cluck Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Trip: Pillars of Hercules - Vertical Vegetables? Date: 6/19/2011 Trip Report: I've driven by this random column of basalt in the Gorge many times and often wondered what's up there. RPC's information page on SP.org here whet my appetite years ago but only finally got around to it this weekend for a quick father's day adventure. My unwitting accomplice, Steve, had no idea what I was getting him into other than I promised an 'adventure' but he was a good sport. After parking at the Bridal Veil pullout, we bushwhacked through neck-high stinging nettles down to an old railroad grade and approached the pillar from the east. As promised, the route was fully vegetated, but looked easy enough: After 80' of vertical vegetable-wallowing the route crests a ridge and then traverses 20' to a belay tree on the freeway side. A fixed tri-cam and old knifeblade protect a couple easy moves and then a mossy offwith leads up to the spacious top. While lounging on top, we enjoyed victory honks from passing traffic and excited waves from suprised tourons at the Bridal Veil overlook. Steel cables slung around a 'mystery heap' of dirt and weeds and a duct tape "locking" carabiner made a comforting rap anchor for the descent back through the tree canopy which mercilessly tangled our ropes. Gotta love Gorge adventure climbs! Gear Notes: Pro in the 2-4 inch range. 2 ropes for the rap. Round up for the weeds. Approach Notes: Machete. Seriously. And long pants/sleeves for the stinging nettles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvallisclimb Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 nice!!!! that summit sure is sweet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billcoe Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Thank the good lord for fixed tri cams eh? Make a note for folks not to toss their ropes out too far all casual like when they rap in case the first train by runs over them. Still, I don't know if you want to be posting stuff like this in public Cluck. It's really a short distance till you go from happy go lucky half crazed explorer to being locked up in a loonie bin. That's right man, I'll say it right here. I've seen stuff you've posted. Your Rabbit ears trip report, for instance, and stepped back in awe...silenced to see one so crazed...but this....dude....I was thinking that you make a mistake and did Rabbit Ears accidentally, but this HAD to be intentional..... it's so ugly....and you saw it early with plenty of time to go elsewhere...it's madness. Madness I say. I'd rather not see stuff like this ever online. Honestly though, I'd like to meet you at some point. I'd tie in with you though...you can lead of course. Damn dude. What you be smokin? Do you ever get out to new places to scrape moss and do FA's? They are cleaner and safer than this. More fun too, the spirit of adventure and the force is strong in this one Obewan...yes, the force is strong with this one... We need to redirect that energy away from the dark side is all....no joke. It can be a positive force for good. I will help you. Not this weekend. The next. Contact me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Nice job, been a while since I have been on that route. Is climate change vegetating these routes, or lack of traffic. It seems the rock used to be fairly clean, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluck Posted June 29, 2011 Author Share Posted June 29, 2011 You crack me up, Bill! C'mon - Rabbit Ears isn't that bad. A little adventure is good for the soul. I think you're right, scraping moss would be more fun if it was in pursuit of FA's. Sounds awesome! Wayne, not sure what this route was like back in the day, but there's a fair bit of moss and some ferns now. Probably not as bad as I made it out to be. I'm kind of a whiner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fgw Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 nice Cluck. a true classic: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billcoe Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 This edition? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lodestone Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 This edition? Awesome! Chad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Bill, you know you cant avoid adventure. It will come to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billcoe Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fgw Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 great stuff Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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