PRINT: Rock Climbing in Warning Signs, Owens River Gorge

Warning Signs

California > Sierra Eastside > Bishop Area > Owens River Gorge > Lower Gorge

Access Issue: Bridges Out! IMPORTANT LADWP NEGOTIATIONS!! Details

Due to liability concerns, bridges are being removed in the Owens River Gorge at the request of LADWP. The Bishop Area Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund are currently in negotiations with LADWP to get this issue resolved. In the meantime, please continue to be good land stewards by respecting these bridge closures and finding alternate crossing points until this issue is resolved.

1) Never park or camp overnight at the access points.
2) Always park off the pavement, taking great care to avoid blocking the gates.
3) Clean up after your dogs. (Local climbers are finding abandoned doggie poop bags.)
4) Pack out all trash and TP, including picking up after others.
5) Use the outhouses if at all possible.

Description

Awesome sunny wall above a talus field, with lots of varied climbing.

Getting There

From the road, look for the major old ruin past the new power plant. Drop down and cross the river on fallen trees and logs. Safe at low water, OK at around 80 CFS, but icy in the morning. This has been the new winter normal flow.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 9 ● Flight of Fancy Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 14 ● Workers Watching Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 24 ● Red Circle with a Slash Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 12 ● Outflow Hazard Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 11 ● Fish Ladder Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 8 ● No Lifeguard on Duty Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 14 ● Power Surge Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 33 ● House of Cards Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 81 ● Warning Signs Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 59 ● PG13 Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 27 ● Time Out (of Mind) Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 17 ● Sharptooth Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 21 ● Enter at Your Own Risk Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 36 ● Results May Vary Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 6 ● Surgeon General Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 21 ● R.P. #4 Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R 28 ● Land Before Time Trad, Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R 4 ● Time Will Tell Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 4 ● Business Time Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 5 ● Tempus Fugit Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 42 ● Timeless Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 4 ● Days of Future Past Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 9 ● Back to the Future Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 15 ● Sunny on My Shoulder Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 19 ● Willy's ChalkALot Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 17 ● Wonka Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 20 ● Oompa Loompa Sport

● Flight of Fancy

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport

● Workers Watching

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport

● Red Circle with a Slash

5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport

● Outflow Hazard

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport

● Fish Ladder

5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport

● No Lifeguard on Duty

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport

● Power Surge

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport

● House of Cards

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport

● Warning Signs

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport

● PG13

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport

● Time Out (of Mind)

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

● Sharptooth

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad

● Enter at Your Own Risk

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport

● Results May Vary

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport

● Surgeon General

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad

● R.P. #4

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport

● Land Before Time

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R Trad, Sport

● Time Will Tell

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R Sport

● Business Time

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport

● Tempus Fugit

5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport

● Timeless

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport

● Days of Future Past

5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport

● Back to the Future

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport

● Sunny on My Shoulder

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport

● Willy's ChalkALot

5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

● Wonka

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport

● Oompa Loompa

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

All the sport routes at Warning Signs to date. Shared starts are shown but not called out.

Approach as of 02/13/2020. Left is the safer way, right is the easier way. Added some steps and wood today.

Warning Signs 2/6/19

Warning Signs, far left side routes
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A. Cookie Monster - 5.8+
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B. Big Bird - 5.9
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C. Elmo - 5.9
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D. Gritty Gritty Bang Bang - 5.10b/c

Warning Signs, far left side routes A. Cookie Monster - 5.8+ B. Big Bird - 5.9 C. Elmo - 5.9 D. Gritty Gritty Bang Bang - 5.10b/c

Warning signs on the way to Warnings Signs

Snowy day overview of Warning Signs Area

Water is high and temps are cold. Current AM crossing scene for Warning Signs area.

The revised exit trail for Warning Signs crossing (11/2019). The old crossing (approached from the left of this picture) is gone.

The revised approach (11/2019) takes a path closer to the road to get past the willow (pictured) upstream of the old crossing. Lower Gorge approach shown.

Chilly winter day at Warning Signs

Cleaning yet another new route at Warning Signs, 2019.

Land Before Time Area - Topo

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Euan Cameron
Mammoth Lakes, CA

This definitely provides a quieter alternative to the Central Gorge. The climbing isn't as good as the Great Wall of China, but if you pick the routes there are some nice climbs. Apr 14, 2007

Justin Bruce
Salt Lake City, UT

Does anyone know the name of the routes to the left of laser beam? Directly next to laser beam is a cool stem start route but is only like a 5.7. There is a another route continuing left that is also follows the arete (mistaken it for laser beam) seemed like a 5.8 route though. There are several other routes that continue left, one had Quickdraws on it. Oct 11, 2016

Maidy Vasquez
Bishop, CA

CURRENT ACCESS: as of 11/12/19. Water levels are medium - the rock hop is under water. . There is a log pile about where the old bridge was- you can walk across the top of the largest live willow log or use the smaller logs with as foot and hand rails without too much trouble. Use extreme caution or find somewhere else to climb if the water gets any higher. Dec 31, 2018

Jeff Scheuerell

Thanks Eric Apr 9, 2019

MisterE Wolfe
Grass Valley, CA

Finished the approach trail-work today for the new crossings. The new descent to the crossing is up-stream of the big willow. Follow path markers from either the Middle or Lower approaches.

See pictures for detail. Nov 21, 2019

Jeff Scheuerell

Thanks Broseph! Nov 21, 2019

MisterE Wolfe
Grass Valley, CA

As of 08/04/2020, the washed-out crossing has been re-established just upstream of the big willow. The live tree crossing is still good, but bouncy, since the wedged stabilizing rock is gone. Not kid or dog friendly. Sep 7, 2020

BAd	[Hide Comment] Logs can be icy! Be careful. Jan 22, 2021

Jodi Friedlander
Bishop, CA

As of the last big release of water by DWP, early September, 2022, the live tree crossing is gone. Ripped out by its roots! The lower crossing upstream is intact and good, but will get icy when the cold weather hits. Oct 15, 2022