February 3, 2012 6:00 PM - 11 attended
Snow and Ice Climbing Essentials at Lee Vining
This location is shown only to members
Lee Vining Canyon, Ice Climbing. It's popular for a good reason - the most accessible and consistent ice in Ca. Join us for an easy to advanced water ice climbing experience.
RSVPs are now open. Maximum 15 climbers.
Please RSVP to the waitlist. Priority Member RSVPs will be confirmed first until Jan. 14, followed by Basic Members until Jan. 21, and finally FREE Members for a $20 RSVP fee after that. You can become eligible to RSVP by joining SMG for free and completing a member profile. Some events have pre-requisites that must be met in order to attend. All members will be notified via email when their RSVP is confirmed. Please provide the required information when you RSVP. Because this event occurs on public lands it is open to the public. The event organizer reserves the right to select the most qualified individuals in the interest of safety.
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THE DETAILS
Dates: Friday and Saturday, February 3-4, 2012
Location: Lee Vining Canyon
Appropriate For: All Levels
Training: Snow and Ice Climbing Essentials video series, Anchors and Knots for Mountaineering video series, and SMG resources available for Priority and Basic Members only.
Carpool to trailhead: will be arranged with private vehicles
Trailhead: See posted location and itinerary below
Weather: Lee Vining Canyon forecast
Map: coming soon - will notify prior to event
Fitness and Difficulty Level: Easy, Moderate, and Difficult
Pre-Requisites: Participants must meet all the following
- Have your own stiff mountaineering boots and access to steel crampons and ice axes or ice tools. (SMG has loaners for Priority and Basic members)
- Ability to climb water ice - kicking feet, hanging by arms, etc.
- Know how to belay
ITINERARY
Friday, Feb. 3rd - For folks who would like to drive up the night before, we have lodging in Mammoth at the private condo of one our members. Thank you Janet! Please bring $10 as a courtesy to her and for providing a place for everyone to crash! The address is 165 Old Mammoth Road, Sierra Manors #10. There is a hot tub. There is not enough available parking at her place, so please park across the street at the shopping center or possibly at the Park and Ride nearby. We will probably all go into town and catch something to eat as a group around 7 or 8 pm. Janets cell is [masked].
To get there, we will need to establish a few meetup locations to coordinate private carpooling. For those proximate to Sac, let's meet at Folsom location near Safeway and Starbucks on the NW corner of where Prairie City Road crosses Iron Point Rd at 1:30 pm. It is a 4.5 hour drive to Mammoth from there.
Otherwise, meet us at the trailhead on Saturday as posted below. Please indicate this option in the RSVP questions.
Saturday Feb. 4th: Meet at the Poole Power Plant trailhead at 8:00 am. To get there: Take CA SR-120 (aka Tioga Road) west from US-395 just south of Lee Vining and about 25 miles north of Mammoth. If you heading south on US-395 coming from Lee Vining, you can take a short cut to 120 by turning right on to Utility Road which will dead end on to CA SR-120 where you will turn right. Follow CA SR-120 for about 3 miles from 395 until just before you reach the closed gate where you will turn on to Poole Road. Then turn immediately right and continue westward up the canyon for about 2 miles until it ends at the Southern CA Edison Power Plant. There is a small parking area that is plowed, however, you should not camp here. Hike on to the snow just beyond the chain link fence and up the canyon. Head generally up and left (south) into Lee Vining Canyon for 20-45 min depending on snow conditions until you see the Main Wall on your left.
This is an open structure event. For those who are ready to go ice climbing right away, find partners and get right on it. For those who would like to get started more slowly and/or focus more on technique, we will split up into groups and do some learner-directed instruction. I am looking for others willing to help in this regard. We'll focus on footwork and balance first, then move to arms and finally whole body positioning, progressing from low angle to vertical roped ice. We will probably not get to leading ice, but it is a possibility if there is interest and time. We will cover placing ice screws and building multi-point belay anchors.
SMG will provide all the gear we have to supplement what participants bring themselves. If you have ropes, tools, protection, etc. that you don't mind sharing, please bring it. If you are a Basic or Priority member, we have crampons, axes and tools you can loan for your time on the ice.
PACKING LIST: All items on this list are available on loan to Priority and Basic Members
Video Link: Mountaineering Clothing, Equipment and Gear video series for Priority and Basic Members
Document Links - SMG Clothing, Equipment and Gear Detailed List, for Priority Members only
Clothing
- Wicking, breathable baselayers, top and bottom
- Insulating, weather-resistant mid-layer, top and bottom
- Wind and waterproof shell layer, top and bottom
- Insulating fill jacket
- Socks, liners
- Mountaineering boots
- Lightweight liner gloves
- Waterproof gloves or mittens
- Sunglasses
- Warm hat
- Balaclava
Equipment
- 20-40 liter day pack
- Water bottles, hot drinks if desired
- Food for the day and $ for road meals
- Headlamp
- Map, guidebooks
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Personal items
- Emergency items
Gear - Ice Gear Video
- Harness
- Helmet
- Two ice axes / tools
- Steel crampons, fit to your boots
- If available: ropes, ice screws, belay device, cordage, carabiners, etc.
Group Items
- Technical climbing gear: some ropes, protection, cordage, carabiners
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For questions or more information, please contact: Darren Shutt, SMG Organizer, [masked] or [masked]
Climb on!
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Darren Shutt
FYI - you cannot be considered for RSVP unless you have a 2012 membership. Take care of that now http://www.sierramountaineeringgroup.org/news/4/new-smg-m...
Posted January 10 at 3:28 PM -
Darren Shutt
Be sure to answer all questions when you RSVP, especially about your travel plans so we can coordinate this event. Looking forward to it!
Posted January 24 at 11:28 AM -
Cathy
I have not decided if I want to carpool or drive up. It matters when I get back from Santa Barbara. Is it ok if I confirm travel arrangements at beginning of next week (Tuesday) when I know where I will be?? I would also consider carpooling up Friday night if anyone else is interested.
Posted January 25 at 2:02 PM -
rick s
Anyone considering driving down friday? i live in the el dorado hills area.
Posted January 30 at 1:04 PM -
Johnny
I am coming from the Bay Area and would be heading to Folsom meetup spot. Just want to see if anyone else is doing the same and we can get some carpooling organized.
Posted January 30 at 1:22 PM -
Marek Borowiec
I would greatly appreciate if someone could pick me up from Davis.
Posted January 30 at 1:27 PM -
Darren Shutt
Travel arrangements and other info will be determined tonight, standby.
Posted January 30 at 7:33 PM -
Janet
Hey all, please be sure to bring sleeping bag and pad if you are staying at the condo, I have a few other guests staying with me as well, so be prepared to be cozy :) Otherwise, feel free to call me on Friday if you have any questions!
Posted January 30 at 10:17 PM -
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Johnny
Marek I can pick you up on the way to Folsom.
Also wondering if anyone is interested in climbing for both Saturday and Sunday. Is anybody driving down Friday night?
Posted January 31 at 8:33 AM -
Cathy
I do not know if I will be in town in time to attend so I changed my rsvp to no so someone else who knows they can make it get on the list. If I get back in time and there is room I will get a hold of you Darren to see if I can catch a ride.
Posted January 31 at 3:29 PM -
Marek Borowiec
Thanks Johnny! I'm happy to commute with you to Mammoth, but need to be back in Davis on Sunday morning at the latest, so I'd need someone else to give me a ride back with if you'll decide to stay for another day... I'm always such a troublemaker ;)
Posted January 31 at 5:28 PM -
Janet
If anyone plans on staying at the condo, could you take a quick second to fill out this poll? I was super-excited about Mammoth and invited a few people, so just want to get an accurate head count of who I should expect and how many people to a room/floor/couch. Thanks in advance! http://www.doodle.com/8ix7aef38qnvzm83
Posted February 1 at 12:29 AM -
Janet
I didn't realize that some of you are staying an extra night. If that is the case, please bring an extra $10 to cover the second night. Thanks.
Posted February 1 at 2:55 PM -
Wayne
Darren, it looks like Marek and I will meet you guys in Folsom at 1:30 on Friday. I'm hoping Johnny will be with us as well.
Posted February 1 at 4:31 PM -
rick s
Hi Janet i was hoping to get a ride in the van..... So when the van leaves i hopefully will be on it.. I marked friday and saturday but was thinking as in saturday day not night.
thanks again for letting stay friday night.
rickPosted February 1 at 8:37 PM -
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Marek Borowiec
Indeed, I marked Sat as well, but meant only one night (Fri/Sat). I bet that's what most people marking both Fri and Sat meant?
Best
MPosted February 1 at 8:42 PM -
Leath Sanchez-Hoxie
Janet, I am just staying friday night as well. Darren, I'm in the van right?
Posted February 2 at 1:22 PM -
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Phil Montanes
Went back to Lee Vining this weekend with some friends from Mountain Rescue. We were able to get onto the Chouinard Wall (just to the left of the West Flow - the one SMG climbed). Conditions were great and even though it was a holiday weekend - there were not a lot of people.
Posted February 20 at 10:20 AM -
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RSVPs closed
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Rick BauerPRIORITY, Co-OrganizerThis trip was just like a good stick with your ice tool- soild and a real confidence booster! Thanks all for a great trip!
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Phil MontanesPRIORITY, Co-OrganizerA really great climbing day and a good group of folks. Looking forward to going again next year.
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WaynePRIORITYFirst time climbing ice for most of us. We picked one of the three stooges routes (Moe I think) on Chouinard falls and climbed a couple different variations there. Ton of fun and I believe a burly time was had by all. Thanks again SMG!
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Priority members are being confirmed for RSVP now until Jan. 15