Pics of Balloon Dome

[kenteroo]

Thanks. This was the first time I've ever experienced this level of swarm, especially this late in a dry year. Has anyone else encountered these guys? Any tips? Hanging ferns from your hat, etc?

DEET made no impression upon them whatsoever. When I stepped into the sun with a slight breeze and stopped spewing CO2 they vanished almost immediately. I'm thinking exhaling through a large tube that exits behind me might have been effective. Crazy...

The plus side of getting my rear handed to me was experiencing walking through the forest at night. I had forgotten how beautiful it can be. Those owls are loud!

Kent

[susan]

The wasps were horrible at the Balls last couple of weekends. Prior to that they were the usual bad at Gray for this time of year.  Surprisingly I didn't get bit much, nor stung, not to any point where a mark was left. Perhaps the wind picked up because I am not one for Jedi mind tricks, but I wondered if trying to keep calm around them worked as sometimes I actually forgot about them for stretches of time...

You know the scene from the movie Avatar? What you said Kenteroo reminds me just a little of that scene where the jungle comes alive at night. Being alone must completely intensify the experience, and yet honestly I'd  be pretty scared alone like that out there far from shelter. Sounds nice otherwise!

Btw we saw the cutest white owl middle of the road recently while driving along Grizzly at night. We were falling all over ourselves trying to find a cell phone or camera to get a photo in time but no.

[DaveyTree]

Anyone ever notice the + on the top of Condor on the north end? It looks like a heli-pad spot. It is visible from google earth.

[daniel banquo merrick]

That's a location marker for aerial photography. My dad was a USGS topographer. I used to help him set them up. We usually staked out cloth panels but on rock it was sometimes better to paint them.

[DaveyTree]

Very cool. I never realized they placed those out there like that for aerial pics.

Looks like you have climbing harnesses on. What was your route?

[daniel banquo merrick]

That was in June when I went with Bob and my son. We talked about it I think. A first route on Condor but nothing great.

[DaveyTree]

That is awesome. I hadn't seen anything on that. Very cool. Can you expand on that.

[daniel banquo merrick]

Well, About 6 months in advance I planned a trip to the east side of Condor. The plan was to go in mid June. Vitaliy M. and a partner were in, Doug Robinson and partner were in. Bob was in. My old time climbing partner Rob was in. My son and possibly a partner were in. 8 or 9 people.

I had to change the date by a week because my brother had the nerve to drop dead without warning and I had things to take care of. Couldn't skip out since I am now the family eldest and only survivor of my generation. Rob bailed long before departure. Vitaliy bailed a few days prior. On the hike in I picked up a text at a spot where I had a line of sight to Mammoth Mountain and DR bailed. So, Only Bob, my son and I went.

Bob was recovering from a broken collarbone so my son and I carried the ropes, rack. drilling kit, bolts, hangers and chains in.

Bob left from work and hiked in on Friday but only made it to the river as it was harder and longer than he expected. He then went up to the dome Saturday morning and did some recon for us plus cleared poison oak from the trail. My son and I did the whole hike on Saturday. We weren't sure there would be water so we each carried about 5 liters the last part. Sunday morning we went to the west side of Condor and tried the obvious dihedral. Too hard for us so we bailed and went to the east side trying what looked easy enough. It was easy enough but too long. We kept seeking a shorter and faster way but it was all bolts and taking too long, Eventually, running out of bolts and daylight, we rapped into the brush between the upper and lower Condor Rocks. We went up to the saddle and found an easy 5th and simul-climb way up to the top arriving after dark.

Sunday morning Bob and Ford started another route on the east side of Condor while I went on a long hike getting many photos of the whole east side of Condor. Bob left to hike out around midday and that afternoon Ford lead and bolted a very nice slab pitch on the east side of Condor.

On Monday morning, Ford and I headed out. It was beastly hot and we stopped at the river to wait for cooler temperatures. After naps and a swim, about 5 pm we headed up and made the car before dark. Drove home Tuesday.

[susan]

Great to hear more about your trip! Starting with a plan of 8-9 people materializing into 3... Sounds like a great team and a big success nonetheless!

I know we spoke about this before but still wish to extend condolences.  I am so very sorry for your loss.

I lost my own brother Rich many years ago. Smehow I always luckily remembered the last moments with him when we said goodbye and how my face as usual would land well below his shoulder when we hugged. I remember with vivid detail the doe colored sweater he wore, and how tall and how, I don't know, just how present he was.

After, I left the west coast for the east again, and several months later he was gone completely unexpectedly. That detailed remembrance of the parting hug has warmed me since - solidifies the reality of him. Much needed when I was later to have to impossibly hold a box of ashes that was all of what remained of him and have to also remember that shock. I don't know if I'll regret sharing this grief like this, but there it is. I don't share enough. Pardon if it's a bit too much.

[daniel banquo merrick]

I think the amount of grief varies in part with what you expect. Everybody expects to lose loved grandparents and parents as I have. Even a long illness portends a loss. Losing my brother without any sort of warning was and still is a crushing blow. He was healthy, took no medication, didn't have high blood pressure or cholesterol issues. I had always assumed we would just grow old and hang out together. I talked to him the day before and he was fine.

[susan]

Careful, you are making sense of the senselessness. No wonder this loss can still hit so fresh from time to time - and it has been decades later for me. We were also completely sucker punched by it being totally unexpected. Plus just miss him. There was that senselessness of his being so young, too, and yet I realize that he lived a full life... And after a while the grief gives way more to thankfulness for him just as he was, though the remorse for what we miss carries on.

[DaveyTree]

My condolences as well. I have lost some close friends but no family like that. It is hardest when it is unexpected. Really sorry.

It seems like you honored him in doing something you love. Would love to see the pictures some time.

[kenteroo]

My condolences as well. Sadly, I've been there too.

I am heading up to BD this next week (10/10) to climb the class 3 route and do some more photography. I still owe folks a high res pano of the Cat Wall and I'll do the summit register as well if I make it. Anything else?

I'm trying out a new lightweight rig (Nikon J5 (20mp), 10-100mm Nikkor lens (270+mm equivalent)). This beats the heck out of lugging a full sized dSLR and f/2.8 70-200mm lens - Ooof!

Cheers,

Kent

[John]

Perfect time to go out there Kent. Have a kick ass time and take lots of photos for us less adventurous types!

[DaveyTree]

Jealous. Can't wait for your TR