First time to California, looking for beta and partners.

Hey y'all,

I'm an Alaska based mountain guide on his winter break from trips. I'm flying into San Diego on Thursday 2/10 and plan on exploring California. I don't have a lot of concrete goals other than I was planning on doing some backcountry skiing in the Sierra and climbing Mt. Whitney. I'm interested in rock (weather permitting?), skiing, and alpine objectives. I'm always down for a long day and I'm excited by how much sunlight y'all have down here! I would be stoked on some beta or partners. Feel free to message me. 

What's up Jack! Think you'll be in the Tahoe area? I'm new to California myself (I moved from Georgia in August), started in LA and have slowly been working my way North, I'm housesitting a cabin near Donner Summit now and expect to be here for the next couple months, would love to have a climbing/backcountry buddy. A few friends and I were also talking about doing the L2H route from Badwater to Whitney in April, maybe you could hop in. I'm also hoping to get closer to the Valley to try my hand at big wall towards the tailend of spring, although I don't know how long you're in California

Let me know if you want to meet up! 6784465580

Welcome. You even spelled Sierra correctly without an s at the end!

From San Diego you may want to head to Joshua Tree. Tons of world class rock climbing and a good chance of good climbing weather. It's mostly single pitch stuff, so don't expect big mountains.

From SoCal you'll head up highway 395 to "the Eastside". The eastern slope of the Sierra. TONS of world class climbing and skiing here. Hopefully we'll get some more snow though because we haven't had any since December. Bishop is the main town in the area. An hour south is Lone Pine and the road to Mt. Whitney. An hour north is The town of Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Mountain a great ski resort. Near Mammoth Wild Willy's hot springs is super fun. Owens River Gorge is the most extensive sport climbing area in California, and is climbable year round, weather permitting. Tons of backcountry skiing and other climbing options (though many may be snowed in) in the Eastside.

In the summer you can cut over the summit 30 minutes north of Mammoth from Lee Vining through Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley, but it's closed in the winter due to snow. So you'll need to go north for a few hours, then cut west by Lake Tahoe. Lots of skiing options in Tahoe (Mt. Tallac is a classic/popular backcountry ski peak) and possibly rock climbing, weather dependent (e.g. Sugarloaf off of Highway 50).

From Tahoe it's about 5 hours to Yosemite Valley. Which as a rock climber is a pilgrimage everyone should make. South facing walls/crags may be climbable weather permitting. Even if you don't climb on El Cap hike to the climb Pine Line at the base of the Nose, put your hands on it, and feel the energy.

Thanks for the info and beta! Really appreciate it. I'll definitely be adding this stuff to my hit list. And Stu when I finally make it near Tahoe I'll make sure to shoot you a message.  

If you’re out of San Diego you should definitely check out Joshua Tree!  I only know the hidden valley area, but there is a lifetime of climbing around that camp ground.