fire established in the valley SE of Dogtooth/NW of Courtright. Not sure if it's connected to the Creek Fire's erratic weather, or a completely independent event. It seems too far for a spot fire, but possibly fire-induced lightning?
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Reported as spot last night
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Good point Donut. Modified my post.
Just saw an update, the fire below Dogtooth has seemed to stall. Bald mountain has area has seemed to have buffeted Dinkey Creek for time being. They are doing back burns near Jackass Meadow but are not super positive it will work. Also tanker drops and back burns happening above North Fork and Bass.
Videos I have seen are heart breaking with loss of structures and forest. Soo many people displaced.
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Thanks Davey got all my guns cleaned. Now on evac warning. If I I get a few more days on evac warning I might get my property down to bare dirt. Powered by beers and fears.
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Heartbreaking is the word.
Hope you and yours will be alright DN!
Wanting to learn anything about the fire fighting strategy on this. Hadn’t seen anything on that til now. 🙏 Tx!
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From everything I am seeing up to the last couple of days is that they were not trying to stop it and only working to save structures due to man power and resources spread thin state wide. It seems some of that has changed since they are trying to prevent it from going north at Jackass. Latest map shows it burning at the confluence below Balloon. Such a big area burning it seems all they can do is right now is mostly trying to keep from populated areas. Literally it has come down and threatening the foothills.
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Agreed, Daveytree they are spread too thin. The last number I saw was they apparently have only 900 people on the Creek Fire but those people are split between two sides of the San Joaquin river canyon and focused on buildings and rescuing. I remember the French Fire maxed out at about 1400 people fighting it and that was in a year that there wasn't nearly as many fires going on as today.
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Jeff Aiello is doing excellent detailed fire reporting on Facebook. He is currently doing a live update if you are interested
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Yah, he does good reports. Fire below Dogtooth is now named Bullfrog. Looks to be growing toward Eagle Peak. Looks like a small fire started along Rock Creek Road. There is a crew stationed at Dinkey Creek and hopefully can pin it down. Fire going East looks like it is moving toward Edison’s direction. From the fire map it looks like it made it to Lost Eagle area unless I am looking at wrong.
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Looks like the fire is a mile from the Balls, probably all gone by noon at the current rate. The North end of Beasore is the last road they could fight the fire from before it heads into wilderness and Yosemite. I hope they can use the area as a break. Fingers crossed.
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Jones Store report, no smoke, blue Sky’s 30 degrees, fire still 4 mile from Jones Store on Grizzy Rd, Fire stalled since Tuesday around Jones Store Area, Fire map shows fire close to the Balls but still a few miles away from the Ball area!!! With no smoke will got air support today, stay safe happy climbing Mike A.
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Inciweb map last showed fire line below Camino Creek, which if that marks Camino Falls, that is also below Lost Eagle pools but way too close for comfort.
So thankful for the persistent firefighting efforts!
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Yeah, Susan, it inches ever closer to Lost Eagle every day, now appearing to be just hundreds of feet away, if the maps are to be believed. So many trees in the canyon, seems it'd be hard to stop. Really too bad it jumped the pass and headed down towards Central camp the other day, when it seemed to be holding at the ridge and around Queens Throne for several days. I can't imagine working the fire progression in the W. Fork Chiquito Creek drainage is much of a priority compared to the battles on other fronts that are threatening property. But maybe there are crews there, as it could progress to Beasore Meadows.
Thank you friends, for sharing your stories and updates. Glad you all made it out!
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Thanks Nate! So good to hear from you as always especially now. Hope the family vacation home will be just fine.
I had heard last night that Minarets Rd is being cleared of downed trees so that there could be another faster way around for the firefighters to get north of the fire.
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That’s all folks! So tremendously sad.
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Susan - the in-laws 2 homes in the area are fine, fortunately. Winds appear to be driving the fire northeast toward the Balls and Piyau, and already licking up against Disappearing, just when it looked to be stalling out a bit on the north end.
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Hi all, Jones Store Report, Fire Fighters still staged at CSS the Fire Fighters today are working at the fire less then 2 mile down Grizzly Rd from the junction of Beasore and Grizzly Rd, super smokey and no wind today! still no air support, fire at the Balls and Jackass Meadows area, fire did go in the Lost Eagle Dome area Yesterday but Chilkoot Lake area is still fire free, the Jones Store still ok!!! Weather report later this week Thursday-Friday slight chance of showers, stay safe happy climbing Mike A.
