Malibu creek - ghetto wall access

Does anyone know how the water levels are for access to ghetto wall after the recent rain? Haven’t been out there in a decade and going to check it out this weekend, thanks!

I'm not incredibly familiar with that part of the area (haven't been back there yet), but we were in the main canyon on Christmas and couldn't access it from that direction.

I was there before the rains and there was quiet a bit of water. I'd imagine it's much worse now.

Water is a little too high to access ghetto wall today.

You can always wade over if you don't mind getting wet and cold.

William Leventhalwrote:

You can always wade over if you don't mind getting wet and cold.

True, but belaying from the middle of the creek for much of the Ghetto Wall is a drag. 

Andrew Ricewrote:

True, but belaying from the middle of the creek for much of the Ghetto Wall is a drag. 

I didn't look too closely, but I think the belays seemed mostly decent for anyone brave enough to wade over there.

Sam Cieplywrote:

I didn't look too closely, but I think the belays seemed mostly decent for anyone brave enough to wade over there.

Good to know. That stream bed seems to rearrange itself quite a bit. I've been there during fairly low water when the area around Kathmandu was still under. 

Why climb here after the rain, the rock is porous and holds are much more likely to break.

Really not cool to climb on the local rock after it rains.

David Katzwrote:

Why climb here after the rain, the rock is porous and holds are much more likely to break.

Really not cool to climb on the local rock after it rains.

FWIW I was just hiking out there yesterday and I believe I saw you hiking too. Last rain was on Saturday around 9am so I think this is relevant info for anyone looking to climb this week.

That being said, I am not the wet rock police and this is still a free(ish) country, so I didn’t shame any of the parties I saw climbing yesterday.

Sam Cieplywrote:

FWIW I was just hiking out there yesterday and I believe I saw you hiking too. Last rain was on Saturday around 9am so I think this is relevant info for anyone looking to climb this week.

That being said, I am not the wet rock police and this is still a free(ish) country, so I didn’t shame any of the parties I saw climbing yesterday.

I live nearby and besides climbing, my wife and I go for walks and runs all the time in the park. The real shame is when the  climbs have their holds broken off because someone cannot wait for the rock to dry off.

Yes I care about preserving the local outdoor climbing because it has given myself and a great many other climbers joy for decades. I find it very selfish or ignorant for a climber to not understand. I don’t know a single local climber that thinks it’s ok to climb on the rock until it is dry.

There is one spot you can climb after it rains. Due to the orientation and very overhanging nature, the right side of the Planet Of The Apes Wall, it is the only exception. Since the mid 1980’s when I started climbing in the park I have never seen it wet with the exception of the very top moves which can be avoided since it is a top rope area.