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Dirty Bird
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 4, 2012 - 05:50pm PT
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Went up to churchbowl today (wed. april 4th)and there were tons of manzanita bushes at the base of the Bishop's Terrace. To the climber's right there was about a hundred feet of destruction (rock, dust, busted ass trees). Loose pebbles and even a tree branch fell while we were looking around the area. We decided it looked a little to recent and too active for us to risk doing a climb we had done many times before. Just a heads up. From curry village, we had heard a rock fall last night at about 11pm, it could have been the same one, I don't know. If anyone is heading out that way to climb, be safe.
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Plaidman
Trad climber
South Slope of Mt. Tabor, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Details and specific routes. It would be great to know exactly where. Pics anyone?
the base of the Bishop's Terrace. To the climber's right there was about a hundred feet of destruction (rock, dust, busted ass trees). I guess this is specific. I if I remember correctly the rap off is on the climbers right of Bishops Terrace.
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gstock
climber
Yosemite Valley
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Be advised:
Two rockfalls originated from a source area almost directly above Bishop's Terrace on the 3rd and 4th of April. Both occurred at night, with the first occurring at about 11:15 pm on April 3rd and the second at 10:35 pm on April 4th.
From the source area, falling rocks were steered by a series of southeast-dipping ramps just to the west (climber's right) of Bishop's Balcony. The short second pitch of Bishop's Terrace leading to the base of the Balcony was hit hard by rock debris. Some rocks went over the first pitch of Bishop's Terrace, though there weren't obvious impacts. The rappel route from the top of the first pitch was hit hard, with the big oak tree there losing several limbs.
At the base, there is a lot (hundred of tons) of fresh rock debris scattered over an area about 300 feet across, extending eastward from the base of Bishop's Terrace. Small rocks were falling every few minutes when we were in this area.
The source area can be clearly seen from Ahwahnee Meadow. Although I'm not able to predict future behavior, I have seen cleaner source areas than this one. Future rockfalls are possible.
Bottom line: These were relatively large rockfalls that impacted the Bishop's Terrace area hard. It's very lucky that they occurred at night. For now I strongly advise against climbing Bishop's Terrace or any routes on the eastern side of Church Bowl. Routes farther to the west near Church Bowl lieback were not affected. Please help to spread the word.
Greg Stock
Park Geologist
greg_stock@nps.gov
(209) 379-1420
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Future rockfalls are possible.
I take it you're not a betting man.
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cleo
Social climber
the canyon below the Ditch!!!!
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The bench did survive! Most of the debris is to the east, but make no mistake, there is flyrock near the bench.
-Val
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Holy crap. I climbed it two days ago on the 3rd.
Ken
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Plaidman
Trad climber
South Slope of Mt. Tabor, Portland, Oregon, USA
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WOW!!! Thanks Greg for the photos and the MORE than detailed information. Hope that area cleans up some and we can get on it this fall. I love Bishops Terrace. One of my favorite climbs.
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KabalaArch
Trad climber
Starlite, California
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Hope that area cleans up some and we can get on it this fall
Doubt it. 30+ years later, no one goes near Koko's. Softballs were still raining last time I checked.
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JesseM
Social climber
Yosemite
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Hello folks,
Greg and I just returned from surveying the rockfall damage at Church Bowl (Bishop's Terrace) area.
Although there is always a possibility of rock fall on Yosemite's crags, domes, and walls. We feel there is an elevated level of risk for rock fall over Bishop's Terrace over the next week or so. Therefore we have temporarily closed all routes at Church Bowl East of, but not icluding, "Church Bowl Tree".
Let us know if you have any questions,
Thanks,
Jesse
Yosemite Climbing Ranger
jesse_mcgahey@nps.gov
209.742.3289
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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There goes the tonalite of Glacier Point again…
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nature
climber
CO
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Thank you Greg!
Edit: oh yeah, you too Jesse!
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cragnshag
Social climber
san joser
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Looks like a lot of dirt behind where the rocks let go. There are some really big trees right over the release area.
Perhaps this was more a case of trees/ roots prying the rock away from the face than freeze/thaw or internal rock stresses? Or both, but the cracks were invaded and made wider by root growth?
Who wants to inspect the release area to give us more info? :)
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Brock
Trad climber
RENO, NV
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Very helpful
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Therefore we have temporarily closed all routes at Church Bowl East of, but not icluding, "Church Bowl Tree".
Closed? You mean there is a sign that says it is not advised to climb the routes, and there will be no line?
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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enjoimx
Trad climber
Kirkwood, ca
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What are you talking about? That's a sweet new roof crack.
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hoipolloi
climber
A friends backyard with the neighbors wifi
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Vitality M- what's your point? You pissed 'the man' is closing routes? Go ahead and rope up and climb there, sounds like a good idea! Idiot. Get over it.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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I'm filing a protest with God about rockfall over such classic climbing routes.
I protest. Go dump rocks over some sport climbing Almighty one!
one of 2012 minor disasters, glad nobody got rock showered
PEace
Karl
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jfailing
Trad climber
Lone Pine
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I'm filing a protest with God about rockfall over such classic climbing routes.
I blame the angels/aliens that built the massive ark on the moon...
Good to know that nobody was hurt or anything - that area seems constantly populated with tourists and climbers.
Is anyone going to go up and survey those loose looking blocks? Or do we just wait until nature takes its course and they eventually fall?
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