Pine Creek, Bishop
September 1, 2013
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We visited Bishop's local crag - Pine Creek (about 20 minutes from town). Gorgeous camping, and a pretty area... the climbing seemed just OK, there aren't a ton of high quality cracks - the area is mostly known for hard sport climbing (too hard for us!). Definitely seemed like a different style of climbing than the rest of the Sierra? Risk of thunderstorms and some rain kept us in check (had to bail from two pitches up Rites of Spring). We found "Sheila" the best climb there - sweet 5.10 crack climb (and the name means a lot to me, so I was bound to like it...), 5 stars for sure.

  Chilling by the creek!  
  Chilling by the creek!

  Our awesome campsite Pine Creek Canyon. The Dihedrals straight ahead (can't miss them!)  
  Our awesome campsite Pine Creek Canyon. The Dihedrals straight ahead (can't miss them!)

  Rites of Spring follows the left hand crack system. Pratt's Crack is the wide corner crack, and Sheila the one on the very right Sheila ! Pine Creek - a neat spot!  
  Rites of Spring follows the left hand crack system. Pratt's Crack is the wide corner crack, and Sheila the one on the very right Sheila ! Pine Creek - a neat spot!

  Camp Beautiful Sierra morning!  
  Camp Beautiful Sierra morning!

  Racking up at the base of Sheila - it is pretty hot in the sun! Starting up Sheila The crux is a thin finger crack/traverse left  
  Racking up at the base of Sheila - it is pretty hot in the sun! Starting up Sheila The crux is a thin finger crack/traverse left

  Helps to have long legs sometimes.. After the second crux - 5.10 lieback with a #6 camalot for protection  
  Helps to have long legs sometimes.. After the second crux - 5.10 lieback with a #6 camalot for protection

  Melissa coming up Sheila. The double cracks below her are the highlight of the route!  
  Melissa coming up Sheila. The double cracks below her are the highlight of the route!

  Starting up Rites of Spring Second pitch Wide awkwardness on the top of the second pitch  
  Starting up Rites of Spring Second pitch Wide awkwardness on the top of the second pitch

  Because we both love wide flaring cracks so much! Looking up at the 3rd pitch. It started raining so we rappelled off :(  
  Because we both love wide flaring cracks so much! Looking up at the 3rd pitch. It started raining so we rappelled off :(

  Some weird/awkward 5.10c sport route (after the rain cleared!) Climbing a bolted crack - weird!  
  Some weird/awkward 5.10c sport route (after the rain cleared!) Climbing a bolted crack - weird!

  Pratt's Crack - 5.9 offwidth.  
  Pratt's Crack - 5.9 offwidth.

  Pratt's Crack. Actually looks reasonable from the bottom...  
  Pratt's Crack. Actually looks reasonable from the bottom...

  Starting up one of the easiest routes in the canyon - Becky Route Bumblebee! Starting up a desperate 5.10c sport route. I did not onsight, to put it mildly.  
  Starting up one of the easiest routes in the canyon - Becky Route Bumblebee! Starting up a desperate 5.10c sport route. I did not onsight, to put it mildly.

  The first desperate part - getting to the lieback itself (which is the real crux)  
  The first desperate part - getting to the lieback itself (which is the real crux)

  Driving back - Mono Lake is beautiful! Mono Lake  
  Driving back - Mono Lake is beautiful! Mono Lake

  Driving north on 395, the smoke was bad! Yummy tomatoes  
  Driving north on 395, the smoke was bad! Yummy tomatoes

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