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snowzone
Dec 16, 2006, 1:03 AM
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Registered: Dec 16, 2006
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i leave next week for owens and i was wanting to know how the grades compare to smith rock (and other areas) and if the first bolts are high enough to need a stick clip like smith.
any information will be great i have never been there so thanks.
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thomasribiere
Dec 16, 2006, 3:51 AM
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Registered: Aug 24, 2002
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About the grades, I would say it's comparable to SMith, maybe a very little bit easier. But the rock structure in the Upper gorges is not similar to the oregonian one : more slopers or round shape crimpers, no xenoliths (don't remember how they are called, nubs?).
As for the first bolt, it's usually lower than in Smith Rock. By example, I don't remember in the Gorgeous Tower area first bolts as high as in "Barbecue The Pope" on the TEstament Slab which is pretty extrem to me.
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wyoclimber3
Dec 16, 2006, 4:50 PM
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Registered: Aug 4, 2002
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the grades at owens river gorge are pretty solid, and are pretty comparable to smith. many of the routes at the gorge are quite long, and tend to be more endurance and technique than power. i have never needed a stick clip although i'm sure you could use one if you wanted to. for sunny spots, check out warm up wall area (morning), all you can eat area (morning), great wall of china/solarium (afternoon), dilithium crystal (afternoon) and oh so much more. bring some trad gear even; theres some fine cracks lurking here and there.
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