The Capricorn Wall
Capricorn Wall in California has 5 sport climbing routes.
Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 5 routes
- 5.10a – 5.11a
- Sport
Best time to visit The Capricorn Wall
Best months: February–May and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
58° / 30°
4 wet
Feb
61° / 33°
4 wet
Mar
69° / 39°
3 wet
Apr
76° / 44°
1 wet
May
85° / 53°
1 wet
Jun
96° / 62°
1 wet
Jul
102° / 67°
1 wet
Aug
101° / 65°
1 wet
Sep
93° / 58°
1 wet
Oct
81° / 48°
1 wet
Nov
67° / 36°
2 wet
Dec
57° / 29°
4 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Independence, CA, 15.9 mi away at 3,950 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Capricorn Wall is a climbing area on Bureau of Land Management land in the Bishop Field Office of California, about 15 miles from Independence. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Pu Pu Platter and Earthday and Munge Domes each about 0.1 mile away and Monument Slot (aka Gunga Din) about 0.4 mile off. The area is a sport climbing destination with five routes, all rated between 5.10a and 5.11a. Capricorn is the namesake route at 5.10c, and Happy Cappys is the hardest at 5.11a. The routes were first climbed by Raleigh Collins, Tom Ace and Mike Strassman between 2000 and 2000. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Independence show April highs around 76°F and October highs around 81°F, while July and August average in the low 100s. That station sits about 600 feet lower than the wall, so temperatures on the wall run cooler.
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