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thx.
Didn't Chilkoot burn a little a couple years ago? Probably why it isn't raging up there? Or may just too high to have consistent ground cover to burn?
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Morning All, Jones Store report, so they cut a fire brake from Chilkoot lake to GrizzlyRd, Grizzly Rd to Far Meadow going to back fire to try and stop the fire from reaching Beasore Rd, Jones Store still ok! Still no air support do to the smoke. still no wind but still super smokey!!! happy climbing cheers Mike A.
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Thanks or the updates Mike! Wonder where that firebreak runs from Chilkoot to Grizzly - possible down the canyon at the base of Hidden Eagle, but probably cuts more northward, utilizing all the open rock through there, which is probably smarter and less work. Interesting.
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And Munge - I don't recall a fire near or at Chilkoot in the 25 years I've been climbing in SoYo.
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And Munge - I don't recall a fire near or at Chilkoot in the 25 years I've been climbing in SoYo.
copy, must be thin by virtue of elevation. thx!
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Hi all. Yes thanks for your update Mike. Hope that all goes very well. Saw a windy forecast and hope that calms. Always love those beautiful trees going up Beasore Rd.
Wow Nate so many years you been going there!
I’m reminded of a Chilkoot fire we were surprised to discover. We were camped and climbing up there in late fall several years ago, and during our hike to go climbing we kept looking for the source of this light sort of wafting smoke. As we hiked on, the smoke would waft by, but the source would elude us. I was thinking it was campers still out there but couldn’t spot anyone. I think it was on the return hike from climbing when we noticed the smoke was coming from underground as John describes in this link:http://southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/index.php?topic=255.msg4645#msg4645 (http://southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/index.php?topic=255.msg4645#msg4645)
We spent a long while trying to put out the fire and then reported it. While not a fire that got too out of control, it was a concern for sure.
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Well, at least if this fire cooks all the way up we'll finally stop Disappearing Dome from Disappearing.
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On Caltopo map it looks like the Balls area is burning. Heart breaking. Looks like it also made it up the gorge, crossed over and is at Miller Rock as well.
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Yes, such a bummer the fire has moved quite a bit northwards. :'(
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Oh, and I remember that story, Susan. So wacky, but glad you guys were on it!
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Jones Store Shuteye report, rain started 8ish last night off and on all today, fire brake from CSS (Chilkoot Lake) to Globe Rock so fire does not jump Beasore Rd, fire went in to Lost Eagle Dome area, Eagle Domes area, Big Sleep area, Chiquito Dome area, but so far not at Chilkoot Lake area Fresno Dome and Bearsore Meadow Dome, Jones Store still standing :-), fire did go in to the Balls and Jackass Meadow area but if one looks at the fire line on the internet the fire line is not a continuous line of fire but spoty fire line, winds still not blowing and weather is helping the fight today things look way better today :-) happy climbing Mike A.
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Morning all, things are looking way better up there today, they opened Minarets Rd to Mammoth Pools Reservoir and will start letting people who left stuff there when they had to e-vac to get their stuff back and they opened Grizzly Rd from Minarets Rd to Beasore Rd. Jones Store is still standing (Great News) and 200 Marines will support the Fire Fighters either today or tomorrow. Containment is at 25% this morning so thats awesome news as well!!! No wind blue sky's but still some smoke in the areas. After 2 week now things are looking better happy climbing Mike A.
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This seems to be the best map. At least that I can find.
https://calfire-forestry.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1933470ef8ea4c7e9cede56adf54efe1&extent=-13377356.4387%2C4419677.6073%2C-13142541.8878%2C4523937.7139%2C102100 (https://calfire-forestry.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1933470ef8ea4c7e9cede56adf54efe1&extent=-13377356.4387%2C4419677.6073%2C-13142541.8878%2C4523937.7139%2C102100)
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Hi all, was up at the Jones Store today, things look great there, CSS is still a huge staging city for the Fire Fighters, Central Camp Rd is like a new road, (280) LOL I think up to friend rock camp site has been redone, the SNF is still closed even Skyranch Rd to Fresno Dome closed, they said Minarets Rd may stay closed until next year? The new bridge at upper Chiquito Camp grounds (Chiquito creek) may not be finished until next year? So good news Jones Store is safe but bad news looks like SNF here in the Oakhurst area is done for the year!!! :-( I had to climbing at the Park (Yosemite Valley) the other day to get my climbing fix in!!! good news no body in the Valley climbing pretty mellow there :-) Sorry to say this but I would not make any plans to climb in the area here on the scenic by way loop for the rest of the season!!! the way they told me today up there its dome for this year :-( O well at least I still have the park, happy climbing cheers Mike A.
