Goto Chockstone Home

  Guide
  Gallery
  Tech Tips
  Articles
  Reviews
  Dictionary
  Links
  Forum
  Search
  About

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

  Shop
Chockstone Photography
Australian Landscape Photography by Michael Boniwell
Australian Landscape Prints





Chockstone Forum - Crag & Route Beta

Crag & Route Beta

Area Location Sub Location Crag Links
International (General) (General) (General)  

Topic Date User
USA trip in May 11-Feb-2020 At 4:22:50 AM pmonks
Message
IMO the best low teen climbing in CA (if not the US) is the alpine stuff in the Sierra, though May is early to be trying to get up there. Even if the roads are open, you should expect to have to deal with snow & ice on the approaches and descents, and possibly on the routes themselves (on ledges etc.). Don't underestimate ice in particular - a small patch can really ruin your day...

That said, so far this year has been a bust in terms of snowfall, so if the dry trend continues the rest of the wet season, the Sierra high country may start opening earlier than it usually does. For reference, here's a list of historical hwy 120 opening times: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/seasonal.htm (hwy 120 is labeled "Tioga" here, after the pass it crosses). Note that the last couple of years have tended to have heavier precipitation later in the water year (i.e. from late February into May), and this has a direct, negative impact on how quickly CalTrans can get the trans-Sierra highways (120 in particular) open.

A better bet would be to head to the East Side of the Sierra, perhaps via Lover's Leap / Lake Tahoe, as others have suggested - Echo Summit on hwy 50 is a lot lower than 120, and is kept open year-round. There is endless amounts of incredible, long moderate climbing over there, at a variety of latitudes and elevations (so you can pick your ideal temperature and/or avoid snow), and May can still be comfortable in the Owen's River Gorge too, if you decide you want to clip bolts for a day or two. Bishop is an ideal basecamp for an East Side trip - you're within striking distance of all of the best that the East Side has to offer.

There are 8 replies to this topic.

 

Home | Guide | Gallery | Tech Tips | Articles | Reviews | Dictionary | Forum | Links | About | Search
Chockstone Photography | Landscape Photography Australia | Australian Landscape Photography | Landscape Photos Australia

Please read the full disclaimer before using any information contained on these pages.



Australian Panoramic | Australian Coast | Australian Mountains | Australian Countryside | Australian Waterfalls | Australian Lakes | Australian Cities | Australian Macro | Australian Wildlife
Landscape Photo | Landscape Photography | Landscape Photography Australia | Fine Art Photography | Wilderness Photography | Nature Photo | Australian Landscape Photo | Stock Photography Australia | Landscape Photos | Panoramic Photos | Panoramic Photography Australia | Australian Landscape Photography | High Country Mountain Huts | Mothers Day Gifts | Gifts for Mothers Day | Mothers Day Gift Ideas | Ideas for Mothers Day | Wedding Gift Ideas | Christmas Gift Ideas | Fathers Day Gifts | Gifts for Fathers Day | Fathers Day Gift Ideas | Ideas for Fathers Day | Landscape Prints | Landscape Poster | Limited Edition Prints | Panoramic Photo | Buy Posters | Poster Prints