Lower Rock Creek Bike Ride

Today I investigated another part of my front yard, Lower Rock Creek. I biked up on mostly back roads past the Pleasant Valley Reservoir and then up the Lower Rock Creek Rd past Paradise and on up to where it meets Hwy 395 above 6,800 ft. Then I took the mountain biking trail down along the creek back to Paradise at about 5,000 ft, then down the road, up to Round Valley Rd, and back around to Bishop on more back roads. The first 2 parts of the trail was mostly rolling and fast downhill. The last segment had a lot more rocky bits and was harder than I was. I managed to clear most of it, but one rocky uphill and a few steep downhill parts caused me to walk it. I probably could have ridden a few more parts but I didn't know what was coming so I tried to be a little conservative. I did have one low speed crash when I tried to get back on my bike and it stopped and I went over the front (at about walking pace). oops. Parts of the Rock Creek Canyon were very scenic - sort of like a mini Owens River Gorge with huge ponderosa pine trees by the creek. I wasn't setting any speed records. The entire ride took a little over 6 hours. Now my legs and back side are tired.

this doesn't look much like paradise, but the view the other way was better

looking back from the road above Paradise

the top of the bike trail

Kathryn visits for a fun and busy weekend

Last weekend Kathryn took a break from the rigors of life in San Diego to visit. When she got here Friday I assured her that there really were mountains around, as they were shrouded in clouds. The next morning the Whites and Sierra Nevada were covered with fresh white snow. We had a busy schedule... Biking, Hiking up Tungsten Peak, Summit acro, slacklining, acro, bouldering, eating tasty vegan food, watching movies, rock climbing in the gorge, and lots of talking. Thanks for coming up Kathryn.

Biking

summit acro (Tungsten peak summit)

taking selfies

hiking

slackline

acro

bouldering

flexing/posing (making me look weak)

climbing at the Owens River Gorge

hiking out of the gorge

I put a bit more text and pics here:

http://www.electricant.net/grundyman/kathryn4-2014.html

Las Vegas and the RRR

It has been a while since I updated things. In January I went down to Joshua Tree for a long weekend. Then I went to the winter OR show and then on to Cleveland for 2 months before returning to Bishop with a load of stuff.

bodaciously bouldering back in Bishop

Last weekend I went to the Red Rock Rendezvous near Las Vegas to teach slacklining and then stayed for a day of climbing and a day of highlining. As usual there was some weather, but in general it was pretty nice. The classes were a bit more random this year because the sign ups were not working properly, but lots of people got a lot of time on the lines. After setting them up the day before things started Tom and I even got out for a little bit of climbing.

Prana had fresh fruit for everyone

Sam getting aerial drone video of Raquel on the line

Sunrise on the Red Rocks

After the festival I climbed Cat in the Hat with Anthony, it was nice to get out for some mellow multi-pitch. Then we got on something else but only got 1.5 pitches up before we had to bail to make it out of the loop on time. The next day we set up the highline at the second pullout and got on it with varying levels of success. I mostly bruised my ego and my inner thigh. I did manage to walk 1/3 and then 1/2 way across though. By the time we took it down it was downright cold and windy. In fact when I returned to Bishop there was some snow coming down. Luckily it was too warm to stick down in the valley, but it sure looks nice on the mountains.

taking my Evolv Bandits for a vertical hike

Anthony on the highline

Anthony gets one more evening walk across the line

I managed to not get any pictures of myself the whole 6 days except for one lame selfie on the climb.

I posted a few more pics and text here:

http://www.electricant.net/grundyman/rrr2014.html