Yet another Castle Rock Spire Attempt

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Jordan Ramey

Big Wall climber

South Pasadena, CA

Jun 10, 2010 - 05:35pm PT

I just heard back from Susan Mills.

To make a donation to SEKI SAR, make check payable to:
Sequoia Parks Foundation
Attn: SAR DONATION
P.O. Box 3047
Visalia, CA 93278

Jordan Ramey

Big Wall climber

South Pasadena, CA

Jun 10, 2010 - 06:59pm PT

I threw everything that would fit in my washing machine at home, filled it with water and tecnu, let it agitate for a minute to mix it all up, then let it sit for about an hour and then finished running the cycle on cold. Then I ran it again with regular detergent on hot (like the tecnu recommends). I threw my shoes in as well. I still haven't decon'ed my pack and trekking poles, but was going to give them a tecnu treatment then soap treatment.

We figured pack covers (trashbags) would just get shredded. The hill we came up initially (one over) was horrendous bushwacking and semi-shredded the bunny suits.

Thanks for the info about the PO. It's a bummer, but not bad enough to keep me outta there ;)

Bill Sherman

Mountain climber

Culver City, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 10, 2010 - 07:00pm PT

DC,

We didn't use pack covers or shoe covers. When I mention washed up a bit we just rinsed the grime off ourselves and then applied Technu to areas exposed - face, hands, arms, legs.

Once back, all laundry is getting washed in a washing machine. Shoes and packs are being hosed down and washed with Tech Wash. I am pretty sure that any pack covers would be thrashed and not much use. I used separate ditty bags inside my pack for all my clothes, sleeping bag, etc to try to prevent cross-contamination.

I really think the biggest key is to have a clothing barrier between you and the poison oak. It's an oil/protein that causes the rash so soap and water should be able to rinse off anything on the gear. Once it gets on skin it gets absorbed same as a skin lotion and then you're pretty much SOL at that point.

Bill

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

sorry, just posting out loud.

Jun 10, 2010 - 07:31pm PT

Thx Nate and Clint.

Almost out of here.

Mooch is on site. Low clouds. Forecast doesn't call for warming bad til Sunday. He's reconning the first part of the approach.

Big thx to Radish for the help too!!! (g'naw mean?)

Ivy block, Technu, etc. all packed. No excuses.

Radish

Trad climber

SeKi, California

Jun 10, 2010 - 07:47pm PT

Mooch came by work here and hooked up with a permit. Got a campsite right by the trailhead in Buckeye campground. Big storm clouds covering Moro right now.....should be an adventure! If you have ATT on your phone, you can call out from up high out there and order pizza, there should be coverage!
Regarding Posion Oak, the amount of the oil on a pinhead will infect 500 people. Strong stuff!

micronut

Trad climber

fresno, ca

Jun 10, 2010 - 07:58pm PT

Go GIT SUM boys!!!!

Jordan Ramey

Big Wall climber

South Pasadena, CA

Jun 10, 2010 - 08:52pm PT

What is the "2002 helispot" you (Clint) refer to on the list? Is that the spot I'm calling the plateau? It's at about 5200 ft and had a bunch of chainsawed manzanita and even one huge tree that was cut down. It's where the trail stays at a constant elevation all the rest of the way to the gully. Bill and I were trying to figure out why that was even there.

Radish

Trad climber

SeKi, California

Jun 11, 2010 - 12:41am PT

I know with all this talk we should, as Dave said, just go up and climb that spire, but I gotta work. Its been really great to be able to see it go this way and personally I love reading all the stuff everyone's posted about the spire, the approach and the history. This is the kind of rockclimbing reading I live for and it gets me inspired to climb!This is wilderness adventure! I have given blood, sweat and tears to the approach. Thinking back, I might have 25 times in to go out there and failed summit attempts. I'm totally into helping others with their adventure! THanks Everyone for the input! So, Bill and Jordan, I'd love to head out there with you guys when you go again. I hope to get that spire in my summit bag too and I bet we won't get lost! Mooch and Munges ascent will be the anniversay this weekend of Brutus passing when he was on his way to go up there to climb it last year...........................

Ksolem

Trad climber

Monrovia, California

Jun 11, 2010 - 12:54am PT

Thanks for pointing that out Rene.

