A crawl into the depths of Sequoia...."Hurricane Crawl" Cave

A trip up White Punks in the Needles.......Voodoo Dome

A day trip to Yosemite....

The SSCA First Responder Kit out in the Needles

For the past few years we have maintained a First Responder Kit and Litter out in the notch between the Sorcerer and Witch Needle, a place that see lots of climbing traffic. The First Responder Kit is for ANY medical needs. All we ask is that anyone who uses it tell us so that we know what to replace when we make our yearly restocking around the beginning of the climbing season. The litter is also available for serious injuries that would involve a carry out. Emergency response times out at the rock can be several hours, and this could be the only means to save a life.

SSCA weekend at Bart Dome....Domelands

Plans are being made for the hike out on our SSCA newsgroup ssca@yahoogroups.com join us in the backcountry of the Domelands. Prime wilderness with friends and the climbing is the best the backcountry High Sierra has to offer. Please join us for this backpacking adventure.
Thanks to Patrick Paul for the write up and to Gary Schenk for the great pictures!


Getting to Bart Dome
From Kernville take the river road north to Sherman Pass road #21s05, (approx. 18 mi).
Take the Sherman Pass road about 5-6 miles to the Cherry Hill road #22s12.
Take the Cherry Hill road (approx. 12 mi.) to the Big Meadow intersection.
Now you can turn left on #23s07 loop road or continue along the west edge of the meadow and turn left on the loop road a mile and one-half further down the Cherry Hill road.

There are two trails that go to Manter Meadow and Bart Dome from the Big Meadow loop road. If you take the left turn on to road #23s07 you pass by trail #33E32 to Sirretta Peak first then come to trail #34E14, (should be marked Manter Meadow Trail) the first of two trails that get you to Bart. This is the shortest of the two routes. The next trail, #34E37 can be found about a mile and one-half farther down the Big Meadow loop road, but the trail is longer and is better for accessing Taylor Dome.

Water--you should hydrate the heck out of yourself before leaving the parking area, take a couple of pints with you on the trail, and take a couple of extra empties for later. There will be water at or near Manter meadow on the way. There will most likely be some water in Manter Creek which parallels the trail for some way. It might be a hassle to go and get water in the evening but it will give you something to do before or after dinner (possibly 1 to 2 hours effort). There have traditionally been very small springs in the area around Bart. You might have to have a search party to find one. Take a filter and cheap radios for communications. I will give a prize to the person who finds the closest water to Bart Dome.

Here are some links to trip reports on Bart Dome published in 1995 and later, and some conversation about this year's trip on Summit Post.

My knees don't like long, heavily weighted hiking any more and are not up to the hike out to Bart Dome, but have a great time.


http://www.alpinistas.org/archives/1995/bart.html

http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/170934/domeland-wilderness.html

http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=14&sid=a2ba280c5090c0b316fe308058a9ae76

Patrick Paul

Tollhouse Event....April 21-22

Please mark your
calendar for the first SSCA event of this season to be held at Tollhouse
Rock on April 21-22. I have looked into camping and feel that the best plan
is to park at the main dirt pullout just off Tollhouse Rd and hike the steep
4x4 road to the kind campsite at Cap Rocks. Water, climbing and camping gear
will need to be carried in or you can drive to the top on this road if you
have a 4x4 with high clearance. I haven't been on it since our last storm so
not sure how deep the ruts are. I will check it out and let you know. My
truck should be able to make the climb and I will haul gear and water in.
The walk isn't that bad and it will be good training for our next event at
Bart Dome to be held May 26-28.


Most of you are aware that a gate has been placed on the old access road.
The land owner has not been rational. We should not walk around the gate on
to his private property. If you take this approach there is a good chance
that you will be shot at. If you do park near the gate you can access the
power line road by hiking up to your right. The landowner has placed a sign
to mark a trial that is steep and high impact. You can find alternate
routes, but be careful of poison oak. Please do not block the road. Only
room for a few vehicles near the gate. It is best to park at the big pullout
and take the approach described above. Please share your ideas/thoughts on
alternate access plans with the group. The Forest Service hasn't been much
help on this issue, but they are open to a proposal on establishing a
walking trial to the rock.

Thanks,
Eric

The SSCA Waiver of Liability....PLEASE READ....

