San francisco (Read 7156 times)

masonwoods101 · January 17, 2016, 05:25:55 pm

Was wondering if anyone had any beta on climbing near san fransisco. Im headed there in november to meet friends who are willing to drive me. They offered to take me to Yosemite but i was wondering if there was anywhere closer people had been. A google search suggested 'the bay area'. Is there a guide for the area people know of?
Cheers
Dave

Sasquatch · January 17, 2016, 06:13:33 pm

The bay area is all around SF, so it's not really an "area".

Castle rock is small sandstone area south of there, and much closer than yosemite.

Mickey's beach has some bouldering and sport climbing.

Mortar Rock in Berkley has some good problems, and thousands of eliminates up to v13/14ish.

Somebody's Fool · January 17, 2016, 06:37:00 pm

Go to Yosemite.

Johnny Brown · January 17, 2016, 08:06:06 pm

What he said.

erm, sam · January 17, 2016, 08:58:23 pm

If somebody is offering to take you Yosemite then you really should do that. Castle Rock is ok, but if there is a Yosemite option then going to Castle Rock would be like going to Bell Hagg when the other option is like, Yosemite or something.

ghisino · January 17, 2016, 09:03:29 pm

Go to Yosemite.

Inside SF, dogpatch boulders is a really good gym

ashtond6 · January 17, 2016, 09:06:04 pm

Go to yosemite

masonwoods101 · January 18, 2016, 02:47:00 am

Thought that would be the advice... The only thing is it would be a day trip. And my froend has a young child and i can imagine arriving and being pulled away way too soon.... If i was to go to yosemite i dont think a few of hours at most bouldering would be enough....

Johnny Brown · January 18, 2016, 08:15:40 am

It's always too soon to leave Yosemite. Loads for the kid to do.

a dense loner · January 18, 2016, 08:51:05 am

Go to the nearest bouldering be it castle rock or mickeys, leave Yosemite for another trip when you'll appreciate it more.
I'd rather go climbing, hang out at coffee shops, get hotdogs, look at Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge etc while catching up with mates than drive a good 4 hours to Yosemite, say fuck me that looks incredible I'll just warm up on this V3 slab then drive back for a good 4 hours. But to each their own.

SA Chris · January 18, 2016, 08:55:32 am

Quote from: Sasquatch on January 17, 2016, 06:13:33 pm

Mortar Rock in Berkley has some good problems, and thousands of eliminates up to v13/14ish.

I stopped there for an afternoon while friends were sightseeing. Fun little spot, and good for a sociable session and historical quality.

Otherwise +1 on the other advice.

Johnny Brown · January 18, 2016, 10:44:20 am

Don't listen to Dense. Go to Yosemite. I doubt very much that you'll care how much bouldering you get done.

ashtond6 · January 18, 2016, 10:45:57 am

if you don't want to rely on his transport - you can get a bus for a reasonable price

Turboman · January 18, 2016, 10:56:41 am

Quote from: Johnny Brown on January 18, 2016, 10:44:20 am

Don't listen to Dense. Go to Yosemite. I doubt very much that you'll care how much bouldering you get done.

+1

a dense loner · January 18, 2016, 11:30:18 am

Yes you can get a bus for your day trip, that's 5hrs at least each way on the bus let alone getting to the bus. Since you're going for a day this seems like a good option. If this falls through I've got a friend in San Fran who can lend you a bike

SA Chris · January 18, 2016, 12:07:29 pm

I missed the "day trip" bit and I agree with dense! Unless you can stay for an extra day / a weekend or so and get the bus back it's a long way to go for a couple of hours. The scenery would be great along the way, but not if you are sharing the car with an unhappy child. How long you in SF for? There's so much other cool shit to do there, some great beaches too.

duncan · January 18, 2016, 01:35:23 pm

Sasquach has mentioned the main bouldering. Details here.

The drive from SF to Yosemite is slow (4 hours from Berkeley in good traffic, often longer) and objectively rather tedious bar the last hour. Public transport is considerably slower, the connections are awkward, and wouldn't work for a very short visit. Almost any road journey in the 'States is a cultural experience in itself though. It is sensational when you get there and well worth renting a car if it makes the logistics even slightly easier.

masonwoods101 · January 18, 2016, 01:50:43 pm

I dont think you missed the day trip bit i think i missed it out hahaha. Ive found a small topo for the area and am gonna look for pad rental.... Ive been to a gym there that rents them i think.... Ive been to SF a few times so have done te tourist stuff which is why this time i can climb.... And yes my friend says 4 hours each way from paulo alto... Just font think id get enough time...

SA Chris · January 18, 2016, 02:06:13 pm

If you go to mortar rock you can pretty much bet there will be folk to share a pad with, and more. Check out West Coast Pimp
and then spend a week trying the Doe Library traverse.

masonwoods101 · January 18, 2016, 02:22:28 pm

Mortar rock looks good. Pretty tempted to get the bay area bouldering guide. I go there every year ao may as well... Cheers for advice. Fort ross looks good too and theres a free topo...

a dense loner · January 18, 2016, 03:10:05 pm

No, you wrote you were going for a day trip. I admit I'm good but I'm not clairvoyant

masonwoods101 · January 18, 2016, 03:23:41 pm

who's claire voyant

found a castle rock app thing with all the areas and its only 3o mins ish from where I'm staying. I've emailed planet granite climbing gym to see if they have pad rentals....

a dense loner · January 18, 2016, 04:08:00 pm

They'll have pads, have a sauna there for me

lagerstarfish · January 18, 2016, 05:52:26 pm

word round here is that it's a long way from Hunters Bar

ashtond6 · January 18, 2016, 09:01:03 pm

Quote from: a dense loner on January 18, 2016, 03:10:05 pm

No, you wrote you were going for a day trip. I admit I'm good but I'm not clairvoyant

He wrote that it was a day trip due to his friends commitments, not his. I was trying to be helpful

a dense loner · January 18, 2016, 09:17:46 pm

He didn't write that anywhere Ashton, you inferred it from his use of the word "and"

ashtond6 · January 19, 2016, 01:12:33 pm

Lund · January 19, 2016, 04:13:26 pm

Stupid question to a topic that's already been answered, but he's going in November? It could snow for a week in November and half the roads be closed?

Or doesn't that apply? I know fuck all about yosemite apart from what I've seen in films. If you've got three fingers on one hand ignore me, don't push me off that cliff, I ain't done nothing...

masonwoods101 · January 20, 2016, 08:51:36 am

1. In that video the section on castle rock makes it look brilliant
2. The owner of planet granite says he could lend me a pad
Boom problems solved. Thanks for the replies

erm, sam · January 20, 2016, 09:30:23 am

Castle Rock is good, but it is not "brilliant". I was there after a couple of days in Yosemite so my perceptions could have been warped somewhat. I sound like a twat, I did have a good day there. I'll shut up.
You should hit up Tesla, who was of this parish to see if he might tour you around. He lives half an hours drive from Castle Rock..

duncan · January 20, 2016, 10:03:46 am

Quote from: Lund on January 19, 2016, 04:13:26 pm

Stupid question to a topic that's already been answered, but he's going in November? It could snow for a week in November and half the roads be closed?

November should be mint for bouldering. People climb all through winter in Yosemite, it's magically quiet and warm enough in the sun at lower elevations, the majority of good valley climbing faces south. The secret is out now that the Dawn Wall guys went in January for best conditions.

December-February are often snowy and occasionally the road gets blocked but storms are usually well-forecast. The first big storm rolls in sometime late October to mid November, it'll be very wet but snow should be short-lived. The trick is to be on the valley floor not high on Zodiac with inadequate rain gear...