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Pine Creek Canyon, Patricia Bowl, & Alabama Hills Climbing (2015, 2024, 2025)

Pine Creek Canyon (& Patricia Bowl & Alabama Hills) (2015, 2024, 2025)

Route:

various

Region: California
Elev: ~7,200 ft
Rock type: Granite
Type: 
Date(s): 2015(x5 days) & 2024(x3 days) & 2025(x2 days)
Partner(s): Sarah Inwood, Brian Luther, Frida (from Sweeden), Anthony (from South Africa), Craig (from New Jersey) (all 2015); Nate Arganbright (2024); solo, Brett Wines (both 2025)

Pine Creek Canyon (Bishop Area) lies in a stunningly scenic granite canyon nestled between Mount Tom & the Wheeler Crest. This once backwater area has now grown into a truly world class destination. Pine Creek now features over 630 routes including long multi-pitch affairs, plentiful traditional climbs, and one of the largest collections of sport climbs in the state.

Patricia Bowl (Mammoth Area) is an awesome, newly re-developed area for steep clean "sport" cracks (bolted face and tricky pro sections, and good bolted anchors). As close as you get to Indian Creek on eastern Sierra granite. High, north-facing, and cold - but great for hot summer days.

Alabama Hills (Lone Pine Area) are a vast expanse of coarse orange and brown high desert granite or quartz monzonite towers and outcrops reminiscent of those in Joshua Tree to the south. Rock character ranges from quality brown patina to chossy. The Alabama Hills has been described as the ultimate lazy man's crag with routes found just feet from the car to ten minute scrambles. There is a great deal of rock in the area and 500+ routes have been documented, the majority being bolted sport climbs.

The first time I climbed at all three of these areas was on a climbing roadtrip in July/August 2015, on marginal-weather half-days between bigger objectives in the Sierra. Pine Creek Canyon and Patricia Bowl are 5-star cragging. I returned to Pine Creek Canyon (again to Pratt's Crack Gully area) in 2024, on a two-week climbing road trip and again in 2025, on another climbing road trip. It was just as good as I remembered. I'd like to explore more cragging in this canyon.

On this page, I have random photos from cragging at Pine Creek Canyon, Patricia Bowl, and Alabama Hills. At the bottom of the page, I keep a list of the climbs I've done in these three areas.

Photos

CLICK THE DROP DOWN TO SEE PHOTOS FROM EACH AREA

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING IN PINE CREEK CANYON


More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Dates: August 1&2, 2015 (Sat&Sun)
Partner: Sarah Inwood
Climbed at: Pine Creek Canyon: Pratt's Crack Gully
Routes (ordered by grade): 
• Rites of Spring Pitches 1&2 5.10a, 2p, trad
• Shelia 5.10a, trad
• Gizzle 5.10c, sport
• Never Believe 5.10c, sport, toprope
• Pocketful of Funk 5.11c, sport, toprope
• Queen of the Heartbreaks 5.11c, sport, toprope
I cragged for a couple of half days in Pratt's Crack Gully with a gal named Sarah I met in the Mammoth library ("Hey are you are climber? Looking for a partner...?"). Sarah and I proceeded to climb together for a week, climbing Mt. Conness, The Incredible Hulk, Third Pillar of Dana, and a day of cragging in Patricia Bowl.
Pratt's Crack Gully.
Sarah following Shelia (5.10a).
Shelia (5.10a) goes up the corner. I led it, then we did a toprope lap. We also toproped the route beside it called Queen of the Hearbreaks (5.11c). Both of these routes are about 200 feet so you get a substantial amount of climbing in per route.
Looking out of Pratt's Crack Gully.
On the first day, the '50% thundershowers' rolled in around 4pm.
We climbed the first two pitches of Rites of Spring (10a I led, 5.9 Sarah led).
Sarah starting up the second pitch of Rites of Spring.
Next we toproped and did laps on Pocketful of Funk (5.11c).

