Bowman Valley - Larry Land

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Messages 1 - 11 of total 11 in this topic

M Carville

Trad climber

Nevada City, CA

Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 23, 2011 - 02:37pm PT

Josh and Big G pulling down at Larry Land in the Bowman Valley about 8 miles north of the Emeralds. Should be great season coming up once the road clears of snow. About 70 routes of all grades and free camping. Enjoy. Cheers, Mike

http://www.rockneurotic.com/gallery/?level=album&id=52

all in jim

climber

Apr 23, 2011 - 03:14pm PT

Siiiicckkkk!

adventurous one

Trad climber

Truckee Ca.

Apr 23, 2011 - 04:02pm PT

Great photos Jim!!! That first one belongs on the cover of a climbing magazine.(like the current issue of Rock and Ice) Bowman is a blast. Guess the word is finally getting out. Anyone have a prediction on when the road will open? Hoping to spend a lot of time climbing there this season! And swimming at the Emerald pools on a hot day....ahhhhhhh.........!

adventurous one

Trad climber

Truckee Ca.

Apr 23, 2011 - 05:02pm PT

Anyone know the climbing history at Bowman? I remember seeing some tied off pitons in a crack on the wall just left of the dam back in the 80s. (maybe 82' ?) on my first visit there (hiking/exploring and not climbing that day though).
I thought after the routes on Beetle Juice wall went in (fun sport wall below the road, later 1990s?) the place would be swarmed with climbers. But not so. Amazing that the "B-Word" secret has taken so long to become better known.

More routes the last couple of years than the several decades before it would seem. Haven't been back in about three years, looking forward to checking out the new routes. Does that route (the first photo) really go at only 5.9? Now that might bring in a swarm of climbers, lol.

M Carville

Trad climber

Nevada City, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Apr 23, 2011 - 05:17pm PT

Sure don't except to say that several parties have put up routes over the years probably beginning in the late 1970s or early 80s. Doug Mischler and Steve Glotfelty from Reno along with Scott Frye put up a lot of excellent routes there in the 90s. It will be probably by late May before the road in is clear of snow. M

Scott Thelen

Trad climber

Truckee, Ca

Apr 23, 2011 - 05:45pm PT

This place is awesome. Ive been a few times never knew the grades or names everything was hard and fun!!

All day Sun

adventurous one

Trad climber

Truckee Ca.

May 15, 2011 - 03:04pm PT

Anyone been out there recently to check the road/snow status?

adventurous one

Trad climber

Truckee Ca.

Jun 18, 2011 - 07:00pm PT

Was out there again yesterday. Still a couple of feet of snow on the road to Bowman. The water is really high and RAGING at the Emeralds now. Unbelievably powerful as it is coming out of the gorge/Wishing Well.

john hansen

climber

Jun 18, 2011 - 07:50pm PT

We used to top rope off a couple bolts on top of the first wall past the stream in the early 80's,, 5.8 or 5.9 taking the easiest path. A lot harder on either side. I tried to lead a couple of short routes on the face just up the road from there, before the switchback. I only had nuts and hexes, no cams or bolt kit and ended up backing off about halfway up both routes.

I do not remember any bolts on the walls then. Any one have a current topo?
We did a couple FA's at Indian Springs around 81, 10 or so years before Rocco and crew bolted the hell out of everything.
I seem to remember both of those places did not have a lot of cracks and were mostly face climbing and hard to protect with just nuts.