RRC Archives

where exactly does the arena/inbetween/oil crack begin and end?

I haven't been further back into the Arena, only to the "In Between" or "backside of Oil Crack" area. From there, I could see that I was in a big 'valley' so it makes sense to me to call all of that 'valley' "The Arena".

It also makes sense to me to give chunks of it sub-names like "the Undertow Wall". It's big enough that someone could say "I was at the Arena on Sunday", you would say "I was too, but I didn't see you", they could respond "Oh, I was at the Blowjob Wall, where were you?" and so on. But that's something that can evolve on it's own.

I think that as far as the guidebook goes, call it all "The Arena".

As it has been explained to me, Oil Crack ends just to the right of the Scooby Wall, before Big in Japan, etc. begin at what is referred to as In Between Wall - where that parking area is by the oil whatchamacallit down that hill. Know what I mean? Everything from Big in Japan and on to what is now being called The Arena would make up The Arena if we ditch the "in between wall" dealio.

Also, I have to retract my suggestion of "Anonymous Blowjobs." It seems that Horatio owns the copyright to that name. Mea culpa, Ho.

so where exactly does the arean end? technical foul?

touche sandy.

Why not just rename the whole "Southern Region" The Gymnasium?

Horatio Felacio wrote:so where exactly does the area end? technical foul?

I dunno. I have a map with a bunch of routes marked and their difficulties, but very few names at this point. The last route I have on the far end of The Arena, after a long straight section of rock (assuming that routes are listed right to left from Oil Crack, this is the faaaarthest left route), is shown as a 5.6, just left/after a 5.7 (trad) which is down a ways from a 5.8 on a rock outcropping before the rock curves. I need to scan this and get the blanks filled in.

I guess The Arena was considered to be strictly the concentration of routes in the tight horshoe shaped section starting with a 12a, the name of which I do not have, and moving down the the last route I referenced above.

Clearly I have no freakin clue what I'm talking about.

Okay, I changed the In Between Wall to just The Arena.
Have at it Lynne!

I guess that the most important thing is setting up the guidebook so that first timers to the area can figure out what climbs are where. Maybe the dividing point should be some easy to locate geographical/geological element?

Tom, the dividing point between Oil Crack and The Arena is pretty obvious - if you have been there and recognize the landmarks. I had to scan the map at my neighbor's and I am waiting for him to email it to me. As soon as I have it I will post it and you will see what I mean. Even if someone has not been there previously, it'll still be obvious. It's not like calling a wall In Between or Anonymous BJ vs. The Arena is going to make anyone smarter at figuring out which route is which. It's very arbitrary to divide this wall up at all if you think about it.

Thanks, Ray. As soon as I have more route names I will start entering them. It might be a little while as I'm supposed to be gone for 10 days starting Sunday.

Anyone know what level above sea level that the sandstone cliff bands occur?.
It would help me find crags on the topo.