Climbing near Yuma...

My parents have a place in Yuma that they go to in the winter (like everyone else), and I will be taking a trip that way this Dec. What would be a couple good crags to check out for moderate to advanced sport and trad?

MM

Matt, that's a tough area. I don't know much about what's over (if anything) by San Diego. Nothing that I can think of in or around Yuma.

I've driven from there to Joshua Tree in less than 4 hours and I believe you could get to Tucson in about the same time.

Just a thought. Not exactly "day trips" but maybe possible excursions.

Good luck,

Susan

check out googleearth.com . download the free version and check out the mountains surrounding the yuma area. there has to be something out there.

Matt, I know you are inquiring about rock climbing, but speaking of "rocks," there's an awesome "Gem, and Mineral Flea Market" in Quartzsite, Arizona in early January. It's a bit hippie-like, but there's lots of cool stuff, and it's fun to talk to the sellers that come from all over the world. I enjoyed talking with the guys from Africa when I was at Quartzsite a few times. I believe it's only about an hour drive north from Yuma(?)

Check it out if you haven't already.

Now, ask me about rock climbs in or around Yuma, I have no clue.
but..... I do have plenty of beta on the reptiles in, and around there. ; )

I miss those desert romping, stomping, thumping days.

Hope you have fun! G ~

Mike, I don't think that's the quickest way. IMO up hwy 8 to the 95 which dumps you into Quartzsite,AZ @ I-10 in just over an hour. Gigette's right - gem show and full on swap meet goes on for the snow birds the month of January & February - if you can take the varno's and traffic it's fun.

From Quartzsite head west to J-Tree. The choice is to the driver if they want to cut through at Cottonwood all the way through the park or go in the back way (Desert Center 177 to the 62 - which takes 2 hours flat from Quartzsite to 29 Palms proper)

Funny that the topic is climbing in Yuma and we're sending him off to J-Tree. Unless there is something down south in CA I don't know about....it's the best bet. Driving up the 8/95 to Quartzsite all that rock is complete CHOSS!

~Susan

Matt we need you to set things straight. Go visit your parents then drive over to Josh for a few days using Mike's directions then loop back to Yuma via Quartzsite. We need times sir, times.

Inquiring minds want to know.

~Susan

Thanks for all the info... in reality J-tree is only about 4 hours from Vegas too... I was hoping to find something/anything closer to where I'd be staying. I guess I'll just have to head to Algodones and entertain myself. =)

Thanks again.

MM

matt if you will be driving through lake havasu city i will tell you about my little secret, a place known as sarahs crack a 400 hundred foot long corridor of freshly exposed monoquartzite granite about a 150 feet deep about 5 feet wide at it smallest point and in the shade all day ,their is 7 chain anchors at numerous points at the rim, and 3 one pitch sport routes and one awsome 2 pitch route, the climbing ranges from 5-9 to about 5-13 , i havent gone public with it yet but me and some buddies developed that area when we first started climbing. on my page theirs a picture of my buddy on rappel, look behind him, in the photo, e-mail me if you want more, info, oh and their is also sweet lime stone deepwater soloing in the upper topock gorge if you got a boat.

Xmas Tree Pass in Laughlin, NV has some adventure climbs and several sport routes. A small wall near the road, Aviator Wall (?) has great sport routes on granite; Stairway to Heaven makes for a great day, it's a 2 pitch bolted climb. Interesting place to search out climbs and the hiking is great also. Email me for more info. Manny

Resurrecting an old thread...
I'm in Yuma now, and there's nothing worth climbing here. But someone please look me up who's moving down here and we can road trip.

you may want to contact brian shelton, owner of Front Range Climbing Company out of the springs...www.frontrangeclimbing.com, they started an offshoot of their service out of San Diego with a lot of developement and permit stuff going on. He'd be a great resource especially if you do not wish to be considered a drug smuggler or "coyote" runner near the border.

Yuma to Tucson is probably closer than J-Tree? Maybe?

Jeffrey Bauer wrote:you may want to contact brian shelton, owner of Front Range Climbing Company out of the springs...www.frontrangeclimbing.com, they started an offshoot of their service out of San Diego with a lot of developement and permit stuff going on. He'd be a great resource especially if you do not wish to be considered a drug smuggler or "coyote" runner near the border.

Thanks for the input Jeffrey. I may just look him up. The climbing between Yuma and San Diego ain't half bad - the driving distances are too far to go after work (I miss CO!). So far I only found one climber in Yuma though, and he's moving soon! But yeah, it's funny to find worn out walking shoes near some of the climbs! Border patrol doesn't even look twice at me though, I still have CO plates and I'm just too white.

And Mike, as far as Tucson is concerned, it's the same distance as J-Tree! Tucson will be good for those "change of pace" kinda days I think, and those winter days when J-Tree is too crowded. Too bad the climbing near Tucson isn't on the West side.

OK.. I have asked this before, no MP folks know anything about this....maybe this topic will help.

This is East of Yuma... quite visible from I8... other stuff close by.

When I do the FA next winter... I will name it "California Crag".

Guy Keesee wrote: OK.. I have asked this before, no MP folks know anything about this....maybe this topic will help.  This is East of Yuma... quite visible from I8... other stuff close by. When I do the FA next winter... I will name it "California Crag".

Anything ever come of your FA? 

I think I commented on your old thread about that hunk of rock sitting there of I-8 a few years ago. Heading back to Yuma for the holidays...some day maybe I'll actually get out there.