I'm going to hoist one for Bruce right now. I didn't get to know Bruce well but we met a few times and climb a bit. I'll think of him whenever I see Castle Rock Spire from now on.

Clint Cummins

Trad climber

SF Bay area, CA

Jun 11, 2010 - 01:54am PT

Jordan,

The "2002 helispot" on the list was copied from an old forum thread which discussed trail work. I recall it was on summitpost, but I am unable to find it now. It may have been deleted. Trail work may sometimes be a sensitive issue for the NPS. For the same reason, I left the names out of those entries.

I haven't been up there, so I don't know where the helispot is. I recall there was a fire up there, so it was probably established at that time.

the museum

Trad climber

Rapid City

Jun 11, 2010 - 10:10am PT

Wow! Get well soon Doc!

the museum

Radish

Trad climber

SeKi, California

Jun 11, 2010 - 10:55am PT

Jordan, The "Helispot" was just that. Back in 02 a lighting caused fire started on a ridge above and the Arrowhead hotshots were dropped in and made a landing area so that crews and equip. could be flown in. The Helispot is a key landmark on the trail. Thanks Clint for keeping the names out. The Park is sensitive to trail making, usually done by growers. I was hoping to "adopt" the old original CCC trail, which is a really cool line up there and still pretty well perserved in some places.The whole trail goes all the way around the Castles and up to meet the Paradise peak Sand Meadow trail, which also heads down to Redwood Meadow. I did a full GPS of it and submitted a 3 year plan to bring it back in 3 segments. They said if I did they would then have to maintain it and just didn't have the manpower, which is true, for a frontcountry trail like this and the fact of all the PO was part of it.

Jordan Ramey

Big Wall climber

South Pasadena, CA

Jun 11, 2010 - 01:39pm PT

So, Bill and Jordan, I'd love to head out there with you guys when you go again.

That sounds great. We'd love to have you on the climb. I'm just "itching" to get back up there ;)

Thanks for the info about the helispot. Bill and I guessed it was a drop zone for equipment and people due to a fire in the area. There are still some burnt log pieces here and there we came across.

Bill Sherman

Mountain climber

Culver City, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 12, 2010 - 01:07pm PT

Just went to my orthopedic surgeon yesterday and had the splint removed. The foot is even more swollen 5 days after the fact and from additional imaging, my doc is telling me I'll be lucky to be walking again on it in 2 months and should expect full recovery in 6-8 months.

Looks like I'll be doing this trip next year.

Radish

Trad climber

SeKi, California

Jun 12, 2010 - 01:19pm PT

Sorry to hear that Bill. But, you'll probably be up on it sooner is my guess if your in shape and active. Doctors don't know everything, thats why they call it a "practice"
When I left work yesterday, Friday, it was raining like crazy here in Ash Mountain, Sequoia!

Jordan Ramey

Big Wall climber

South Pasadena, CA

Jun 12, 2010 - 01:21pm PT

MOOCH AND MUNGE, SEND!

They gotta be in the throws of it by now.

Capt.

climber

some eastside hovel

Jun 12, 2010 - 02:31pm PT

Jeeez Bill.Your foot looked worse than mine did.I was out over a year so don't feel toooo bad.Just lettin' ya know I feel your pain.Do what I did,learn to tie flies.I'm pretty damn good now though.Just saw this,sorry for the late reply.Haven't seen ya for a while.Let me know if ya wanna come up and fly-fish.Get better soon.

Bill Sherman

Mountain climber

Culver City, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 12, 2010 - 06:26pm PT

Kirk,

Glad to see you're still around. I heard about your accident from the Bishop Grapevine.

Tying flies doesn't sound like a bad thing right now. I'll have to get my fly-tying kit back out and start practicing again.

Radish,

I have a feeling that the truth will lie somewhere in between. I tend to be a somewhat quick healer as I'm motivated to do my own PT. I had to have hand surgery for a severed ulnar collateral ligament in my right thumb. It took less than 3 months to be able to start climbing 5.10 again. After a ruptured appendix and septic shock that kept me in the hospital for 26 days, I slogged up a 10,400' peak exactly a month after I ruptured. A week later I was climbing 5.7 and a month after that I was leading Scouts up several of the peaks in the Tetons. I'll keep people in the loop as to my plans to return to the Spire.

Bill