PRINT: Rock Climb Hot Pink Socks, Owens River Gorge

Hot Pink Socks

5.9+, Sport, 115 ft (35 m),

Avg: 2.7 from 77 votes
FA: K. Cordner, D. Pederson
California > Sierra Eastside > Bishop Area > Owens River Gorge > Upper Gorge > All You Can Eat

Access Issue: Bridges Out! IMPORTANT LADWP NEGOTIATIONS!! Details

Due to liability concerns, bridges are being removed in the Owens River Gorge at the request of LADWP. The Bishop Area Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund are currently in negotiations with LADWP to get this issue resolved. In the meantime, please continue to be good land stewards by respecting these bridge closures and finding alternate crossing points until this issue is resolved.

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

Low-angled crack to arête with the crux at bolt 12.

Location

To the right of "Elephant's Butt".

Protection

13 bolts, beefy hook anchors. Use a 70m rope.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Not this route, but this is how the route got it's name! Thanks, Kelly, nice route!

Mike Arechiga on, Hot Pink Socks. 5.9

Margy Marshall starts to pull the balance crux at bolt 12.

Margy Marshall at bolt 10, belayed by Theresa Otto.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

boxdoc Bennett
Santa Rosa, CA

5.8+

Fun route. 5.8 until the spicy finish on lead.
The crack can be climbed in so many different ways, you can do it several times in a row and not do the same climb twice! Feb 18, 2014

MisterE Wolfe
Grass Valley, CA

So much fun, and really varied with a sting in the tail. - thanks for cleaning it up so well.

One of our favorite 5.9 sport climbs in the Upper. Excellent work! Oct 17, 2014

Mtnfly
El Segundo, Ca

5.9+ PG13

Fun route that changes its character and mood over the last 3-4 bolts. Very balancy and some airy awkward mantles near the top for the grade of 5.9. Beware if your a 5.9 face climber, cuz the top has a very yosemite feel to it. Fun. Couple spots to be careful of ledge fall. Thanks for the route. Feb 8, 2015

Jeff Scheuerell

5.8

It was fun but I thought it was soft for 5.9. Good warm up. Feb 8, 2015

Marek Hajek
Reno, NV

5.10a

Given all the other comments, I must have missed something at the top crux, because it felt like solid 10a. May 18, 2017

Alistair Veitch
Mammoth Lakes, CA / Whangar…

5.9+

Have your belayer wear a helmet on this - There were some looser sections, one of which released a 2" rock for me. Oct 17, 2017

b garrett

5.10a

Great Route! Felt like 10a to me. Mar 16, 2021

BAd

5.10a

This is a great route, but NOT recommended for the beginning 5.9 leader. Moves above the big ledge up high are tricky, and you would CERTAINLY hit it if you came off those cruxy moves. The key for me is to mantle! Left hand grab, right hand press, left foot up, up, up! Another mantle follows shortly. Great climbing. Mar 17, 2021