Best climbing near palo alto for one day?
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I will be in palo alto sunday for a family wedding and I'd like to find some climbing in the area for Saturday. |
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The closest good trad climbing is Sugarloaf (3 hours), or the valley (more with holiday weekend traffic) - sucks, I know. |
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How about table mountain? I know its up Sonoma pass but that may be a good one day stop. Never climbed basalt or hex shaped pillars. |
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How about Pinnacles? If you came up 101 it's right enroute. |
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Ian Buckley wrote:How about Pinnacles? If you came up 101 it's right enroute.Looks like pretty crappy rock. I'd prefer quality with a little longer drive. I live and climb at texas canyon and it's a mess of loose choss. Looks as if pinnacles is the same. |
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I assume Sonora Pass is open? |
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Planet Granite climbing gym in Sunnyvale . Best crack climbing in the Bay Area . |
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The Grotto at Table mountain is a good option too, yeah - cool basalt columns. A little closer than Sugarloaf. mountainproject.com/v/the-g… |
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Table Mountain Grotto Area in Sonoma Pass looks like the choice. I assume everything is open? |
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randy88fj62 wrote:Table Mountain Grotto Area in Sonoma Pass looks like the choice. I assume everything is open? Anyone been there lately? Is the poison oak out in full force?I was there in early March, and everything in the Grotto is open. Didn't notice too much poision oak on the approach to the Grotto then, not sure about now. High or higher clearance vehicle recommended for the rutted dirt section of Shell Road to get to the last locked gate, though I have seen compact cars make it somehow. Otherwise, you could just hike the last section. |
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randy88fj62 wrote:I assume Sonora Pass is open? May drive up 395 head west to palo alto stopping at table mountains.at that point you may as well climb granite on Sonora Pass or Tuolumne or pine creek. |
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splitclimber wrote: at that point you may as well climb granite on Sonora Pass or Tuolumne or pine creek.I have never climbed on hex shaped basalt so it's something of a novelty to try the table mountain area at Sonora Pass. I get out to Tuolumne a lot during the summer. Since I have to be up further north for a wedding I might as well take advantage and climb in a new area with some beautiful formations. |
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I wouldn't really consider Sonora Pass all that close to Palo Alto, but you're doing the driving. |
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+1 on Castle Rock...close but not a ton of fun. |
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Ended up enjoying the grotto area at table mountain. Had the area to ourselves and the crack climbing was fun. Trail in wasn't bad at all from a poison oak perspective. |