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Dates: June 6-8, 2024 (Thu-Sat)
Partner: Nate Arganbright
Climbed at: Pine Creek Canyon: Pratt's Crack Gully
Routes (ordered by grade): 
• Becky Route 5.10a, sport
• Unnamed to right of Bavarian Tower Pitch 1 5.10a, sport
• Shelia 5.10a, trad
• Coven (Seriously Though) first half 5.10b, sport
• Never Believe 5.10c, sport, toprope
• Friendly Faces Everywhere 5.10c, mixed
• Bavarian Tower w/ variation pitches 3&4 5.10d, 4p, sport+trad
• Rites of Spring 5.10d, 4p, trad
• Road to No Where 5.11a, trad
• Phenomena 5.11b, sport
• When Cattle Talk 5.11b, sport
I finally returned to Pine Creek in 2024, on a two-week climbing road trip. We had spent the first part of the road trip climbing at Whitney Portal. The plan for our second destination had been The Needles in southern California, but when we arrived there after a 4-hour drive from Whitney Portal, we found the gate was closed to access. Dejected, we headed back towards the Sierra East Side and decided to crag in Pine Creek Canyon for a few days. It was pretty hot (100°F in nearby Bishop), but fortunately there is always shade to be found in Pine Creek Canyon and the climbing in the shade was quite pleasant. Plus, the rock and quality of the climbing was superb and fun. After a few days of cragging in Pine Creek Canyon, Tioga Pass opened for the season, so we decided to head to Tuolumne for a few days. Nate probably enjoyed this area the most of any destination on our trip, but I found myself craving bigger, higher routes. We had a fun 2.5 days and climbed 17 excellent pitches in Pratt's Crack Gully area during this time.
Pratt's Crack Gully.
Nate leading Becky Route (5.10a, sport), our first route of our time in Pine Creek Canyon. Fun!
Becky Route (5.10a, sport).
Coven (Seriously Though) first half of first pitch is a nice bolted 5.10b (the second half of the pitch is 5.11).
Pratt's Crack Gully.
Mountains at the head of Pine Creek Canyon.
Relaxing at camp in the trees after a session of climbing. Gotta love free camping.
Slitherlinks are fun....
...and addicting.
There is a single outhouse at the main parking area for the Pratts Crack Gully area.
Only problem is there is no cell service in the canyon. But I suppose it would work to take a photo and donate once you get back in service.
Friendly Faces Everywhere (5.10c, mixed). The 4-pitch route Rites of Spring (5.10d, 4p) goes up and right. We climbed this the next day.
Nate leading Never Believe (5.10c, sport). I had climbed this fun sport route in 2015 as well. After climbing this route we determined it was too hot to climb in the sun so we crossed the creek to find some shade.
Road to No Where (5.11a, trad). A fun short but punchy crack climb. Another nice 5.11 onsight by Nate.
Phenomena (11b, sport). This was perhaps the hardest route we climbed during our few days in Pratt's Crack Gully. I was impressed with Nate's onsight of this rather long and sustained route, and even more so when I struggled at several places while following it.
Pretty cactus flower.
Shelia (5.10a, trad). I had led this route in 2015 and insisted we climb it again. It is a great 200 foot single pitch of sustained 10a crack climbing.
Fun corner on Shelia (5.10a, trad).
A view up Pratt's Crack Gully.
Bavarian Tower Pitch 1 (5.10c). This was a fun 4-pitch route we did our last morning. It is shady until mid-morning, which is nice when the daytime highs are in the 90's.
Bavarian Tower Pitch 2 (5.10d). A great pitch of bolted climbing and a nice lead by Nate.
Rappelling from Bavarian Tower (5.10d, 4p). A single 70 gets you down.
Pretty cactus flower with bee.
Nate starting up Rites of Spring Pitch 1 (5.10a). I had led this pitch in 2015.
Fun crack climbing on Rites of Spring Pitch 1 (5.10a).
Looking up Rites of Spring Pitch 2 (5.9). I had not led this pitch in 2015, so I led it this time.
What happens if you lead a wide crack with shorts (Pitch 2 of Rites of Spring has a #4-sized section near the top that is somewhat burly).
Nate following the burly final crack of Pitch 2 of Rites of Spring.
Rites of Spring Pitch 3 (5.10c). Another great pitch.
Crack at end of Rites of Spring Pitch 3 (5.10c).
Crack at start of Rites of Spring Pitch 4 (5.10d). I led this pitch because Nate had strained his back pulling the roof on Pitch 3. I admit to aiding a move or few at the 5.10d crux.
The 5.10d crux of Rites of Spring Pitch 4 is at the piton. This piton is old but seemed to be pounded into the rock pretty well.
. The final crack on Rites of Spring Pitch 4 (5.10d). This part was probably 10a or so.
Check out those toenails....watch out Newt, I'm thinking you may look cute with purple toenails too!

