2014 AAC International Climbers Meet

Aaron McDonald wrote:Tim, Yes I will be there! Maybe make a trip to SoYo to get some adventure climbing in!

Adventure climbing sounds good ;) Where is SoYo?

Southern Yosemite!

southernyosemiteclimbing.co…

I have never been.

a) is this the same event as the Yosemite Facelift?
b) why the hefty fee which is basically just a giant partner meet up? $500 is a lot and I don't see a list of things or services that you get from that.

Not trying to hate or troll, just curious. A bit more detail would be good.

Event happens every year after the FaceLift.

It is an American Alpine Club event.
You get camping (away from everyone else!)
3 awesome catered meals per day.

Those two things by themselves pretty much cover what you are paying for.
The meals have always been way awesome in the past. And yes, you can go back for seconds!

Also a few host climbers to help participants get on "that" climb.

Hope that helps answer a few questions OldSag.

Cor wrote:Event happens every year after the FaceLift. It is an American Alpine Club event. You get camping (away from everyone else!) 3 awesome catered meals per day. Those two things by themselves pretty much cover what you are paying for. The meals have always been way awesome in the past. And yes, you can go back for seconds! Also a few host climbers to help participants get on "that" climb. Hope that helps answer a few questions OldSag.

Yes, Cor, that helps a lot.

Where is the camping at?

The special group /events Pines site right below the Sentinel Spire in the middle of the valley.

Cor you forgot to mention some key features of the AAC ICM:

1. Creating an international network of friends and go climbing anywhere
2. Expert clinics in self rescue
3. Previewing yet to be released climbing videos
4. Testimonials from top guides and professional climbers
5. A Clinic from the current world record holder on The Nose
6. Crazy Photos and stories about FAs in Padagonia
7. Free Beer! -- from Strike Brewing
8. Participating in the best AAC event all year
9. Cor will rope gun the DNB and get you back in time for dinner

Heck the bonus off-width clinic is worth the price of admission alone!

Thanks Aaron!

Now that is some true words from a participant. (Not a event organizer…)

-Meeting people from all over the world. Have a new friend to climb with when you go somewhere new.
-Rescue clinic put on by well known / certified guide, who happens to be a host climber at the event.
-Watching ReelRock8 on the side of a Sprinter van last year! Courtesy of photographer at event.
-Epic tales (testimonials) sometime told around the evening campfire scene.
-Hans presented a show two years ago @ the auditorium.
-Last year we had some more visuals on the Sprinter van with some Patagonia slideshows.
-Ryan is Awesome! Thank you Strike Brewers - CA!
-True! Annual Dinner, or ICM.. ; )
-Probably true.. I have had some good long days with great folks, and a good dinner thanks
to the later dinner time. (Caters are always great! Just let them know if you will be having an
alpine start to do something big, and they would get the stuff together early for you!)

Aaron… Now the question is what route should we do an off-width clinic on??

Participants: Don't forget your knee & elbow pads, along with a fat roll of tape! =)

Cor wrote: Aaron… Now the question is what route should we do an off-width clinic on?? =)

Well....since you asked. Trial by Fire is a good 5.8 maybe to start. Camp 4 Wall has several, Doggie Do 5.10a, Henley Quits 5.10a, Lancelot 5.9, and Doggie Diversions 5.9 on the upper pitches.

I would however like to watch you lead Ahab 10.b... I need the beta!

I just booked my tickets--Landing at 7:30pm on Sunday, October 5th at San Fran and coming back on Oct 12th at 1pm. Please let me know if anyone wants to share a rental car, or if anyone has any ideas of how I could catch a bus or a shuttle out to Yosemite from SFO since it seems I could potentially split the cost of a ride back to the airport on Sunday. Thanks!

If anyone needs a ride from Oakland, I'll be flying in on 10/5 at 2:15pm and driving up shortly thereafter.

Will the pass get you in any gate? We were thinking of going to Hetch Hetchy Sunday before the Meet.

