San Diego Area?

[lemon]

Anything cool within a few hours of San Diego? I'll be moving down there this spring and would like to do some climbing. I've never gotten too much into rock, but will give it a try. During the winter is there any more traditional alpine stuff, or would I need to head to Norcal for that? Thanks!

[cj001f]

Your a long drive from "Alpine", but that long drive take you to some of the best alpine rock in the world.

[specialed]

On a relatively sunny day in the winter you can climb at tahquitz. It might be 45 - 50 degrees. SoCal climbers would call that alpine.

 

Other than that, you should take up surfing and climbing at J-tree.

[ken4ord]

Right in town there is Mission Gorge there is some climbing there, not that good though 1-2p routes for the most part bolted. Then there are a ton of manufactured bouldering and climbing areas under the express ways. Up in Santee there is some bouldering, have been able to find it though. There is a Sport crag south of Rosarito near the ocean very short approach there was a mini-guide published in R&I. South of Ensenada there is Pico de Diablo good alpine rock lines there with cool views down to the Sea of Cortez. There is Toro Blanco has long aid and free lines, very sketchy area though a lot of drug running and cultivation going on in that area. There is the standard that were already mentioned J-tree and Tahquitz. Alpine bouldering above Palm Spring tram approach, check Climbing I think they did an article on that area. No alpine that I can think of right nearby.

[specialed]

Yup. There's infinate amount of granite bouldering in San Diego county and surrounding area. No shortage of that shit.

[0510ez]

The north face of Tahquitz can ice up during a cold spell and be a lot of mixed fun. Snow creek on Mt. San Jacinto can be 6,000 vert of 30° snow.

[Off_White]

web page

 

Lots of rock, dearth of alpine. Canon Tajo in Mexico (where Trono Blanco is) is pretty grand, but you might need to make some friends to find it and scope the routes.

 

[lummox]

go down to ocean beach and traverse the retaining wall. then watch the sun set and smoke a fatty and drink a tallboy.

[chris]

Thaquitz and Suicide rocks definitely count as alpine - altitude, approach, and commitment all exist there. A great resource is Nomad Ventures - they have a store in Solana Beach (North San Diego County.