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Dates: August 24&27, 2025 (Sun&Wed)
Partner: toprope solo (The Main Line, Aug 24), Brett Wines (Aug 24&27)
Climbed at: Pine Creek Canyon: Tai Tower, Pratt's Crack Gully
Routes (ordered by grade): 
• The Main Line 5.10b, 10p, 1200', toprope solo

• Pratt's Crack 5.9, trad
• Oktoberfest 5.10b, trad
• Gala Tumble 5.10c, sport
• Subatomic 5.10c, sport
• Never Believe + Never Never Believe Extension 5.10c+5.10d, sport
• Twitch 5.11a, sport, toprope
• New Effigy 5.11b, sport, toprope
• Diety 5.11d, sport, toprope
• New World Order 5.12a, sport, toprope
• Aristotle 5.12b, sport, toprope
• Atomic Gecko 5.12c, sport, toprope
My climbing adventures of Summer of 2025 had taken me to the Eastern Sierra for a couple of weeks. My goal was some bigger objectives (like Chamberlin, the Hulk, Temple Crag, Whitney), but around those big objectives and on weather days, I squeezed in a few days of cragging at Pine Creek Canyon.

On the first day (August 24), I was meeting Brett for a pre-storm morning of cragging in Pine Creek. I’d heard about a 10-pitch route with fixed ropes—perfect for toprope soloing—called The Main Line (5.10b, 10p, 1200') on Tai Tower. With fixed ropes in place and located just outside the entrance to Pine Creek Canyon only minutes from the parking lot, it seemed like the ideal warm-up.

I skipped morning coffee and set off early to climb it. Each pitch is about 35m with bolted belays. From the base to the top took me just under 54 minutes, plus a 6-minute approach and 16 minutes for the rappels. Car-to-car, it was about an hour and a half, which left me a comfortable half-hour before Brett showed up.

Below is an overlay with time stats and a few photos from my early morning toprope solo lap of The Main Line.

