As well as being a breathtakingly beautiful place to spend time exploring, the Alabama Hills are also a premier rock climbing destination. The hills are made up of coarse orange and brown high desert granite, or quartz monzonite towers and outcrops, which are an absolute pleasure to climb on. We also had the good fortune of being joined by Nate, a good friend of Joe and Amber’s, who is a far more experienced rock climber than we are. This allowed us to climb much more interesting and challenging routes : ) We climbed nearly every day we were there, and on one memorable occasion, we climbed at night during a full moon! Here are a couple photo galleries of us climbing rocks … hope you enjoy!
Also, here’s a bit more history regarding the naming of the area, which I’ve copied from the Mountain Project website:
“In the 1860’s the town of Lone Pine, CA was primarily Southern (as in the Confederacy) in their sympathies regarding the Civil War, while the town of Independence, CA on the other hand (15 miles to the north), being US Army Fort Independence, was primarily Northern (Union) in their allegiance. The residents of Lone Pine named the Alabama Hills to commemorate the Confederate iron-clad warship CSS Alabama, which was wreaking havoc on the Union fleet. To counter, the residents of Independence later named a local gold mine, Kearsarge, to commemorate the Union warship USS Kearsarge, that sank the CSS Alabama.”
Ladies first!
Angela showing off some serious upper body strength on an unnamed route!
Angela halfway up Ankle's Away.
Another shot of Angela, a bit lower on Ankle's Away.
Angela nearing the top of Ranger of the North, with Amber on belay.
Angela's show a bit of real joy (or relief??) as she reaches the top of Ankle's Away!
Angela at the halfway point of Rotten Bananas, which was the tallest route we climbed. 105 feet to the top!
Close up of Angela on Leonoshpere.
Amber about to tackle Rotten Bananas, with Angela ready to belay.
Amber on Rotten Bananas, with Angela on belay.
Amber high up on Ankle's Away.
Looking down on Amber at the beginning of Rotten Bananas, with Angela on belay.
Amber, highlighted by the sun's early morning light, high up on Ankle's Away.
Close up of the same amazing angle. Amber on Ankle's Away.
Amber and Joe ... couple's climbing on the Hoodgie Wall : )
Joe on Ranger of the North.
Again, Joe on Ranger of the North, with Amber on belay.
Joe reaching for a hold on Leonoshphere.
Joe on Leonoshpere again.
Night climbing with headlamps and a full moon! : )
Such an amazing experience to get to the top of the climb and turn the headlamps off ... leaving only moon and stars to illuminate the surrounding cliffs and valleys.
Nate halfway up the Hoodgie Wall, with a full moon rising as his backdrop.
Nate starting up Ankle's Away, with Chris on belay.
Nate, back into daylight on Choss Moss and Butt Floss.
Close up of Nate on the Tall Wall Spur.
Again, Nate on the Tall Wall Spur.
Nate, higher up on the Tall Wall Spur.
Nate at the top of Banana Split.
Sweet photography trick by Amber ... shooting through her binoculars with her iPhone! Nate at the top of Choss Moss and Butt Floss.
Nate showing mad skillz on the mini Etch A Sketch!
Nate belaying Joe up Choss Moss and Butt Floss.
Amber and Chris climbing the Tall Wall, with Angela and Nate on belay.
Chris staying focused on Ankle's Away, while the peanut gallery looks on.
Chris on an unnamed route near Kearsarge Dome.
Chris on Choss Moss and Butt Floss.
Alabama Hills National Scenic Area, California
Another binocular close up by Amber. Chris climbing Rotten Bananas.
Chris at the top of Rotten Bananas.
Close up of Chris from Amber's Binocuphone.
Looking down from the top of Choss Moss and Butt Floss.
