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Elevation: 5,131 ft 1,564 m
GPS: 37.33519, -118.49894
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Orphaned User on Feb 18, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes

Description Suggest change

Where the high desert meets the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. It's home to the mighty and expansive Owens Valley, the deepest in the lower 48, and one of the only known super volcanoes on the planet: The Long Valley Caldera, just south of Mammoth. The vistas are astounding, the weather is prime and the climbing is even better.

The Eastside offers an almost incomprehensible amount of clean, climbable rock, including sport climbing at Owens River Gorge and Clark Canyon, bouldering in the Buttermilks and Happy Boulders, and alpine climbing on 14,000' granite peaks. On rest days, soak your sore muscles and relax in the numerous natural hot springs... could this be paradise??

Getting There Suggest change

From Los Angeles, head north on Hwy 14 through the desert towns of Palmdale, Lancaster, and Mojave to join Hwy 395. The scenic 395 parallels the eastern Sierra through the Owens Valley from the L.A. basin to Reno. Lone Pine is the first "major" town (pop. 1,655) en route, and is the jumping off point for Mt. Whitney and other popular destinations in the John Muir Wilderness (see High Sierra section). 60 miles north is the town of Bishop (pop. 3,575). Bishop was home of the late, renowned climber/photographer Galen Rowell, who, along with his wife Barbara, was killed August 11, 2002 in a small plane crash outside town. Rowell's gallery, the Mountain Light, is located at 106 South Main Street in downtown Bishop.

Guide Services

Suggest change
Golden State Guiding
Mount Whitney Base Camp
Sierra Mountain Center
Sierra Mountaineering inc.
Mammoth Mountain Guides
Ground up Climbing Guides
Sierra Mountain Guides

6,487 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Eastern Sierra Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Eastern Sierra

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5 PG13
 716
Heavenly Path
Boulder
V2 5+
 371
The Hunk
Boulder
V4 6B
 569
Iron Man Traverse
Boulder
V4 6B
 503
Ketron Classic
Boulder
V4 6B PG13
 191
Jedi Mind Tricks
Boulder
V4+ 6B+
 307
Bowling Pin
Boulder
V6 7A
 362
The Hulk
Boulder
V6 7A
 321
The Ruckus (aka Seven Spanish An…
Boulder
V7 7A+
 283
High Plains Drifter
Boulder
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 400
West Face
Trad 4 pitches
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 563
Third Pillar, Regular Route
Trad 5 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 368
Sheila
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 234
Expressway
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 203
Grindrite
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 244
Flame Thrower
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Heavenly Path Bishop Area > … > Central Happine… > Heavenly Path Boulder
 716
V1 5 PG13 Boulder
The Hunk Bishop Area > … > Buttermilks Main > Hunk
 371
V2 5+ Boulder
Iron Man Traverse Bishop Area > … > Iron Man Area > Iron Man Boulder
 569
V4 6B Boulder
Ketron Classic Bishop Area > … > Savannah Area > Savannah Boulder
 503
V4 6B Boulder
Jedi Mind Tricks Bishop Area > … > Pollen Grains /… > Jedi Boulder
 191
V4 6B PG13 Boulder
Bowling Pin Bishop Area > … > Buttermilks Main > Bowling Pin Boulder
 307
V4+ 6B+ Boulder
The Hulk Bishop Area > … > Central Happine… > Happy Boulder
 362
V6 7A Boulder
The Ruckus (aka Seven Spani… Bishop Area > Buttermilk Country > Get Carter Boulder
 321
V6 7A Boulder
High Plains Drifter Bishop Area > … > Buttermilks Main > Drifter/Smoking Boulder
 283
V7 7A+ Boulder
West Face Bishop Area > Cardinal Pinnacle
 400
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 4 pitches
Third Pillar, Regular Route Lee Vining Cany… > Dana Plateau
 563
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad 5 pitches
Sheila Bishop Area > … > Scheelite Canyo… > Pratt's Crack / Dihed…
 368
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Expressway Bishop Area > … > Central Gorge > Upper Crust
 234
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Grindrite Bishop Area > … > Upper Gorge > Gotham City
 203
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Flame Thrower Bishop Area > … > Scheelite Canyo… > Mustache Wall
 244
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Eastern Sierra »

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