Note: I realize some may view this route as a ‘locals only’ secret, and I fully respect the value of keeping such things under wraps. However, since this route is included in the new guidebook and has a mountainproject page for the route mentioning the maintained fixed ropes, I feel it’s reasonable to share it here on my personal website.
Route Overlay for The Main Line
Time Stats for The Main Line
Photos for The Main Line
Beginning the approach from the parking lot.
Base of the route. You can see the fixed rope.
Base of the route. I took this photo after I had climbed the route, when it was fully daylight. Note the black dike just right of the start of the route.
Looking up Pitch 1. I took this photo after I had climbed the route, when it was fully daylight.
Core shot on Pitch 1. A convenient ledge made this easy to pass.
Another photo of the core shot. There were only two sections of core shot I spotted (this one on Pitch 1 and another on Pitch 6).
My preferred toprope solo setup is two microtraxions and a chest elastic. I admit I got lazy and used just one microtraxion for most of this climb.
Anchor at top of Pitch 1, Pitch 2 next.
Anchor at top of Pitch 2, Pitch 3 next.
Anchor at top of Pitch 3, Pitch 4 next.
A nice new rope on Pitch 3. There was also an identical rope on Pitch 7. Thanks!
Pitch 4.
Anchor at top of Pitch 4, scramble next.
The 200' scramble between Pitches 4 and 5.
The 200' scramble between Pitches 4 and 5.
The 200' scramble between Pitches 4 and 5.
Anchor at top of scramble, Pitch 5 next.
Pitch 5.
Anchor at top of Pitch 5, Pitch 6 next.
Directional on Pitch 6.
Core shot on Pitch 6. There were only two sections of core shot I spotted (one on Pitch 1 this one on Pitch 6).
Anchor at top of Pitch 6, Pitch 7 next. There was a nice new rope on Pitch 7 (thanks!).
Pitch 7.
Pitch 7.
Anchor at top of Pitch 7, Pitch 8 next.
Hole on Pitch 8.
Bolt on Pitch 8.
Pitch 8.
Anchor at top of Pitch 8, Pitch 9 next.
Anchor at top of Pitch 9, Pitch 10 next.
Pitch 10.
The anchor at the top of Pitch 10 (top of the route).
Looking up above the route.
Looking down from the top of the route.
View to the east.
View to the south.
Looking down at the parking lot for Pine Creek Canyon.
Beginning the rappels from the anchor at the top of the route.
Back at the base of the route.
On the same morning that I climbed The Main Line, Brett and I spent the morning cragging in Pine Creek before forecasted afternoon showers rolled in. We warmed up on a few excellent 5.10s and then turned our attention to a couple of 5.12s. I hadn’t pulled hard in a few weeks due to an arm injury, so I was glad the arm only protested mildly—it felt good to push it again. A fun and productive cragging session!
Brett leading our first route of the day: Oktoberfest (5.10b, trad).
Brett leading our second route of the day: Gala Tumble (5.10c, sport). We both led this. A wonderful route for the grade.
Next I led Subatomic (5.10c, sport), which was just as fun as Gala Tumble.
Brett leading Atomic Gecko (5.12c). This was his main project for the day, and he figured out all of the moves. Next time a redpoint!
My second day of cragging in Pine Creek on this trip was Wednesday, August 27, again with Brett. The forecast had called for “80% thundershowers” by noon, but the storm never came and we climbed into the mid-afternoon. I kicked off the day by leading the classic offwidth Pratt’s Crack (5.9)—finally putting to use the #6 and #7 cams that had been riding around in my car for months. From there, we both led the 35m 5.10d (Never Believe + Never Never Believe Extension--really good!), then toproped an adjacent 5.11d and 5.12a. Brett moved on to his 5.12c project, Scheelite Fight, while I toproped the 5.11b and 5.11a next to it. Brett crushed, nearly redpointing Scheelite Fight but slipping near the top on easier ground. Another productive day on the rock!
Pratt's Crack (5.9) is the obvious offiwidth in the corner.
Pratt's Crack (5.9).
One of a couple of slung chockstones on Pratt's Crack (5.9). Clip it and keep bumping the big cams.
A #7 allowed me to basically toprope msyelf through much of the route, Pratt's Crack (5.9).
Looking down Pratt's Crack (5.9) while leading.
Looking down Pratt's Crack (5.9).
Never Believe (5.10c) with Never Never Believe Extensions (5.10d) for a full 35m pitch.
Brett toproping New World Order (5.12a).
Brett on his redpoint go of Scheelite Fight (12c). Nice lad Brett!
Desert. Four deserts to be specific. Even if I had a way to keep things cold, I would have eaten all four.

