Southern California Mountaineering
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 8:03 pm
Hey Summitposters!
My names Alex, me and my climbing partner have been discussing plans to climb some major peaks this upcoming winter and summer. We've been climbing for a few years, we're both 22 in good shape, we like long walks on the beach and moonlit dine… wait wrong forum, we love climbing tall peaks and winter is undoubtedly our favorite time of year as we both would kill to snowboard year round but that's a little out of the question.
Being from San Diego, both big peaks and cold wet weather can be hard to come by, so we've been forced to spend most of our high altitude time within the three crown ranges of SoCal. We've summited Baldy many times, San Jacinto once during winter and San Gorgonio once as a day hike. We also climbed Whitney last year, but that was more of a "get it off the checklist" hike and I wanted my partner to get some experience backpacking and sleeping in back country.
Anyways, we're not tired of these three ranges down here, but we're tired of not having the experience to feel comfortable enough climbing some more difficult routes in the winter. We both rock climb, so exposure isn't an issue with us, we don't mind "steep", we have just never been trained with crampons and ice axe
OUR GOALS FOR THIS WINTER!!!!
1. Mount Baldy - Climb the Baldy Bowl with Crampons and Ice Axe
2. San Gorgonio - Climb the North Chutes with Crampons and Ice Axe
3. Snowshoeing Mount Humphrey's (Arizona - 12,500' - mid December)
4. Snowboard down Baldy Bowl and San G's Chutes if possible…
We really want to get started in learning this skill set, we also wish to go climb Shasta this spring and our personal goals are much higher i.e., South America, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, and Himalayas. Fortunately we both have heads on our shoulders and understand what skill sets and training we will need to go to some places like those, so I am here asking for your HELP!
A few questions, we mainly want to do mountaineering in the future, the bigger, taller, the better.
1. For something on the scale of Baldy and San Gorgonio, would it be safe for two young strong guys like us to take some crampons, some ice axes and a copy of "Mountaineering Freedom of the Hills" to a base camp below the bowl of chutes, to practice self arrest for a day on our own while reading from Freedom, and to climb the next day? I'm sure that's how people used to do it, but exactly how safe would anyone that's climbed these routes in the winter think this approach to teaching ourselves (for the time being) would work?
2. IF, that is an unsafe option (were not looking to get hurt, were looking to climb peaks in conditions we love and enjoy ourselves in our favorite places), what would my other options be for somehow obtaining these skills?
A. Are there any guiding services for these routes in Lower So Cal?
B. Would any fine gents or ladies on here like to mentor two youngsters and take us under your wing? Belays and Beers on us!
Thanks so much everybody for any help. Really hope we can make it out and kick our feet into some slopes this winter!
Stay safe and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
-Stockwell
My names Alex, me and my climbing partner have been discussing plans to climb some major peaks this upcoming winter and summer. We've been climbing for a few years, we're both 22 in good shape, we like long walks on the beach and moonlit dine… wait wrong forum, we love climbing tall peaks and winter is undoubtedly our favorite time of year as we both would kill to snowboard year round but that's a little out of the question.
Being from San Diego, both big peaks and cold wet weather can be hard to come by, so we've been forced to spend most of our high altitude time within the three crown ranges of SoCal. We've summited Baldy many times, San Jacinto once during winter and San Gorgonio once as a day hike. We also climbed Whitney last year, but that was more of a "get it off the checklist" hike and I wanted my partner to get some experience backpacking and sleeping in back country.
Anyways, we're not tired of these three ranges down here, but we're tired of not having the experience to feel comfortable enough climbing some more difficult routes in the winter. We both rock climb, so exposure isn't an issue with us, we don't mind "steep", we have just never been trained with crampons and ice axe
OUR GOALS FOR THIS WINTER!!!!
1. Mount Baldy - Climb the Baldy Bowl with Crampons and Ice Axe
2. San Gorgonio - Climb the North Chutes with Crampons and Ice Axe
3. Snowshoeing Mount Humphrey's (Arizona - 12,500' - mid December)
4. Snowboard down Baldy Bowl and San G's Chutes if possible…
We really want to get started in learning this skill set, we also wish to go climb Shasta this spring and our personal goals are much higher i.e., South America, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, and Himalayas. Fortunately we both have heads on our shoulders and understand what skill sets and training we will need to go to some places like those, so I am here asking for your HELP!
A few questions, we mainly want to do mountaineering in the future, the bigger, taller, the better.
1. For something on the scale of Baldy and San Gorgonio, would it be safe for two young strong guys like us to take some crampons, some ice axes and a copy of "Mountaineering Freedom of the Hills" to a base camp below the bowl of chutes, to practice self arrest for a day on our own while reading from Freedom, and to climb the next day? I'm sure that's how people used to do it, but exactly how safe would anyone that's climbed these routes in the winter think this approach to teaching ourselves (for the time being) would work?
2. IF, that is an unsafe option (were not looking to get hurt, were looking to climb peaks in conditions we love and enjoy ourselves in our favorite places), what would my other options be for somehow obtaining these skills?
A. Are there any guiding services for these routes in Lower So Cal?
B. Would any fine gents or ladies on here like to mentor two youngsters and take us under your wing? Belays and Beers on us!
Thanks so much everybody for any help. Really hope we can make it out and kick our feet into some slopes this winter!
Stay safe and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
-Stockwell