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Pearl Izumi Rev Short - Women's

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Newton Climbing Shoe - Men's-OrangeWhite-10.5 US

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Kelty Callisto Sleeping Bag 0deg & 15deg

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Patagonia Women's Pelage Jacket

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Demorto Climbing Shoe - Men's-9

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La Sportiva Katana Rock Climbing Shoe - Women's

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LA SPORTIVA TC Pro Climbing Shoes

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Trango Chockstones Set - #1-11

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Princeton Tec Apex Pro Headlamp

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Derrydale Cliff 
Foothill Crag ("The Foot") 
Fortress, The 
Hwy 33/Ojai Bouldering 
Matilija Wall 
Potrero John 
Sespe Gorge (Black Wall) 
Upper Foothill (The Hideout) 
Wheeler Gorge 


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Hwy 33/Ojai 


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Lat, Long: 34.4873, -119.303 Map
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Administrators: andy patterson, M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: M.Morley on Feb 13, 2006

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BETA PHOTO: Hwy 33 (Ventura/Ojai) Overview

Description 

The 2-lane California Highway 33 branches off from the 101 freeway in Ventura and winds itself north, skirting the quaint town of Ojai. If you are driving north from Ventura, the crags are in the following sequence:

  • Wheeler Gorge (aka Twin Tunnels) - 21.0 miles from the intersection of Hwy 101 and CA-33.
  • Pine Mountain - east of Hwy 33, north of Pine Mountain Inn, and 52.5 miles from the intersection of Hwy 101 and CA-33.


Getting There 

From the beachside town of Ventura, head north towards Ojai on 33. Refer to crag descriptions for additional directions.

Here's a map to get your bearings.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Hwy 33/Ojai:
Rapunzel   V1 R     Boulder, 25 feet   Pine Mountain : Enlightenment Ridge
Quiet Soul   V2 R     Boulder, 15 feet   Pine Mountain : Enlightenment Ridge
Painted Carnaval   V3     Boulder, 15 feet   Pine Mountain : Picnic Area Boulders
Happy Hunting Grounds (a.k.a. Heaven on Top)   V3     Boulder, 25 feet   Pine Mountain : Happy Hunting Grounds
No Picnic   V4     Boulder   Pine Mountain : Picnic Area Boulders
Sock Hop   V5-6     Boulder, 20 feet   Pine Mountain : Lower Ridge
Dissing Euros   V6     Boulder, 15 feet   Pine Mountain : Happy Hunting Grounds
Tree Root   5.5     Trad, 2 pitches, 200 feet   Sespe Gorge (Black Wall)
Pipe Cleaner   5.6     Trad, 160 feet   Sespe Gorge (Black Wall)
Ending Crack   5.7 PG13     Trad, 2 pitches, 200 feet   Sespe Gorge (Black Wall)
Cruiser   5.9     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Wheeler Gorge
Ezra   5.9     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Wheeler Gorge
South of the Trout Farm   5.9     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Wheeler Gorge
Permanent Income Hypothesis   5.9     Sport, 1 pitch, 180 feet   The Fortress : Right Side Gully
Capitalism & Freedom   5.10a     Sport, 2 pitches, 155 feet   The Fortress : Right Side Gully
Economique   5.10a     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Wheeler Gorge
Goulara   5.10c     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Wheeler Gorge
Natural Rate of Unemployment   5.10+     Sport, 1 pitch, 115 feet   The Fortress : Right Side Gully
Danger Boy   5.11a     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Wheeler Gorge
Silent Mind   5.11b     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Wheeler Gorge
Browse More Classics in Hwy 33/Ojai

Featured Route For Hwy 33/Ojai
Here I am making the first move on Sock Hop. It continues pretty much straight up from here using a shallow dish or two out right and small crimps up and left.

Sock Hop V5-6  CA : Central Coast : ... : Lower Ridge
Looking at the start of this problem will make it scream for you to give it a try, and the lack of apparent holds on the upper half make it that much more interesting. Starting with good sidepulls for your hands and obvious feet, move up to the sloping ledge, and continue to the top using small crimps and shallow dishes. Great movement on solid rock make this one of the best problems around....[more]   Browse More Classics in CA


Photos of Hwy 33/Ojai Slideshow Add Photo
Overview of Los Padres, including the Foot, Wheeler Gorge, and Sespe Gorge.

BETA PHOTO: Overview of Los Padres, including the Foot, Wheele...

Humboldt Lilies, growing along Hwy-33 above Ojai

Humboldt Lilies, growing along Hwy-33 above Ojai


Comments on Hwy 33/Ojai Add Comment
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By Matthew Fienup
Administrator
From: Ventura, CA
Aug 17, 2008

Cool geological information about the Sespe Gorge area

By t-rev
Feb 7, 2009

Has anyone here climbed Chouinard-Bossier on Matilija wall? Or does anyone know about the access situation? There's not much info out there for this route.

By C Runyan
From: Santa Barbara, CA
Sep 14, 2009

t-rev: Full topos, photos, and other details about Matilija, Cathedral Peak, and a number of other gems missing from the Falcon Guide can be found in the out-of-print 1994 guide "Climbing! Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo" by Steve Tucker and Kevin Steele.

By steve edwards
From: SLC, UT
Aug 10, 2010

I spent a fair amount of time trying to get good access for Matilija. Got a guy who has "closed" the road to give me access but not to open the road to the public. We could get it open but no one seemed intereseted about fighting for it and the rangers were indifferent. This was for the West Camino Cielo access. You can still get there via a horrible scrample up from the res but it's ridiculous unless you want it badly, which is why I said in my guide that it's probably more time efficient to drive to the Sierra. If someone was was amped about the place and wanted to do some work I think decent access could be gained.

By Davi Rivas
From: Ventura, CA
Nov 12, 2010

I jus posted some pics of Matilija Wall, any takers?

By Matthew Fienup
Administrator
From: Ventura, CA
Nov 6, 2012

For automobile aficionados:
Where does Car & Driver Magazine go to test drive a 500-hp super car?..

Highway-33, of course. Look for Wheeler Gorge in this video

By M.Morley
Administrator
From: Sacramento, CA
Apr 3, 2013

A workaday road that cuts through California's back story