Trip Report
ICA 2013

by TGT
Friday May 24, 2013 10:36pm
It started for me on Saturday.

We had quarried enough rock about a month ago to finish the Suicide stairs, but someone stole our rocks, including one perfect slab that was about the size of a car hood and 6-8" thick.

So,

Ryuichi and Hiroshi met me Saturday before heading on up to The Flower. I felt a bit like Tom Sawyer with the whitewashed fence.

I showed up with the toys and they did all the work.

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So Sunday after coffee and scones, we split up into four groups.
One up each of the three approach trails and our group on the steps.

The girls stopped traffic while we milled around trying to look like we knew what we were doing.


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The blocks were about 5' long and 16"-18" square so that works out to about 800 lb or so. Andy brought the FS dolly. That made short work of geting the blocks across the street.

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I didn't get this kid's name, (the Brit from San Diego, white shirt) but he sure knows his way around heavy lifting. I suspect he's done this before.

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The stairs are finished for now.

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If anyone has photos of the other trail crews please add them to this thread.

A pleasant surprise was that the total trash haul from all three trails and the base of the crags wouldn't have filled a kitchen size trash bag one third full.

Then off to lunch. The Habanero sausages were excellent!


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Cooks hard at work
Cooks hard at work
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Greg gave a tribute to his friend, Lucas.

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You can blame all this on this guy, Jim. The ICA was his idea.

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There was enough donated booty so that no one went home empty handed. Those that participated in the silent auction scored some killer deals and made it possible to make this a self sustaining annual event.

There was even something for Andy Smith. None of this would be possible without him. He has not only been the liaison with the USFS but with the county and water district as well.

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Hope to see you next year.













  Trip Report Views: 1,502
TGT
About the Author
TGT is a social climber from So Cal.

Comments
Spufi

Trad climber
DeLusion, Ca
  May 25, 2013 - 01:02pm PT
Nice work on the stairs!
Studly

Trad climber
WA
  May 25, 2013 - 01:08pm PT
That is one beautiful set of stairs. Nice work.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
  May 25, 2013 - 01:10pm PT
Why do people going to climb at Suicide need stairs? ;-)

Very bespoke!
TGT

Social climber
So Cal
Author's Reply  May 25, 2013 - 11:45pm PT
There's only a narrow corridor of access from the road between private property and the water company.

The stairs have been there for 20 or 30 years and were originally built by Fern Valley Water. But,the old railroad ties had rotted away to the point of being more hazardous than helpful.
WBraun

climber
  May 25, 2013 - 11:54pm PT
Good job people.

I know for fact how hard it is to move blocks of rock like those into position for steps.

It's damn hard work.

Peter Haan

Trad climber
Wyoming
  May 26, 2013 - 12:57am PT
No kidding! Great show, people.
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