California · Rock climbing · Big Pine

The Lower Block

Lower Block, The in California has 5 bouldering routes with 4 difficulty grades.

5 routes
V3 – V7
Bouldering

Is Lower Block, The open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Inyo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit The Lower Block

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, 9.8 mi away at 3,950 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Lower Block is a bouldering area in California's Inyo National Forest, within the Mt. Whitney Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land. It sits in the high desert country east of Independence, and Crystal Ridge, another climbing area, lies just 0.4 miles away. The climbing here is all bouldering. Five boulder problems are listed, with grades ranging from V3 to V7. Colin's Arete is a V6, and Will's Arete is a V7, each named for its first climber. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable conditions. Typical averages from the nearby Independence weather station show April highs around 76°F and October highs around 81°F. Midsummer highs climb to 101°F in August. For more climbing, Crystal Ridge is close. For hiking, the Santa Rita Flat Trail is 2.5 miles off, and Mazourka Canyon is about 4.5 miles away. Goodale Creek Campground, roughly 7 miles out, offers a place to stay.

Routes (5)

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