California Central Coast Pictorial: Part 1 Big Sur

Disclaimer: I realize this isn’t a “Trip Report”, but maybe you’ll stop by on one of your trips and post one! Plus I like learning about little local obscure areas so I figured I’d share some of ours.

Since most people blow through California’s Central Coast, traveling either to the L.A. or S.F. areas, they miss a lot of good climbing. The best is found above S.B. (Gibraltar area) and in the morros of San Luis Obispo (Bishop Peak etc.), and is well known to most climbers. Steve Edward’s “ Rock Climbing SB and Ventura” and my “California Central Coast Climbs : San Luis Obispo” are the current guidebooks for this stretch of coast if you are heading through. But there are a few gems that most people have never visited and they offer a lot of adventure and almost zero crowds. Maybe you’ll hit one on your holiday travels. If you do, post up! So here we go…

Slate’s Spire is one of these areas and is found off Hwy. 1 near Gorda.

Tom Slater doing another lap after the FA in 1995.

This 50’ spire is found just off the boulder strewn coast of Big Sur. The Regular Route is only 5.5 with 2 SS bolts to a newly replaced SS anchor.

This is the original summit register. I think there were like 10 ascents in as many years.

This is the new summit register. Pretty cool eh?

Mike Morley heading up barefoot with the new register. Photo Jody Langford.

Keeping dry is pretty much impossible. Brandon Thau heading up. Photo Jody Langford.

Slater on the 5.7 arete, Poseidon Adventure.

The top down view. Photo by Jody Langford.

Not too many sea stacks in California that are accessible, so it's a pretty unique summit.

Happy Holidays - Tom