Climbing at Malibu Creek

Today I went to Malibu Creek State Park for an outdoor climbing adventure. The first step is the steep $8 parking fee, followed by a 15 minute walk to the "Apes Wall". This wall was used in the Planet of the Apes TV show. It's a 60 foot high, vertical, volcanic rock wall.

It was too crowded at the time, so we continued into the canyon, to the Rock Pool. The Rock Pool is a large, deep natural pool created by Malibu Creek. To contiue, we had to boulder hop across the creek, and then traverse a 5.5 level wall right along the rock pool. After successfully (i.e. not falling into the pool) traversing, we scrambled across house sized boulders to the bottom of our climbs.



I lead climbed a 10a, and a 10c. Both were filled with deep pockets, satisfying flakes, and crisp crimps. It felt good to lead climb again, as I have been doing nothing but top roping in the gym for many months, as I have no regular gym partners who are lead qualified.

After those two climbs, we proceeded back to the Apes wall, where I set up a top rope anchor on a 5.9, which we both climbed easily. There was a group next to use on a 10a I would have liked to climb, but the group was uninterested in swapping ropes. There was something odd about them though, none of them had climbing shoes! All three were in sneakers, and yet their anchor displayed some level of competence. Very strange.



A short walk and a long drive through Malibu ended a very fun outdoor experience.