Mammoth Lakes – California – by Nigel Calaghan

Mammoth is a good base to explore the crags on the eastern side of the High Sierra. There are the granite crags such as Dike Wall and crystal crags around mammoth Lakes area. Slightly further south is Rock Creek valley which contains more granite crags including the sub alpine crag of Patricia Bowl. Further south is the bouldering honeypot of Bishop and the nearby Buttermilks. East of mammoth is the high scrubby valley of the Owens River which host some great venues the most famous being Owens river Gorge but there are some other interesting crags such as the volcanic rock of Clarks Canyon

Recommended crags.
Useful links and references 

 

Dike wall, Mammoth lakes. Black Dihedral 5.10b trad, Cromagnon 5.10a bolted

Gong Show, Rock Creek ; Sideshow 5.10a bolted, Heshe 5.10b bolted

Patricia Bowl, Rock Creek; Boi-oing 5.10a stonking 2 pitch crack climb

Clarks Canyon. Sports climbing on volcanic rock. All routes are good quality 5.7-5.11

These are the main ones visited but there is alot of scope here and good local info available at Mammoth mountaineering supply 3189 main St Mammoth.and www.eastsidesports.com in Bishop

Mammoth area rock climbs. Eastern Sierra climbing guides. 
Accommodation

Forest service ‘Shady rest campsite ‘ on main road into Mammoth very nice spot. Other forestry campsites dotted around Mammoth Lake area

When to climb, Weather and Seasons

This is the dry side of the mountains so usually dry. The altitude is extremely variable from low Owen River gorge ( too hot to climb when we were there in August early Sept) to the sub alpine Patricia bowl. This means you should be able to find somewhere to climb depending on ambient temperatures

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