PRINT: Rock Climb Bushfire, Owens River Gorge

Bushfire

5.12d, Sport,

Avg: 3.7 from 11 votes
FA: Scott Ayers, Jay Ladin, Mike Strassman, Paul Linaweaver 1992
California > Eastern Sierra > Bishop Area > Owens River Gorge > Upper Gorge > Dihedrals

Access Issue: Details

Please continue to be good land stewards and mindful of LADWP.

1) Never park or camp overnight at the access points.
2) Always park off the pavement, taking great care to avoid blocking the gates.
3) Clean up after your dogs. (Local climbers are finding abandoned doggie poop bags.)
4) Pack out all trash and TP, including picking up after others.
5) Use the outhouses if at all possible.

Description

awesome! v4/5 boulder problem to start (bring an attentive and heavy belayer!) then enter a cool, glassy, dihedral ramp feature...stem and crimp and opose and reeeeach and drop knee up this mini corner until you get a no hands rest and a choice. Let's just say that the locals do not touch "ORGasm."

originally rated .12c, now rated .13a. Most people agree with the lower grade...

would be 5 stars if not for the contrived ending.

Location

the next route left of ORGasm

Protection

bolts

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Bushfire 12d, goes up the shallow dihedral with quickdraws hanging

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Vlad S
San Francisco, CA

5.12d

This is a very height-dependent route, since there are 5-6 moves where I'm completely extended being average height. No drop knees for me - I'm on the tips of my toes all the way. I can see this feeling easier if you'r taller or harder to impossible for shorter folks. The moves are between very positive, but sometimes tiny holds, which makes the route ridiculously fun! Whether you grab the shared holds on ORGasm or not shouldn't make a difference as the hard stuff is at the bottom. Eases off after "thumbercling" pocket rest at 5th bolt. Dec 2, 2014

Benjamin Chapman
Small Town, USA

A thumbercling pocket rest...now that I've got to see. Dec 18, 2016

Marek Hajek
Reno, NV

5.12d

This route is very height & ape index dependent. I am 6' tall and barely could reach a couple of the holds, then, I watched a much stronger but shorter boulderer than myself and she could not reach between holds in a couple of sections. While for me the route feels like 12d, for shorter people it may feel into the 13s - the shorter you are, the harder it will feel. May 27, 2017

alix morris
Bishop, CA

5.12d

If you like thin crimping and tenuous granite climbing, this one is for you. Not sure why it doesn't see much traffic, but it's as good as gets in the gorge. Seems like this would be easier the taller you are and pretty nails for anyone under 5'5. Nov 17, 2020