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Yeah, Stanislaus did a closure order after the Dardanelle fire that kept a lot of the forest closed.
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I keep wondering if the fires flushed out the missing rambo lady out there.
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Morning all, was up at Shuteye and the Jones Store Yesterday, all roads still closed Fire over 50% containment super smokey still, they said back roads could be closed for a couple years before reopening, so that means places like Eagle Domes area, Big Sleep Area, Lost Eagle Dome Area, will not be able to drive to??? They said full
Containment maybe in 2 weeks??? Does not sound like they will open the roads until the snow blocks the roads??? Been climbing in the Park (Yosemite) the last couple weeks but super smokey there and a pain to get in with restrictions but that will be gone by Nov first!!! Well that’s all I got for how, happy climbing cheers Arechiga.
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Thanks for that update, mike a. So if you are going to the Jones Store, than Beasore isn't closed at least that far, correct? Nobody allowed in the Chilkoot area as well, even though the fire didn't reach the area?
Anyone know if Tollhouse and Squarenail are off limits?
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Hi, I can get a permit to go to the Jones Store because I have a cabin there, but can not go up there with out a pass, and the next time I can get a permit to go up there is Oct 22th, Chilkoot Lake area is a place where the fire is still being a problem for the Fire Fighters but most of the fire action is up by the old Lion Fire was way past the Balls area, could see the plume of smoke today from the fire at Oakhurst!!! but its been 5 days with the smoke being not bad here in Oakhurst and can see blue sky's so things are getting way better and they say 100% contain by Oct 30 so awesome news!!! still been climbing at the park only thing open here but still have too scam to get in the park, maybe Cal Dome is the best place to go climbing at this point??? happy climbing Mike A.
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Missing Soyo... :'(
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Sorry if this is a repost, but just was looking for a closure map...
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd828601.pdf
They'll revise it Nov 1, but 100 percent IMO they are going to keep it closed until the fire is out and the trees along the roads are lopped.
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Anybody know what roads are open?
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Morning, Skyranch is open, but Minarets and Beasore are not, SNF is still closed on theses roads and will be reevaluated on Dec 9th, Fresno Dome area is open going there today to check out a few new routes Grahm put up on Hawk Dome, happy climbing Mike A.
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Merry Christmas 🎄
Saw a forest service post yesterday that reported 100% containment of the beast the Creek Fire.
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Merry Christmas all, was up at the Jones Store Thursday (Christmas Eve) had a BBQ for lunch and had some beers in the snow, got stuck in the truck a couple times on the way home, it was a fun day up there. Been climbing a lot in the park, if you are in the park check out the right side of Five & Dime Cliff, lots of newer and fun routes there. happy climbing Mike A.
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Sounds like fun 🤩
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Morning, went up to Mile High Lookout and Chiquito Dome areas, what the French Fire did not burn the Creek Fire finished off the rest of the forest, burn forest as far as the eye can see!!! The road (Minarets Rd) is in great shape, saw one tree crew on the road on the way up. I saw no signs saying the road is closed. Saw one car melted on the side of the road by Rock Creek campgrounds. It was a little sad to see the forest gone but felt great to be back after 6 months. I am sure all the campsites all be closed for at least a couple years but the Jones Store is my base camp so any closers will not effect me! I am super excited that the season up there will soon open up and will not have to go to the valley to climb!!! Hoping to see all up there this season and do some climbing and have a couple beers, happy climbing Mike A.
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Morning all, was up on Minarets Rd Friday, went to Mammoth Pools Reservoir and drove up to where the snow starts to block the road about 3 miles from Jackass Rock. The Chiquita Dome season has started! It felt great to climb up there once again and I do not have to go to the park (Yosemite) any more until next fall when the snow blocks the roads up there once again, happy climbing Mike A.
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First real climbing of the soyo season for any of us? nice! How high up is the snow line?