slgwv's photos with the keyword: 9680

Tahquitz Rock

17 Nov 2017 2 2 570
TAH-keets, after a malevolent spirit in local Native American lore. (Perversely labeled "Lily" Rock on the USGS topo map, but no one--at least in the climbing fraternity--calls it that!) Located in the San Jacinto Mountains of southern California, it's the historical heart of rock climbing in SoCal, with named routes going back to the 30s. I did some climbing (on the easier routes) here in the early 70s, as part of a college club. The inset shows a (shaded) view of the north-facing side, with the easier routes off to the right edge of the pic. All the routes start with a scramble up the slope in the foreground! So you'd usually wear regular hiking boots to start, and change into the climbing shoes at the base of the rock. The location is of the rock itself, rather than the photo point.