 RELEASE OF LIABILITY AGREEMENT
 AGREEMENT NOT TO SUE
 INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
 CONSENT TO MEDICAL TREATMENT


YOU ARE GIVING UP IMPORTANT LEGAL RIGHTS
READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO ME

I, (please print), am aware that mountaineering sports, including: Rock Climbing, Bouldering, Mountaineering, Snow and Ice Climbing, Ski Mountaineering, and Traveling in the Outdoors, are hazardous activities that have inherent risks of injury or death. I wish to participate in these activities with the Southern Sierra Climbers’ Association (SSCA), with the full knowledge of the dangers involved, and hereby agree to accept and assume any and all risk of injury or death that may occur.
Please Initial:

GIVING UP MY LEGAL RIGHTS
By signing this Agreement, I agree to give up certain legal rights in which I, (or my representatives and heirs) may have in the event I become injured or killed or suffer damage to or loss of property as a result of my participation in activities with the SSCA. I am giving up my legal rights against the SSCA as defined in the following sentence. As used in the Agreement, the “SSCA” will mean the SSCA and all of its board members, leaders, instructors, rope leaders, members, associate members, applicants, students, agents, officers, directors, employees and contractors (except common or charter transportation carriers). In short “SSCA” means anyone connected with or participating with SSCA.
Please Initial:

ACTIVITIES COVERED
This Agreement applies to ALL ACTIVITIES connected in any way with the SSCA. This includes, but is not limited to: 1) club trips, 2) training classes, 3) workshops, 4) check-out climbs, 5) evaluation climbs of students, applicants, associates, members, or otherwise, 6) instruction, 7) trips, activities or events published, publicized or sponsored by the SSCA, 8) travel to or from any of the forgoing.
Please Initial:

MY PROMISE NOT TO SUE OR MAKE ANY CLAIM
I agree that I will not sue or make any claim against the SSCA for injury, death or damage to me (or my personal property), which may occur in the course, or as a result, of my participation in SSCA activities or instruction, which in any way result from negligence or other acts, however caused, by the SSCA.
Please Initial:

MY RELEASE OF LIABILITY
I also agree to release and discharge the SSCA from all actions, claims, demands, both for myself and for my heirs, assigns or personal representatives, for injury, death or damage to me (or my personal property) which may occur in the course, or as a result, of my participation in SSCA activities or instruction, which in any way result from negligence or other acts, however caused, by the SSCA.
Please Initial:


MY PROMISE TO INDEMNIFY
I agree to pay all costs and expenses, including damages, losses, attorneys fees, court cost, and any other expenses that the SSCA may sustain or incur as a result of any claim, demand, proceeding or legal action arising our of: 1) injury death or damage to me; 2) damage to or destruction of my property or property entrusted to me; 3) injury , death or damage to someone else as a result of my conduct; or 4) damage to or destruction of someone else’s property as a result of my conduct. The extent of indemnification provided under this paragraph shall include, but not be limited to, sums paid or liabilities incurred in procuring or attempting to procure release from liability from any such claim, demand, proceeding or legal action.

Please Initial:

MY CONSENT TO MEDICAL TREATMENT
I consent to any hospital care or medical or surgical diagnosis or treatment to be rendered to me, or to persons or members of my family who accompany me, as found advisable, of any injuries that may arise from my participation in any SSCA activities. I understand and agree that I am solely responsible for all applicable charges for such medical services. I also understand and agree that I am solely responsible for any and all cost of rescue or transportation rendered to me or to person or members of my family or accompany me that may arise from my participation in any SSCA activities.

Please Initial:


All the terms of the Agreement are binding upon me, my relatives, heirs, assigns and personal representatives. The terms of this Agreement shall also be binding upon any persons or members of my family, including minors, who may accompany me. This Agreement shall be interpreted according to the laws of the State of California and venue for any action or proceeding arising out of the Agreement shall be in the County of Fresno, State of California.

“I am over the age of eighteen years of age, or my legal guardian has also read, initialed and signed this Agreement below my signature. I have read the Agreement and fully understand its contents. I am aware that this is a binding legal contract between myself and the SSCA and I sign it of my own free will.”

Dated: Print Name: Signature:


SIGNATURE AND ACKNOWLEGMENT OF LEGAL GUARDIAN
(Required if the participant is under the age of 18 years)

“I am the parent or legal guardian of (please print). I have read the above Agreement, have affixed my initials to it, and fully understand its contents. I understand that the Agreement is a binding legal contract between myself, the above named participant and the SSCA, and I consent to the above name individual’s participation in all SSCA activities in which he/she may engage, and also agree to be bound and held by all of the terms of the above Agreement.”

Dated: Print Name: Signature: