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Owens River Gorge Question

Original Post
copymatt O'Rourke · · New York, NY · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 0

Weather says high of 95 from now until Monday. Are early mornings and later evenings doable when it's that warm in the ORG? Are there walls that get decent shade in the day? Never been. Really excited about it.

Greg Barnes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 2,060

Get going at 6am, head to the North Gorge, climb in the shade until it gets too hot. Hang out in the creek and take a long siesta until 3 or 4, then climb until dark.

Ben Horowitz · · Bishop, CA · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 136

There are walls that get a decent amount of shade, but the heat will still be fairly draining. My strategy last time I went when it was hot was go early, chase the shade, leave when it gets too unbearable, boulder in the evening.

Tucker Watson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 0

Might I suggest going to Pine Creek? You would be in the shade the whole day and it's just down the road.

Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

Greg is correct... I go to the ORG all year long, there is really no season.... I like to hang out in some of the deep canyons/chimneys you can find there, cool air- natural AC flows - from them.... look over by Gorgeous.

and Tucker, I was told that most of PC is in the sunshine all day till late.... True/False?

copycat.. have fun. Try the north end for the most shade.

lou · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 60

Gotham city is in the shade all morn....tons of classics there...(superfly).
Then, as Greg said.... hit the creek... wade, cool off.
Head down to Gorgeous arete in the afternoon....

you just might have the place to yourself... and not even break a sweat!!

cheers... lou

Jeff Koperek · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 20

Pine Creek doesn't get much sun at all and would be a way better choice

Xtine · · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,921

If Captain No-Rope can do it, you can! (Croft, he is in the gorge all summer) The gorge is totally doable. Just go early, after 10 it will be hot. if you go later, Social Platform in Central gets shade. North gorge has more shade. Watch out for rattlesnakes and have fun!

SkyB · · PDX, OR · Joined May 2012 · Points: 0

Went there Tuesday to get away from the smoke. Hot but plenty of climbs in the shade. Hiking back out, anyway you do it, totally sucks

old5ten · · Sunny Slopes + Berkeley, CA · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 4,767

just a quick note on pine creek: there's plenty of sun in that canyon and a lot of the routes are E, SE, and South facing. many of those routes are still in the summer sun in the afternoon, even tough it's shining in from a different direction. i would say the best place for shade during a hot summer day would be pratt's crack area, but even the sunny stuff may be climbable, especially if there is a bit of wind.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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