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Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern Slabs)
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Chouinard Special 
Claustrophobia Crack 
Cornflakes 
Dirty Dishes 
Friction Slab 
Initiation Crack 
Just for Kicks 
Lieback, The 


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Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern Slabs) 


Photos: Recent | Best | Popular
Elevation: 2,720'
Lat, Long: 35.7563, -118.378 Map
Page Views: 5,607. Good page?   
Administrators: Matthew Fienup, M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden
Submitted By: Katy H on Oct 15, 2008

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My brother Doug Odenthal at the Kernville slabs in...

Description 

Beautiful slabby granite that can be climbed all year long. Definitely need good rubber for alot of the climbs. Many spots overlook the Kern River, which provides a great post-climb dip!


Getting There 

From Kernville take the Upper Kern River Road just under 5 miles. You will see the slabs uphill, to the East. If you hit Dome Rock (large dome-ish granite outcrop) you have gone too far, although there are fun climbs on Dome Rock.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern Slabs):
The Lieback   5.5     Trad, 2 pitches   
Dirty Dishes   5.7     Sport, 1 pitch, 170 feet   
Chouinard Special   5.8+     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 110 feet   
Initiation Crack   5.11a     Trad, 1 pitch, 160 feet   
Browse More Classics in Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern Slabs)

Featured Route For Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern Slabs)
Tyson Dimmitt nears the top of the first pitch of the Lieback, at Kernville Rock.

The Lieback 5.5  CA : The Needles / Kern River : Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern...
Follow the left-facing dihedralP1-Finger sized crack up past small bush/treeBelay at the notch with the perpendicular crack (there is a lot of debris from old gear and such)P2-Continue up dihedral to ledgeClimb straight up past a single bolt (5.8 PG) to a bolted belay or go left past an undercling (protectable, but its hard to see the gear). At the end of the undercling, head up through an intermittent crack in a groove. There is a bolted belay above on the left. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA


Photos of Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern Slabs) Slideshow Add Photo
Me high up on the Kernville Slabs 80's

Me high up on the Kernville Slabs 80's

Me at the base of the Kernville Slabs in the 80's . Nice crack.

Me at the base of the Kernville Slabs in the 80's ...

Kernville Rock (A.K.A. Kern Slabs)

Kernville Rock (A.K.A. Kern Slabs)

Kernville Rock

Kernville Rock

Kernville Rock

Kernville Rock

Michael McKay climbs the Lieback (5.8), the true classic of Kernville Rock.

Michael McKay climbs the Lieback (5.8), the true c...

Aerial view of the parking and approach trail for Kernville Crag (with the main dihedral shown).

BETA PHOTO: Aerial view of the parking and approach trail for ...

Kernville Rock Topo <br />Red: Cornflakes (5.9+ X) <br />Orange: Just for Kicks (5.10c) <br />Yellow: Captain Crunch (5.11+ R)

BETA PHOTO: Kernville Rock Topo
Red: Cornflakes (5.9+ X)
Orang...

Kernville Rock Topo <br />Pink: Bugging Around (5.8 R) <br />Red: Dirty Dishes (5.7) <br />Orange: Clouds (5.7 R)

BETA PHOTO: Kernville Rock Topo
Pink: Bugging Around (5.8 R)
R...

Romain Wacziarg enjoys the stellar climbing on Kernville Rock, during a pleasant December day.

Romain Wacziarg enjoys the stellar climbing on Ker...

Click Photo for High Res version. <br /> <br />(1) Branscum-Martin Route, <br />(2) Sight Unseen, <br />(3) Piece of Cake, <br />(4) From Here to Eternity, <br />(5) Cornflakes, <br />(6) Just for Kix, <br />(7) Captain Crunch, <br />(8) Hooker, <br />(9) Chouinard Special, <br />(10) Thin Cracks, <br />(11) Lieback, <br />(12) Friction Slab, <br />(13) Claustrophobia Crack, <br />(14) Thin Crack, <br />(15) Initiation Crack, <br />(16) Bugging Around, <br />(17) Dirty Dishes (aka Kern Boltway), <br />(18) Clouds, <br />(19) Loose Book <br /> <br />If you find any inaccuracies, please let me know.

BETA PHOTO: Click Photo for High Res version.

(1) Branscum-Ma...


Comments on Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern Slabs) Add Comment
Show which comments —
By Matthew Fienup
Administrator
From: Ventura, CA
Oct 14, 2009

To be even more specific: park on the east side of the road, in the turnout just below the southern flank of the crag (70 yards down the road from a point below the center of the crag). A well developed climbers trail starts in this turnout and diagonals upward to the center of the crag.

Directly below the center of the dome is a boulder-filled gully that uninitiated climbers (like us, last week) clearly use to access the crag. The gully is no fun.

By Jacob L.
Nov 16, 2010

Climbed here last weekend, needed a 70 meter for a few routs it seemed, had run out on two climbs. Bolts are FAR apart in some spots, 20' or so. Tuff hike up, about kilt my wife, great traction on the slab though.