Climbing and vibing in SoCal

I'm planning to be out in SoCal this winter (starting in December near LA). Coming from Denver and probably looking to stay into the Spring. Willing to travel around, was thinking about going down to San Diego, checking out JT but looking to dedicate most of my non-working time to climbing. Bouldering, sure, although not sure I'm burly enough for the stiffness out west. Getting back into climbing after a hiatus but open to sport too (high end projecting 5.11s).

Would love any advice on best places to car camp, best towns to hang out and meet other people, and of course climbing areas that offer a variety. Potential gyms too? Would also love to meet up if anyone is around next month! Thanks :^) - V

There's a Facebook group called, "SoCal Climbing". It's pretty active, more so than this, and would be a good resource! 

https://facebook.com/groups/SoCalClimbing/

Cosmic Hotdogwrote:

There's a Facebook group called, "SoCal Climbing". It's pretty active, more so than this, and would be a good resource! 

https://facebook.com/groups/SoCalClimbing/

The admin for that group are horrible. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/514838092701663/?ref=share

Is another good group. 

Val Frostwrote:

Would love any advice on best places to car camp, best towns to hang out and meet other people, and of course climbing areas that offer a variety. 

a free spot....

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/108189726/fairview-mountain

My partner and I did a brief stint in Idyllwild a few years ago...definitely worth a visit if conditions permit. Check out the County Park for some easy access bouldering and stop by Nomad Ventures and say hi. We enjoyed the Vital gyms; Murrieta was our go-to, but the Oceanside location was cool too. J-tree is J-tree, awesome climbing, interesting mix of climbing and locals. You can crash out on the lake bed but don't leave anything behind, it's maybe 15 min to the park from there. 

Zachariah Weirphreywrote:

The admin for that group are horrible. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/514838092701663/?ref=share

Is another good group. 

Agree…. D_Potter banned me for “life” after I told him “Dude, Every life matters…” 

Val… when you get here- hit me up. You are welcome to climb with me and friends. We go North of LA , great climbing, bouldering and wide open car camping. It all depends on the weather- it changes quickly in the winter.
Tons of quality spots.

Guy Keeseewrote:

Agree…. D_Potter banned me for “life” after I told him “Dude, Every life matters…” 

Val… when you get here- hit me up. You are welcome to climb with me and friends. We go North of LA , great climbing, bouldering and wide open car camping. It all depends on the weather- it changes quickly in the winter.
Tons of quality spots.

Yeah, he has quite the reputation here in San Diego for his actions.

Zachariah Weirphreywrote:

Yeah, he has quite the reputation here in San Diego for his actions.

He seems like a little kid. But he is in total control- makes himself important. 

Does vibing mean what I think it means 

Zachariah Weirphreywrote:

The admin for that group are horrible. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/514838092701663/?ref=share

Is another good group. 

If the group is that bad why is it the largest climbing group in SoCal?

Cosmic Hotdogwrote:

There's a Facebook group called, "SoCal Climbing". It's pretty active, more so than this, and would be a good resource! 

https://facebook.com/groups/SoCalClimbing/

Just wanted to plug this site again after seeing some bashing of it. I've found this community to be great as well as the admin. Sorry for those who feel otherwise. 

Guy Keeseewrote:

He seems like a little kid. But he is in total control- makes himself important. 

David banned me because I posted climbing pics during COVID lockdown.  He said it was irresponsible for me to post pictures that might encourage people to go outside and climb.

Dear Val,

If you can't tell, the people in SoCal don't vibe.

Sincerely,

GK

Sean Sullivanwrote:

Just wanted to plug this site again after seeing some bashing of it. I've found this community to be great as well as the admin. Sorry for those who feel otherwise. 

Thanks man. Yeah I have zero affiliation with the group or the guy they're referencing. Not doubting their negative experiences. I was just trying to help and that's a pretty big group that has been helpful for me. 

Gumby Kingwrote:

If the group is that bad why is it the largest climbing group in SoCal?

Because most people aren’t “real” climbers.

Tradibanwrote:

Because most people aren’t “real” climbers.

What’s a real climber?

Grendles Modorwrote:

What’s a real climber?

The ones who don’t use social media.

Sean Sullivanwrote:

Just wanted to plug this site again after seeing some bashing of it. I've found this community to be great as well as the admin. Sorry for those who feel otherwise. 

I joined both groups, SoCal Climbing and Southern California Climbers when I first came down here.  My experience was that SoCal Climbing had a huge number of new or very inexperienced climbers.  Southern California Climbers is more the old guard people.

I left SoCal Climbing during Covid, when I rebutted a statement in a thread about the mortality rate (I think someone was claiming it was 5-10%).  The best data available at the time indicated it was maybe 0.6%.  (Most current data for US indicates it is about 0.4% or less).  David removed my post and he sent me a note saying he would not allow his group to be used to spread misinformation which could kill people.  So I left the group and never looked back. I appreciate he tries to be a responsible moderator, and puts a lot of effort into that, but by that point I felt I really wasn't getting anything from the group anyway...

Tradibanwrote:

The ones who don’t use social media.

Checks out, after all no one on Mountain Project is a "real" climber

phylp phylpwrote:

I joined both groups, SoCal Climbing and Southern California Climbers when I first came down here.  My experience was that SoCal Climbing had a huge number of new or very inexperienced climbers.  Southern California Climbers is more the old guard people.

I left SoCal Climbing during Covid, when I rebutted a statement in a thread about the mortality rate (I think someone was claiming it was 5-10%).  The best data available at the time indicated it was maybe 0.6%.  (Most current data for US indicates it is about 0.4% or less).  David removed my post and he sent me a note saying he would not allow his group to be used to spread misinformation which could kill people.  So I left the group and never looked back. I appreciate he tries to be a responsible moderator, and puts a lot of effort into that, but by that point I felt I really wasn't getting anything from the group anyway...

Problem is Potter likes to use the group as his political mouthpiece, deleting posts that don’t agree with him and lecturing the offenders.

The group is more like SoCal People Who Climbed Once But Are Really More Into Being Woke.

carnage adovadawrote:

Checks out, after all no one on Mountain Project is a "real" climber

Was thinking exactly the same thing. What with satellite networks pretty much anyone could be a “non-real” climber texting from the summit of a huge mountain at 7000m or more.