Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board First 14er

Climbed Mt Shasta (Avy Gulch/Red Banks) this last Friday. My first 14er. Halfway up The Heart I remember thinking "I'm never doing this again", until I got to the summit, and than thinking "I can't wait to do this again". Crazy. Whitney would have been my first 14er if not for the crazy weather there from the end of May through much of June. Actually got up to 13000 feet on the MR gully, but had to make the decision to turn around. Got chased off of Trail Crest a few weeks earlier by a thunderstorm, and some of his friends I think, as well.

For as impressive a single mountain as Shasta is though, and it is beautiful, I can't get over walking through the Whitney zone, either on the main trail or the MR. It's a land of looming giants. Like burly bouncers at the door wondering why you think you should be allowed into such an exclusive club. Reminds me of when I was a kid and the first time my dad took me to NYC. All I could do was look up at the skyscrapers. Almost got hit by a taxi. So my next trip is back to Lone Pine, hopefully to do the MR or Mt Russell if I'm feeling up to serious exposure. And of course to get a slice of blueberry pie at the Alabama Cafe.

Since I'm getting kind of hooked on climbing, I'm thinking of taking a two day basic rock climbing course. There are numerous outfits out there, but the one closest to me in the Bay Area is MAS in Bear Valley. I got one recommendation from someone at the Sierra Club, but I was wondering if anyone out there has any experience with them. I know down there, SMI is probably a favorite, but something closer would be great.

Thanks

rruby: Several years ago I took their (SMI) 3 day Avalance Awareness/Winter Survival course. They were great at what they were teaching, looked out for all involved, and made some great friends. Lots of hands on experience over those three days. I learned more than I expected! I highly recommend them.

Bob D.

rruby -

I think you have 2 options. You can take an indoor rock climbing course or an outdoor course. With an indoor course, depending on the gym, you can apply the initial course fee to a membership if you decide to join. You can then climb or boulder year round without worrying about weather or traveling.

Option 2 is outdoor school, which is probably better. Close to SF Bay you have the best rock climbing in the world, Yosemite. Take a course through the Yosemite Mountaineering School. This time of year I think the course is taught out of Tuolumne Meadows.

Of course you can do both options and be better off. I did option 1 and want to do option 2. Let me know what you decide, I've been planning on taking the climbing course in Yosemite.

-Rudy