FYI, we land in Sacramento 10/4 around noon and have a motel in Oakdale that night if anybody needs a ride.

Yes, somebody else cooking for us and us not having to pack cooking gear (and pay for another bag), and not having to stop and shop food is the number two reason we signed up for this trip. Number one is having local advice on Valley climbs. I can't tell you the amount of time we have wasted wandering around a new crag trying to figure things out.

I don't know what that guy is talking about. Red River Gorge has some awesome cracks. I'm sure sandstone cracks are a lot different than granite, though. How much tape should we bring?

Hey everyone! Here is a few responses to help answer questions.

@ Aaron McD - Those ones at Camp4 Wall do look inticing for the off-width clinic! ;)

@Robin - Don't forget your personal items (Spork,mug,bowl,plate)
- The gate pass should work at any of the gates.
- Bring a roll, or two of tape! Gear shop in the Valley (near the showers) should have more.
- I am very good at recommending (sandbagging) people on routes!! ;)

@Anfarwal - Check out some of the links @ thread start. Y.A.R.T.S. & Greyhound Bus services.

@Tim J - What's up buddy! Looking forward to sharing a cold one with you!

Thank you everyone for getting involved with carpools!! Parking could get tight if everyone drives separate.

Visual excitement builders! See below!

Mark Soot cruses the East Butt. of ElCap 5.10, (Aprox. 10-12 pitches long)
The all classic 5.6 Grack, Glacier Point Apron
The cragging is awesome!
Awesome 5.9 dual cracks!
Awesome cragging day!

Hey Everyone! Ill be heading out a few days early on the 2nd, probably to Tuolumne to try some stuff out there. Whats some beta on camping/leaving the car in October? Its my first time to Yosemite, and my limited research tells me that most campgrounds that I can reserve in advance will be closed for the season. I am not opposed to bivying in the woods of course, as long as I don't get arrested and my car isn't towed in the morning. Also if you are interested in getting on some routes before the event starts shoot me a PM!

Hi,

I was wondering if its best to bring 2 x 60m half-ropes or a single 60m sport rope?

Louis

Brian Monetti wrote:Hey Everyone! Ill be heading out a few days early on the 2nd, probably to Tuolumne to try some stuff out there. Whats some beta on camping/leaving the car in October? Its my first time to Yosemite, and my limited research tells me that most campgrounds that I can reserve in advance will be closed for the season. I am not opposed to bivying in the woods of course, as long as I don't get arrested and my car isn't towed in the morning. Also if you are interested in getting on some routes before the event starts shoot me a PM!

PM sent!

Louis Louw wrote:Hi, I was wondering if its best to bring 2 x 60m half-ropes or a single 60m sport rope? Louis

Louis,

If you plan on longer routes, you will want at least 2 x 60M. Just to let you know not many folks over here use half-ropes unless ice climbing is involved. I prefer 70M ropes in the Valley, although not always necessary, it allows you link pitches more frequently.

Louis,

I wouldn't bother with half ropes. Bring at least a 60m single rope, if not something longer. A lot of the classic routes were done in a time when 50m ropes were the standard and so by using a longer cord, you can generally link 1-2, sometimes even 3 pitches! I rarely ever use anything less then a 70m in the valley and often even use an 80m. The other good thing about having such a long cord is for rappeling, especially if you have two long cords!

See y'all in the ditch!

So I only got a 50m rope. Would that be wasted weight to bring that?

Louis Louw wrote:Hi, I was wondering if its best to bring 2 x 60m half-ropes or a single 60m sport rope? Louis

I just spent a week climbing in Switzerland on 60m half ropes -- I found the options and flexibility for rapping off things really made me appreciate having the two ropes, rather than just one. They were my buddies ropes, though, so I'm trying to decide whether I should buy a set and bring them for this trip, too. I know I'll likely be glad to have them in the Adirondacks later, because a lot of the descents there involve double-rope rappels.

I'm not (as) concerned about linking pitches on lead, so much as descents, and bail options.

Also, it does mean you can split the rope weight between two people for approaches and descents.