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Stream Wall

California > Sierra Eastside > Mammoth Lakes Area > Lake George > Horseshoe Piles

Description

Stream Wall is formed along a stream which flows most of the year. The climbs here are shorter but definitely steeper than the other climbs at Horseshoe Piles.

Like the other crags around the rock is granite, and is generally good quality.

The wall faces South East and is a shady spot on a summers afternoon. Early in the season mosquitos are an issue, but as the stream drys up this is less of an issue.

Getting There

Park at the Lake George parking lot and start hiking on the Crystal Lake Trail. Hike uphill for several minutes until you reach some large water tanks and then leave the trail heading west. Cross over the ridgeline and then contour along the hillside following some metal pipes until you reach a stream. The first crag you see is Spring Crag - continue passed this for a further 180 yards. The wall is reached a few yards after crossing the stream. The approach takes 15-20 minutes if you hit it right.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 7
● Mozzy Mania
Sport, Alpine
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 2
● Ominous Skies
Sport, Alpine
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 7
● Floracation
Sport, TR, Alpine
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 6
● The Golden Shot
Sport, Alpine
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 1
● North face unknown 1
Sport, Alpine
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 5
● Arroyo Seco
Trad, Alpine
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 10
● All Work No Spray
Sport, Alpine
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 19
● This is the Meaning of Life
Sport, Alpine
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 12
● Delayed Labor
Sport, Alpine
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 3
● Waiting For Isabella
Sport, Alpine
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 2
● High Anxiety
Sport, Alpine
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Mozzy Mania
 7
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport, Alpine
● Ominous Skies
 2
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, Alpine
● Floracation
 7
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport, TR, Alpine
● The Golden Shot
 6
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport, Alpine
● North face unknown 1
 1
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport, Alpine
● Arroyo Seco
 5
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad, Alpine
● All Work No Spray
 10
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport, Alpine
● This is the Meaning of Life
 19
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport, Alpine
● Delayed Labor
 12
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport, Alpine
● Waiting For Isabella
 3
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport, Alpine
● High Anxiety
 2
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport, Alpine

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The steep central section of Stream Wall
[Hide Photo] The steep central section of Stream Wall
The Upper Section of Stream Wall
[Hide Photo] The Upper Section of Stream Wall

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Mark Grundon
Lee Vining
[Hide Comment] The routes at bottom of the Stream wall around the corner on the 100 foot North facing wall are easier accessed from Horseshoe Lake. Hike around the lake until you reach the Horseshoe Slabs. Hike up and left around the slabs on a well traveled trail and leave that trail when you see the 100 foot wall. This is easier and creates less erosion then hiking down from the Upper Stream wall Sep 22, 2013
kenr
[Hide Comment] Perhaps it's more helpful to think of the East face and the North face of the Stream Wall as separate crags. The East face section is fairly easy to reach from the other main Horseshoe Piles crags of Spring Wall and Wavy Gravy. But the North face sector is at a much lower elevation, separated by a steep scramble along (or in) the "stream". Likely more easily reached (as Mark G says) from Horseshoe Lake than from Lake George.

The two sectors are not "just around the corner" from each other. They are separated by about 120-130 vertical feet (+40 vert meters) of steep scrambling over 250 ft (80m) walking distance. My GPS (with multiple measurements over several hours) yields ...

East sector: latitude longitude approx (N37.6030 W119.0204) : shorter wall, alongside the stream, facing roughly SE or E. Lots of interesting rock available, but the number of worthwhile routes is limited by very steeply sloping base ground.
Contains Mozzy Mania, Ominous Skies, Floracation, Golden Shot, and two or three other bolted lines. Top anchor for at least three of these can be reached by simple scrambling from above the cliff (access to above is between Ominous Skies and Floracation).

North sector: latitude longitude approx (N37.6037 W119.0204) : taller wall, not alongside the stream, facing roughly NE.
Contains All Work No Spray, Meaning of Life, Delayed Labor, Waiting for Isabella. Reaching top anchors for most routes (without Leading the route) is not possible with simple scrambling from above the cliff. Aug 5, 2015
kenr
[Hide Comment] Horseshoe Lake access:
How we reached the North face sector of the Stream wall ...
From Horseshoe Lake parking (GPS latitude longitude approx N37.6129 W119.0209), walk roughly South on the bicycle trail along the west side of Horseshoe Lake. After about 0.5 mile (0.8km) cross the seventh wooden bridge. Just after this the trail curves Left. See the Horseshoe Slabs crag (N37.6057 W119.0216) close to the right side of the trail. Continue about 100 yards (meters) SouthEast on the trail. See on the right a boulder about 20 feet high.

Turn Right off the bike trail and bushwhack South in a rising traverse (up and right) about +200 vertical feet over 0.1 mile horizontal distance (+60 meters over 0.2km) until reach the North face sector (N37.6037 W119.0204).

. (Or another way to try might be to turn Right off the bike trail earlier and go across the bottom of the Horseshoe Slabs, then continue diagonally upward from there at first SSE then S to Stream Wall).

East sector -- to reach the East face climbs:
Walk left from the North sector a short ways to reach the small stream (often dry), then scramble steep (South) up that (past inviting E-facing wall with no bolts), up about +120 vertical feet (+35 meters) until reach the E-facing rock that does have bolts, the East section (N37.6030 W119.0204).

Wavy Gravy -- to reach the main Horseshoe Piles crags:
Continue a little higher up the stream from East sector. Spot faint trail Left across creek. Follow this ESE traversing across the slope with some ups and downs. About 100 yards (meters) reach Wavy Gravy. Another 100 yards reach Spring Wall.

Storm Wall -- keep going up the stream way beyond East sector, SW then S. Aug 5, 2015