Playing In the Sand at Mickey’s

“I almost punched myself in the balls.” – Cliff Li

That was the day in a nutshell at Mickey’s. Sebs, Cliff and I were battling the greasy boulders while greasy naked old guys threw around a Frisbee, the scene reminiscent of Boulder’s Dream Canyon. Enjoy a few pics from the day’s events.

Mickey’s is one of the most beautiful, and strange, places I’ve climbed. The volcanic rock is polished by the corroding tide and years of climber traffic. Brushing is useful, but on a misty day, the slick rock will never give much friction.

Escaping the Bay Area pavement jungle for a visit to the beach is worthwhile by itself, so the climbing is a huge bonus. Now that I’m in Oakland, Mickey’s is less than an hour away, making for an easy day trip for some fun with friends.

It was great to finally get a chance to climb with Cliff, a friend I met at the gym several years ago. He’s a V-double digit boulderer and it’s a blast watching him pull moves that make me feel like the Pillsbury dough boy.

Mickey’s is the only place I’ve climbed where I can take a break, kick off my shoes and go for a stroll that looks like this.