“Man It’s sweatin balls down here lets head up to Holcomb Valley in Big Bear for some cooler climbing”
Sounds good to me I said to my buddy Sean.
Holcomb Valley I hear can be a zoo on some weekends do to its ease of access and wide range of routes. I had not been in a few years and figured it would be good to get more comfortable leading on a few of the many sport routes. I am currently trying to learn trad and feel like I need to get a better lead head. Sometimes I think I should just trad climb and get used to knowing I may fall on gear instead of bolts. I’m learning leading in general and sometimes feel like I need to get on some easier routes like 5.5 to 5.7 at first to practice placing gear.
Anyways, we decided to head up there Saturday morning and check out Castle Rock on the way. This is a really cool pinnacle that stands about 150” high with some quality routes of various grades. My buddy Sean took of on the 1st lead of the day on.


“The Sphynx”, great features on this rock.

The clouds approached quickly, it started to come down pretty good by the time he started rapping back down .
Guess we should have checked the forecast.

We waited under some rocks in hopes of getting some more climbs in. It stopped, but the rock was too wet and wouldn’t be dry for a while so we headed down towards Running Springs with a local friend who knew some other local crags


Local Matt, on “Twin Cracks” . This was a really good beginner 5.8 climb. Fun with plenty of placements and good rests.


Is 5.8 even considered beginner for trad? I just ask because there are some 5.8s I don’t really feel ready for mentally, but I know I can climb that grade no problem. Guess I’m realizing how much more mental trad climbing is. As was the case, I was into the climbing and did not think to ask these guys to get some pictures of me, but here is Matt and Sean having some fun at School Rock .
Fun little crag with some stout ratings on the face climbing.

Saturday ended on a good note and we headed back to Matts place for some R&R.


Lake Arrowhead
Nothing like burnin’ one and tossing back a cocktail or two after a fun day of climbing with good people.

I thought this was a really cool idea for the stair railing.

Matt was going to do a round trip 22 mile hike up San Gorgonio mountain the next day so so he did not join us for climbing at Keller Peak. Looks like a toughy, but I’m not into big hikes so perhaps it would not be so bad for some of you more conditioned Supertopians.


San Gorgonio. Pic taken from Mountain Project.

For us, Keller Peak was our destination since it appeared there would be more rain near Big Bear and Holcomb would probably be full of puddles on the drive out there and be a zoo.

Hungover Wall at Keller Peak area. Some hard routes on this wall. Great shade for belaying. It was just Sean and I climbing so couldn’t get any climbing pics unless we went for the one handed belay.

Here are a few more of Hungover Wall area and surrounding Keller Peak.
Great views
Plenty of bouldering as well. Keller Peak lookout and boulders abound.

So that was our weekend, I finally got a TR posted on ST. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with the crowds at Holcomb I would suggest exploring some of the other local crags in San Bernardino mountains. Castle Rock, School Rock, Arrowhead Pinnacles, Scott Rock, etc.. Lots of fun stuff up there and great bouldering everywhere.