Hermit Rock  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  3,000' Lat, Long:  34.479, -119.6025 Map Page Views:  425. Good page?    Administrators:  andy patterson, M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Richard Shore on Mar 18, 2011 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

The top of Hermit Rock as seen from Camino Cielo/C...

Description 

Situated on the north side of East Camino Cielo, directly across the road and downhill from Crag Full of Dynamite, lies Hermit Rock. Barely visible from the road, this north-facing rock hosts a handful of moderate routes up to 130 feet in length on a coarse sandstone conglomerate. Shaded, yet hot & buggy in the summertime, and can also be freezing and covered in snow during the winter. The rock can be solid in places, but also chossy and lichen-covered in the less traveled areas. The routes are mostly bolt-protected, and bolts appear to have been placed on the lead. Don't expect sport clip-ups. There are bolts just where you need them, and not any extras. A small rack of finger-hand size cams/nuts can help provide some additional security on many of the routes. No bolted top anchors exist, so bring some cord/webbing to tie off trees on the summit. Some of the classics here include Wind Beneath Her Wings (5.7), Battle of the Bulge (5.10+) and Chunky Monkey (5.11).

Getting There 

Approximately 6 miles east on Camino Cielo from the junction at Gibraltar Road. Approach the base from either gully to the east or west side of the summit. 5 minutes.

The Classics

Featured Route For Hermit Rock

Wind Beneath Her Wings 5.7  CA : Central Coast : ... : Hermit Rock

A few feet to the right of a small cave on the north face, climb up past some pockets and over a bulge with a right-pointing horn, clipping 4 bolts along the way. Step right and onto the blocky headwall above, passing 2 more bolts en route. A short chimney section gets you to the top. Some additional small gear can be placed between bolts 4 and 5 and towards the top, otherwise it's PG-13. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Hermit Rock Slideshow

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Crazy weather we're having--a brief April snow sho...