Previous and Next Adventures

August 2015

Clyde Minaret (Southeast Face), CA
Mt. Conness (West Ridge to North Ridge), CA

June 2024

Whitney Portal, CA
Tuolumne, CA

August 2025

Mt. Chamberlin (Sword in the Stone), Mt. Newcomb (3rd), The Miter (Janitorial Service), CA
Mt. Whitney (Mountaineeer's Route to Whitney Trail), CA

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING IN PATRICIA BOWL


More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Dates: August 6&17, 2015 (Thu&Mon)
Partners: Sarah Inwood & Brian Luther
Climbed at: Patricia Bowl
Routes (ordered by grade): 
• Living the Dream 5.8, 1p
• Patricia Lake Grack 5.9, 2p
• Modern Trad 5.10a, 1p
• Boi-oi-oi-ing 5.10a, 2p
• Pie in the Sky Pitch 1 5.10b, toprope
• Do I Make You Horny? 5.10b, 1p
• Golden Flake 5.10b, 1p
• Forces of Nature 5.10d, toprope
• Sons of Liberty 5.10d, toprope
• Freedom Fighter 5.11a, toprope
• High Expectations 5.11a, 1p
On the same California climbing road trip that I climbed at Pine Creek Canyon, I also climbed at Patricia Bowl for two days in-between bigger objectives.
Look at all of those cracks...
The area has an alpine flavor. A nice place to spend the day.
Looking up Boi-oi-oi-ing (5.10a, 2p). Brian led the first pitch and I led the second.
Looking down from the top of the second pitch of Boi-oi-oi-ing (5.10a, 2p). Sustained 5.9 awesomeness.
ooking down from the top of Do I Make You Horney? (5.10b, 1p) which we toproped.
Looking up High Expectations (5.11a, 1p), which we toproped. It was so good I climbed it twice.
Brian nearing the top of Living the ream (5.8, 1p). Fun route.
Looking up Golden Flake (5.10b, 1p), which we toproped. Another great pitch of climbing.

Previous and Next Adventures

Incredible Hulk (Red Dihedral), CA
Cardinal Pinnacle (Crack Kingdom & V8 Crack), CA

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING AT ALABAMA HILLS


More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: July 19, 2015 (Sun)
Partners: Frida (from Sweeden), Anthony (from South Africa), Craig (from New Jersey)
Climbed at: Alabama Hills
Routes: 
• Various routes at The Loaf
I was planning on climbing Mt. Russel and Mt. Whitney, and I was in Lone Pine a couple of days early to get a permit. While poking around the mountain shop, I asked if they knew of anyone interested in doing some cragging. Soon I was joining a trio headed to Alabama Hills for half day of cragging.
Frida leading a route at The Loaf.
Me leading a route at The Loaf.
Anthony or Craig (I put this page on my website several years after the fact, and I cannot remember!) and surrounding landscape.

Previous and Next Adventures

Temple Crag (Dark Star), CA
Mt. Whitney (East Buttress & East Face) & Mt. Russell (Mithral Dihedral & Western Front)

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING AT Tioga Cliff


More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: September 5, 2025 (Fri)
Partners: Michael Vaill
Climbed at: Tioga Cliff
Routes: 
• xxx
Southeast facing wall under 120 with very cool and hard routes. In the sun until 1:30ish. Follow the directions in the Reid/Falkenstein or Mammoth Rock Climbs book...The deproach is not as bad as its written up or looks (the descent to Third Pillar is WAY worse).

Previous and Next Adventures

Temple Crag (Dark Star), CA
Mt. Whitney (East Buttress & East Face) & Mt. Russell (Mithral Dihedral & Western Front)

List of Climbs I've done in Pine Creek Canyon (& Patricia Bowl & Alabama Hills)

LIST MAINLY FOR PERSONAL RECORD-KEEPING | DATES I'VE CLIMBED THERE ON SECOND TAB

Comments Pertaining to this Page / Trip Report

Useful beta. Updated route information. Corrections. Historical notes. Interesting facts. No fluff please.
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