| WE GET LETTERS !!! |  |
| Graham Breakwell 6 Ellen Court Orinda, CA 94563 August 24, 1993 Dear Ron, |
Having lived in the area approx two months I am only just beginning to appreciate the many fine climbing and bouldering areas.
Berkeley has four or five outcroppings of rock. If you can first imagine an area the size of Stoney Point with no rock over thirty feet high and then imagine these rocks in the middle of West LA with backyards and house roofs within twenty feet of many of the faces. These are the infamous Berkeley Rocks including Indian Rock, Mortar Rock, Cragmont Rock, Remillard Park and Grizzly Peak; all physically very small by LA standards but taken in their entirety a wonderful place to boulder in complete safety with many friendly and extremely talented people of all ages. I'm here once or twice a week.
On my third weekend I joined Ron Hudson and two friends from CMC for a day climb at Mt St. Helena at approx 4,500 ft this is one of the Bay Area's highest peaks. There are four walls we selected The Bubble which has overhanging pocketed stuff in the 5.8 to 5.11 level just right for top rope. The views from this peak over Calistoga and the Napa Valley are magnificent.
Last weekend I climbed at Lovers Leap with a new friend from the Cragmont Climbing Club. This lies a little less than three hours from my house. The sheer walls of Lover's Leap appear quite formidable, a half mile wide and 400ff high at one end rising to 600ff at the other. Although not so picturesque as Tacquitz the walk in is kinder (that's an understatement!) and the rock a slightly more grainy granite which I prefer. The whole wall is nearly vertical so the 5.6 to 5.8 routes I climbed of four pitches each were particularly sustained and physical; a mixture of crack and face covered with numerous dykes.
There are approx another 12 climbing areas of within one hour of my house which have to be explored and Tahoe and Yosemite about four hours.
Before closing The Golden Gate Wall must be described. I visit this once a week. It is in Oakland and is a 300ff long, man made, retaining wall that can be traversed for an excellent workout with moves from 5.7 to 5.10. Some of us need to take a rest every 20 ft. I spotted one person complete this; he was literally dripping with sweat at the end!
Of course I miss you all and I hope that you will feel comfortable in asking to camp out for as long as you wish at our rented and devoid of furniture house. If you complete the Wall in one I'll buy you dinner!
Graham o 415 953 5413 h 510 253 1432
EDITOR -- Jim Hinkley tells me that Graham took a "freak fall" while walking in Berkeley in the last week of September. Graham sustained serious injuries to his leg. It was necessary to repair it with 2 pins, a plate as well as a full cast. Luckily he had full medical coverage through his wife Grace who is interning at a nearby Oakland Hospital. Graham can be reached at the phone or address listed above.