Betsy and I just returned from a week in Shuteye Ridge trying to stay cool and out of the smoke, which we only partially accomplished. Fortunately if you pay attention there are north facing climbs that are out of the sun. Unfortunately we often got lured out into the sun by compelling climbs and got a little baked at times.

What a fantastic place. We saw no one until labor day and then saw two parties. It's like it is a secret place but its not – Royal Robins climbed there in the 70’s and Grahm Doe has published a wonderful and current guidebook. Maybe in the fall there are more people? Or maybe the proximity to Yosemite just sucks the people from fine places like this and nearby Fresno dome? It is definitely more work and you can scratch up your car – maybe that is it. Whatever – it makes Shuteye a great place to visit if you are up for dirt roads and uphill approaches.

From alpine style adventures like Wing Feather and Intrepid Voyager to modern tightly bolted face climbs like Too Old to be Bold (put up by Jerry Anderson and family in 2004), we really had fun: