California · Rock climbing · Lone Pine

Eastern Choss Proving Grounds

Eastern Choss Proving Grounds in California has 4 sport routes on 3 difficulty grades.

Eastern Choss Proving GroundsPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
4 routes
5.9 – 5.10c
Sport

Best time to visit Eastern Choss Proving Grounds

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.

  1. Jan

    58° / 30°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    61° / 33°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    69° / 39°

    3 wet

  4. Apr

    76° / 44°

    1 wet

  5. May

    85° / 53°

    1 wet

  6. Jun

    96° / 62°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    102° / 67°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    101° / 65°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    93° / 58°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    81° / 48°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    67° / 36°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    57° / 29°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Independence, CA, 14.5 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.

Eastern Choss Proving Grounds is a climbing area on Bureau of Land Management land within the Bishop Field Office in California. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots and trails, with Kearsarge Dome, also known as The Battle Ship, about 0.4 miles away and the Alabama Hills Trail just 0.1 mile off. The area is a small, compact cluster of sport climbing routes. Four routes are listed, all rated between 5.9 and 5.10c on the YDS scale. They are Djangus Unchained at 5.9, Black Torpedo and Wynona's BBB at 5.10, and Spinabifida at 5.10c. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Independence, CA, show April highs around 76°F and October highs around 81°F, while July and August average in the low 100s. Tuttle Creek Campground is about 2.8 miles away, and Lone Pine is about 4.3 miles away. The Arch Loop Trail is 1.1 miles off, and the Alabama Hills Trail is the closest at 0.1 mile.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Kearsarge Dome aka The Battle ShipPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Kearsarge Dome aka The Battle Ship

~1 min drive

Kearsarge Dome (The Battle Ship) in California has 12 climbing routes across 8 grades in mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Choss Not Proud Enough To Name aka  Entrance PilesPhoto: m01229 from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Choss Not Proud Enough To Name aka Entrance Piles

~1 min drive

3-route crag in California with mixed protection and moderate to hard grades.

South PilePhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

South Pile

~1 min drive

South Pile in California has 5 sport climbing routes across 3 difficulty grades.

Alabama HillsPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Alabama Hills

~1 min drive

4 bouldering routes in California, grades range from 4.

The Shark's FinPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Shark's Fin

~1 min drive

Shark's Fin, The is a climbing area in California with 7 routes.

Oz Rock - East FacePhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Oz Rock - East Face

~2 min drive

Oz Rock - East Face in California has 6 climbing routes.

Oz Rock - North FacePhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Oz Rock - North Face

~2 min drive

5 routes on the north face of Oz Rock in California, ranging from moderate to hard difficulty with sport and trad options.

Alabama Hills NorthPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Alabama Hills North

~2 min drive

Alabama Hills North in California has 15 climbing routes across 7 grades.

Paul's BackyardPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Paul's Backyard

~2 min drive

Paul's Backyard in California has 19 climbing routes ranging across 9 difficulty grades.

Hillbilly PillarPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hillbilly Pillar

~2 min drive

Hillbilly Pillar in California has 5 sport climbing routes ranging across 5 difficulty grades.