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Castle Grey Skull

California > San Bernardino… > Big Bear Lake Area > Big Bear South > Mill Creek Rd/S… > Forest Rd 2N86

Description

Surprisingly fun little crag that has a short 5-10 min approach. I stumbled upon this crag while looking for Arctic temple and ended up spending all day on it.

All routes can be top roped by scrambling up a gulley on the east side of the crag. You must set your own protection for now, bring a few slings or webbing to extend anchors to whichever face you want.

  • This fairly obscure area was primarily developed by Craig Pearson and Dean Goolsby in the early 1990's.

Getting There

Take I-10 east (State Hwy 330) to Running Springs, CA. Take State Hwy 18 to Big Bear Lake Dam. Turn right on State Hwy 18 for 3 miles and turn on Tulip Lane. Turn right on Mill Creek Road (2N10), go 4 miles and turn right on 2N86. Follow 2N86 until the road ends, you should see a campsite on your right. Either park here and walk, or continue driving up a small logging road for another .25 miles. The road ends in a large open circle. As you pull into the circle the direction you will want to walk is diagonally in the back left of the circle from the road.

Follow any number of paths left up the hill. If you scramble to the top of a nearby hill you should see HWY 18 on your right and big bear lake behind you. Continue for 5-10 minutes, the crag should be obvious.

Routes from Left to Right

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 6
● Battle Crack
Trad, Alpine
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 2
● Over the Band Gap
TR, Alpine
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 4
● Catholic Grade School
Trad, Alpine
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
● [Redacted]
Trad, Alpine
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 1
● Flairvoyant
Trad, Alpine
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 3
● Castle Grey Skull
Sport, Alpine
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 1
● Crimp City
TR, Alpine
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 1
● He Man Slab
Trad, Alpine
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 2
● Skeletor
Trad, Alpine
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 1
● Oxidation
TR, Alpine
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
● Rust
TR, Alpine
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Battle Crack
 6
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Alpine
● Over the Band Gap
 2
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a TR, Alpine
● Catholic Grade School
 4
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, Alpine
● [Redacted]
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, Alpine
● Flairvoyant
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, Alpine
● Castle Grey Skull
 3
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport, Alpine
● Crimp City
 1
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a TR, Alpine
● He Man Slab
 1
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine
● Skeletor
 2
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad, Alpine
● Oxidation
 1
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a TR, Alpine
● Rust
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR, Alpine

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Big Bear Lake from near Castle Grey Skull, Big Bear South
[Hide Photo] Big Bear Lake from near Castle Grey Skull, Big Bear South
Logging road at the end of 2N86
[Hide Photo] Logging road at the end of 2N86
Approach start as viewed from incoming road.
[Hide Photo] Approach start as viewed from incoming road.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Brian Chen
Glendale, CA
[Hide Comment] Doesn't look like this area sees much traffic. Approach to the crag is fairly straightforward up until the last 100 feet where it would seem the trails have overgrown with vegetation.

Approach beta here is still accurate, but some light bush whacking is needed to make it happen. GPS coordinates however, are incorrect. Use these instead 34.233810,-116.982940 May 9, 2021