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Elevation: 5,131 ft
GPS: 37.3352, -118.49894
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Orphaned User on Feb 18, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes

Description Suggest change

Where the high desert meets the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. It's home to the mighty and expansive Owens Valley, the deepest in the lower 48, and one of the only known super volcanoes on the planet: The Long Valley Caldera, just south of Mammoth. The vistas are astounding, the weather is prime and the climbing is even better.

The Eastside offers an almost incomprehensible amount of clean, climbable rock, including sport climbing at Owens River Gorge and Clark Canyon, bouldering in the Buttermilks and Happy Boulders, and alpine climbing on 14,000' granite peaks. On rest days, soak your sore muscles and relax in the numerous natural hot springs... could this be paradise??

Mt. Williamson (14,389 ft.) rising over 10,000 feet from the valley floor

Getting There Suggest change

From Los Angeles, head north on Hwy 14 through the desert towns of Palmdale, Lancaster, and Mojave to join Hwy 395. The scenic 395 parallels the eastern Sierra through the Owens Valley from the L.A. basin to Reno. Lone Pine is the first "major" town (pop. 1,655) en route, and is the jumping off point for Mt. Whitney and other popular destinations in the John Muir Wilderness (see High Sierra section). 60 miles north is the town of Bishop (pop. 3,575). Bishop was home of the late, renowned climber/photographer Galen Rowell, who, along with his wife Barbara, was killed August 11, 2002 in a small plane crash outside town. Rowell's gallery, the Mountain Light, is located at 106 South Main Street in downtown Bishop.

First winter snows on Bear Creek Spire at sunrise

Guide Services

Suggest change
Golden State Guiding
Mount Whitney Base Camp
Sierra Mountain Center
Sierra Mountaineering inc.
Mammoth Mountain Guides
Ground up Climbing Guides
Sierra Mountain Guides

6,290 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Sierra Eastside Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Sierra Eastside

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5 PG13
 669
Heavenly Path
Boulder
V2 5+
 334
The Hunk
Boulder
V4 6B
 533
Iron Man Traverse
Boulder
V4 6B
 472
Ketron Classic
Boulder
V4 6B PG13
 180
Jedi Mind Tricks
Boulder
V4+ 6B+
 290
Bowling Pin
Boulder
V5 6C
 179
Strength in Numbers (Original SIN)
Boulder
V6 7A
 346
The Hulk
Boulder
V6 7A
 305
The Ruckus (aka Seven Spanish An…
Boulder
V7 7A+
 268
High Plains Drifter
Boulder
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 363
West Face
Trad 4 pitches
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 512
Third Pillar, Regular Route
Trad 5 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 337
Gorgeous
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 344
Sheila
Trad
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 174
From Chocolate to Morphine
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Heavenly Path Bishop Area > … > Central Happine… > Heavenly Path Boulder
 669
V1 5 PG13 Boulder
The Hunk Bishop Area > … > Buttermilks Main > Hunk
 334
V2 5+ Boulder
Iron Man Traverse Bishop Area > … > Iron Man Area > Iron Man Boulder
 533
V4 6B Boulder
Ketron Classic Bishop Area > … > Savannah Area > Savannah Boulder
 472
V4 6B Boulder
Jedi Mind Tricks Bishop Area > … > Pollen Grains /… > Jedi Boulder
 180
V4 6B PG13 Boulder
Bowling Pin Bishop Area > … > Buttermilks Main > Bowling Pin Boulder
 290
V4+ 6B+ Boulder
Strength in Numbers (Origin… Bishop Area > … > Strength in Num… > Strength in Numbers
 179
V5 6C Boulder
The Hulk Bishop Area > … > Central Happine… > Happy Boulder
 346
V6 7A Boulder
The Ruckus (aka Seven Spani… Bishop Area > Buttermilk Country > Get Carter Boulder
 305
V6 7A Boulder
High Plains Drifter Bishop Area > … > Buttermilks Main > Drifter/Smoking Boulder
 268
V7 7A+ Boulder
West Face Bishop Area > Cardinal Pinnacle
 363
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 4 pitches
Third Pillar, Regular Route Lee Vining Cany… > Dana Plateau
 512
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad 5 pitches
Gorgeous Bishop Area > … > Upper Gorge > Gorgeous Towers
 337
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Sheila Bishop Area > … > Scheelite Canyo… > Pratt's Crack / Dihed…
 344
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
From Chocolate to Morphine Bishop Area > … > Central Gorge > Faulty Tower
 174
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Sierra Eastside »

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