Zach Miller wrote recently after reading about other people's highballing adventures. Back in November he and friends did a little exploring of their own, including a pretty spectacular FA by Zach of Laka, Boom, Shaka. Here's the note from Zach:
Hey Wills,
Since the lastest has been about potential highball FA's. I have one to report. A little late, but back in november, my friend Jeff and I went scoping for lines along the Happy's rim past "Atari" and "hard crack" (which is qiute a scary one, I might add). We brought some ropes to look closely at a particular pocketed wall that you can actually see from the happy's parking area. After climbing some crusty pockets and fun but not so ideal climbing (on top rope), we turned to this particular walls southeastern buttress. The line looked good. I cleaned it up and climbed it a couple times on TR. Now what remained was to climb it without a rope. The next day, after manicuring the landing zone to avoid falling on impaling rocks, I brought some more friends (Matt Deshazo, Jesse Whirl, and my friend Jeff Brennan) and some pads. I made the heart-felt ascent first go. It was very exciting!
The climb goes out an overhanging prow about 20-25 feet tall. However, it feels more like 40-50 feet due to the hill side giving away much like the established neighboring climbs (Atari and Hard Crack). And the landing zone is just big enough to make it safe. I recon the climb is only about V3 but would get a couple heart flutters.
My buddy Matt Deshazo, after my apparently inspiring ascent, decided to go for it as well. He climbed all the way to the top and hesitated to finish. And to our amazement after crying out in despair, he dropped from the top of the boulder and landed perfectly on the set of pads carefully placed on a perhaps 5' by 5' LZ. He was okay! And without much more hesitation, he got back up there and sent it.
I highly recommend this climb to anyone that wants a good thrill. Its not as difficult as other highballs in the area, however has some really good moves high off the ground. If your tring to find it, follow the rim past hard crack. You should be able to see the wall from "hard crack". The problem itself is on the opposite side of the wall (the eastern side). Bring at least 4 pads and a couple spotters (mainly to keep the climber from tumbling down the hill). The climb is very picturesque as Mount Tom and the wheeler crest rest in the background.
Below are two videos, the first showing the drop from the lip, the latter the second ascent by Matt Deshazo. All I will add is, please take care on that rock out there, it can be pretty fragile!!
Laka, Boom Shaka V3 2nd ascent attempt from Zacharias Miller on Vimeo.
Laka, Boom Shaka V3 send from Zacharias Miller on Vimeo.
Since the lastest has been about potential highball FA's. I have one to report. A little late, but back in november, my friend Jeff and I went scoping for lines along the Happy's rim past "Atari" and "hard crack" (which is qiute a scary one, I might add). We brought some ropes to look closely at a particular pocketed wall that you can actually see from the happy's parking area. After climbing some crusty pockets and fun but not so ideal climbing (on top rope), we turned to this particular walls southeastern buttress. The line looked good. I cleaned it up and climbed it a couple times on TR. Now what remained was to climb it without a rope. The next day, after manicuring the landing zone to avoid falling on impaling rocks, I brought some more friends (Matt Deshazo, Jesse Whirl, and my friend Jeff Brennan) and some pads. I made the heart-felt ascent first go. It was very exciting!
The climb goes out an overhanging prow about 20-25 feet tall. However, it feels more like 40-50 feet due to the hill side giving away much like the established neighboring climbs (Atari and Hard Crack). And the landing zone is just big enough to make it safe. I recon the climb is only about V3 but would get a couple heart flutters.
My buddy Matt Deshazo, after my apparently inspiring ascent, decided to go for it as well. He climbed all the way to the top and hesitated to finish. And to our amazement after crying out in despair, he dropped from the top of the boulder and landed perfectly on the set of pads carefully placed on a perhaps 5' by 5' LZ. He was okay! And without much more hesitation, he got back up there and sent it.
I highly recommend this climb to anyone that wants a good thrill. Its not as difficult as other highballs in the area, however has some really good moves high off the ground. If your tring to find it, follow the rim past hard crack. You should be able to see the wall from "hard crack". The problem itself is on the opposite side of the wall (the eastern side). Bring at least 4 pads and a couple spotters (mainly to keep the climber from tumbling down the hill). The climb is very picturesque as Mount Tom and the wheeler crest rest in the background.
Below are two videos, the first showing the drop from the lip, the latter the second ascent by Matt Deshazo. All I will add is, please take care on that rock out there, it can be pretty fragile!!
Laka, Boom Shaka V3 2nd ascent attempt from Zacharias Miller on Vimeo.
Laka, Boom Shaka V3 send from Zacharias Miller on Vimeo.
1 comment:
Hase a mistake occured here because the first Vid is the sam as the one in the last Comment
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