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CLIMB IN THE CITY Need your rock climbing fix on a rainy day7 Tackle a 55-foot wall within the city's confines. Practice short problem-climbs closer to the ground in a boldering cave. This gym offers climbs with ratings of 5.0 to 5.13. Classes are also available for recently converted climber wannabes. Contact Mission Cliffs Indoor Climbing Gym 41 5-550-0515. SURF SOME CLIMBS Want to know what's in store for your climb before packing up the car7 Check out California Climbers Network www.climbnet.com/ccn/ for advice on conditions, new routes, insider info and links. @,.,'''.'',III .. MT SHASTA Rising higher than 14,000 feet and snow-covered throughout the year, Mt Shasta pro vides excellent climbing conditions through late October. While climbs can be accomplished in one day by experienced climbers, two or three days are recommended to summit. You'll need to have an ice ax and know how to "glissade," but there are several easy routes to the top. The Fifth Season Store in Mt Shasta City has an automated phone line with daily ski and climbing conditions 530-926- 5555. THE NEEDLES Needles' sheer granite faces contain perhaps the widest varitey of routes in California. Most of the better areas require hiking in a few miles, discouraging most casual climbers. Current information and conditions can be obtained via the California Climbers Network website. SCHOOL Climb what Teddy Roosevelt described as, "The most beautiful place on earth." Reserve a space on any one of a series of multi-day climbing trips on the granite walls of Yosemite National Park. Lessons are offered for both beginners and those wanting to work on more advanced skills. Contact the Yosemite Mountaineering School 209-372-8344. TAHOE Three hours from the sky scrapers of San Francisco's financial district rise the peaks and granite spires of North Lake Tahoe. This area offers some of the best and most diverse climbing in California. Once you get there you have a choice between excellent multi pitch, burly bouldering, or extreme overhang. All with the conveniences of a resort area. Try The Line at Lover's Leap, or Bat Ejector and Sitting Bull at Big Chief. At Donner Summit try Puppet on a String, or, go to the Peanut Gallery. For Information call Alpenglow at 530-583-6917, or Sierra Mountaineer 530-587-2025. You can also refer to the Tahoe Rock Climbers Guide.- Sam Mancini JOSHUA TREE ROCK CLIMBING SCHOOL It's a long road trip to Joshua Tree, but there are cheap and frequent flights to Ontario, California from San Francisco. From there, climbing lessons at the park are only a little over an hour away. Whether new to climbing or just looking to improve certain skills, a variety of classes are offered. Private guides with years of international experience are also available to lead individual trips for those unfamiliar with the area. Contact Joshua Tree Rock Climbing School at 800-890-4745. NOTE: Independent climbing In Yosemite and Joshua Tree does not generally require a permit, although overnight travel in Yosemite does. For information on space reservation and information contact the Yosemite Wilderness Center at 209-372-0740,