A Bit Unrelated: Pomona College or UC Berkeley Better for Climbing?

Hi all, stuck this in the NorCal section simply because that's where I currently live. Anyways, I am choosing a school to attend right now and amongst other things I am considering the availability and quality of climbing at the two schools! Tell me what you think please!

Thanks in advance!

Of course, the standard and necessary response to this thread is: don't choose a school based on the climbing. There are many other things that should come first. Fortunately, you'd have a hard time going wrong with either of those choices. Both are very good schools, and both are adequate (but not amazing) for climbing access. The biggest difference between them that should drive the selection is whether you'd rather be at a huge state school or a small liberal arts college. Both are among the best in those respective categories, but the experience you'll have at those two types of schools will be very different.

That said, the climbing. Again, both are adequate, but not amazing (i.e. they aren't CU Boulder). The offerings are different between them, though. Berkeley, and the Bay in general, features weekend access to the best climbing in the country, but requires long drives to get there (the same is true of the skiing). You know this already, if you live in northern California. Pomona, and SoCal in general, is closer to climbing, but that nearby climbing generally is decent, but not great (again, also true of the skiing). Overall, the climbing access from Pomona is probably better, since it is nice having the choice between staying local at a kind of decent crag or making the road trip to a top-notch area like Bishop or Red Rocks or the Needles. From Berkeley, you pretty much only have the road trip option (a few junky local boulders aside). Good gyms in both areas. The vibe in town, in Berkeley vs. Claremont, is way different; check them out and see what you like more. Same goes for campus culture.

You should be able to figure all this out yourself, though, if you're the smart type who can get into those schools. Get on Google Maps and get to work looking up climbing areas.

There's great climbing within an hour of or so of Pomona. I've been going to school in the area for the past four years and I've hit most of the local areas. There are a lot of good crags, but of course there are a lot of shitty ones as well.

For sport climbing:
Malibu State Creek
Holcomb Valley Pinnacles
Riverside Quarry

Bouldering:
Joshua Tree National Park
Rubidoux
Black Mountain
Tramway
Stoney Point

Trad:
Tahquitz and Suicide
Joshua Tree National Park

I don't know much about up north, but our local crags are still pretty good.

Thank you JCM and Eric! I have been looking at the all the climbing locations on the Mtn Project map, but people like you two with knowledge of the area, or both areas, can shed some good light on the reality of climbing in these areas.
JCM- do not worry, I am not choosing a college solely based on climbing :P

Go to UC Berkeley! The best place to climb in the WORLD is Yosemite Valley and only 3.5 hours away. There is bouldering in Berkeley (Mortar Rock), great gyms, tahoe (2 hours away), jailhouse and gold wall, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, the coolest climbing club of crushers around. You will never go without a partner, always be motivated, and you get to hang out with amazing people! Team trips too!!!

PS UC Berkeley, overall, for education, is a better school than Pomona...

• *I am a bit biased, but I transferred to Berkeley from southern california and it was the best decision I've made**

I went to Berkeley for undergrad/grad and have also lived in SoCal. If I had to pick a school based on climbing I would stick to SoCal. You have more options for year-round climbing within 4 hrs from the E Side to Red Rocks to Tahquitz. Pomona is far enough east to avoid the bulk of the traffic. With Berkeley you'd have to time your trip to avoid an extra 1-2 hours each way.

As JCM says, also consider the quality of the program/school.

p.s. I don't work in either of the fields in which I studied.

Cheers for the responses. Just decided to attend UC Berkeley for various reasons although I will always wonder what path my life would have followed if I attended Pomona.

Hey Sean,

Glad to hear you are headed to Berkeley. Join Cal Climbing next year when you get to Cal! We practice at Ironworks Tu/Th and have some killer team trips. Check out the website...

climbing.berkeley.edu/

Thanks Eric! Will be sure to join up!

Though I'm a UCLA grad, Berkeley is a terrific school, the crown jewel of the UC system really. You've got Indian Rock right there, lots of nice regional parks, the coast, the City, plus Yosemite and Tahoe if you want to drive further. My understanding is that they have a good outdoor program too, which is something that UCLA lacked when I was there (ages ago). A little too dirtbag and forced hippie vibe for my tastes, but it'll be good. I think you'll be pleased with your choice.

Thanks UCLA grad! Hopefully I will have time to climb as I'll be studying a lot. Another plus is I won't have to buy new guidebooks as I am from Nevada City, ca