Evening Sport climbing, Mt Baldy Crag Sport climbing on 15-Jun-2026

A 4:30 pm car pooling departure from the city plus ~15 minute hike in from the Mt Baldy trailhead and by ~6 pm we were at the crag scouting a variety of possible climbing route options.

This sport climbing crag is good for having a wide range of grades from 5.5 on up, offering shade, and good textured rock (vs Wasootch polish!). We quickly and naturally got into a rhythm of one person leading a pitch followed by the next two seconding on top rope, and then taking turns leading different routes. We mostly climbed on the Baldy East and Central walls, each of us leading a couple different routes. Perhaps counter-intuitively we started on a route named 'Postscript' (5.5), followed by a couple 5.6's, a 5.7 and then Matthew led our last route 'Opportunity Knocks', the hardest of the evening at 5.9. Once the top-rope was set up on this Sebastiaan then took a harder, smooth slab variant of the line, challenging us to repeat the variation a couple of times to mixed reviews.

Having an odd number of us was good for snack breaks as well as a bit of rest between climbing & belaying. In among the various climbing topics of discussion, we somehow got on to climbing barefoot (not comfortable according to Sebastiaan), and Marcus' infrequent practice of climbing blindfolded - which Sebastiaan decided to try (on top rope). It is both interesting to try, as well as to watch and see the smaller holds used and relied on when the climber can't see and find otherwise more visually obvious larger holds!

It was a pleasant evening, perfect temperature, no rain, no crowds, no bugs; and we wrapped things up a bit after 3 hours of good outdoor climbing.

Thanks to Sebastiaan and Matthew for joining me, Marcus (scribe/co-ord)