Located at 8000' in elevation and with most climbs facing north or northwest, this crag is a good bet for warm weather climbing. After a good winter snow can linger at the base until late May or early June which can provide an air conditioner effect to the crag.
The rock is composed of granite, and while generally solid tends to be somewhat dirty owing to it's northern orientation - some routes may need a bit more scrubbing or simply more traffic.
There are currently about a dozen routes here making it a good choice for a stop on the way to/from Big Bear or in conjunction with some time at the nearby Onyx Summit Crag. The standout routes here are El Rayo (5.10b) which takes steep cracks up the cleanest section of rock on the wall, Out of Sight (5.10b) a slightly overhanging arete on the left margin of the crag and P.H.D. (5.10c) a varied route up a slightly overhanging face to a flared corner and roof.
Getting There
Located on the east side of Highway 38 about 0.25 miles north of the 8000' elevation marker.
Limited parking is found across from the crag on the west side of Highway 38 at the entrance to Laurel Pines Camp (park in the dirt and don't block the road into the Camp). From the parking area carefully cross the Highway and then follow an obvious trail to the crag. The approach takes all of three minutes in flip-flops.
8000 Foot Crag
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