moving to San Diego next week - gym situation and cooler temps climbing?

Moving to San Diego next week - wondering how the gyms are? I've been to Mesa Rim (mission valley) once and it was super crowded. How are the other gyms/locations? Any particular crazy hours that I should avoid? I also will be looking for climbing partners regularly, both indoor and outdoor. Sport, trad, alpine, bouldering - all fair game.

No way! You're moving to SD! We worked acid crack for half a sec earlier this season together. Mission valley can be crowded after 5 mon-thurs but the rest of the time its fine. I think you have my phone number, hmu if you want to get out.

It must be Prith then? Good to hear from you. I was on the verge of tears and almost cancelled my flight after what the last guy said. ;)

Tears? Wait till you see the Manzanita 

Mission gorge is world class miniature crack climbing.
Mount woodson has good dry tooling
Tahquitz has Alpine ice climbing
Suicide has great bouldering
Joshua tree - no one goes there.

lol some seriously bored folks on MP

Can confirm for Mira Mesa. Pretty much every weekday, Mesa Rim is empty until around 5 PM. Starts to quiet down after 7:30 PM and is practically empty again later. Less busy Friday through Sunday. Pretty much the same story at Mission Valley. Not too familiar with other gyms unless you want to climb at UCSD lol.

Don't do gyms often but always looking for folks to go outside with and alpine ad well.

Vertical hold’s old town location and the Grotto have the best bouldering and are never too crowded.

Mesa Rim Mission Valley has the best lead walls but is so fucking crowded, expensive, and just feels like a giant McDonald’s so I avoid that place but their Mira Mesa location is pretty fun.

When it’s too hot to climb outside the wife and I go to the Grotto, VH old town, or Mesa Rim’s Mira Mesa location. But in the winter we don’t even bother with the gym, there’s no need. You can always get a quick fix at one of the local crags like Woodson, the Gorge or Santee and the San Diego desert is where it’s at, climbing without any people or manzanita bushes but unfortunately it is already getting too hot out there... 

If you’re into bouldering I go to this little but super fun gym called the grotto in La Mesa. It has a pretty nice training area as well.

thanks all! so far i've checked out both mesa rim locations and mira mesa is pretty cool...that aside, i'm only aware of taquitz/suicide coming into season...anywhere else within reasonable driving distance? especially somewhere for a day trip (bouldering is ok too!), but definitely need shade and/or altitude...and for 2+ days? there must be quality stuff closer than Clark mountain or mt. charleston?!

Fan Yang wrote: thanks all! so far i've checked out both mesa rim locations and mira mesa is pretty cool...that aside, i'm only aware of taquitz/suicide coming into season...anywhere else within reasonable driving distance? especially somewhere for a day trip (bouldering is ok too!), but definitely need shade and/or altitude...and for 2+ days? there must be quality stuff closer than Clark mountain or mt. charleston?!

Black Mountain and the Tram are coming into season. Shade, altitude, and days of bouldering on some of the finest granite California has to offer. 

Summer is generally the offseason for local outdoor climbing in SD county. Most of the crags there are in the sun and away from the coast. However, you still have options.

Mission Gorge or Santee Boulders can be quite nice in the evening during summer. Poway Crags is in the shade, but the approach can be brutal during summer. Glen Cliff is also in the shade but may be closed due to bird nesting (check with the Allied Climbers of San Diego). McCain Valley is also climbable during summer if you time it right. We used to drive out there at night and climb the next morning before it heated up.

  

plantmandan wrote: Summer is generally the offseason for local outdoor climbing in SD county. Most of the crags there are in the sun and away from the coast. However, you still have options.

Mission Gorge or Santee Boulders can be quite nice in the evening during summer. Poway Crags is in the shade, but the approach can be brutal during summer. Glen Cliff is also in the shade but may be closed due to bird nesting (check with the Allied Climbers of San Diego). McCain Valley is also climbable during summer if you time it right. We used to drive out there at night and climb the next morning before it heated up.

  

Plantman, did you do much bouldering in McCain Valley or just climb on the pinnacle? That is me and the wifey’s favorite bouldering spot right now, you’ve got to look past the choss to find the good boulders but they are there! 

Planning to go camp at McCain this Friday night and to go bouldering Saturday morning if anyone is interested. Not sure if the OP is in town already or not? 

Fan Yang wrote: thanks all! so far i've checked out both mesa rim locations and mira mesa is pretty cool...that aside, i'm only aware of taquitz/suicide coming into season...anywhere else within reasonable driving distance? especially somewhere for a day trip (bouldering is ok too!), but definitely need shade and/or altitude...and for 2+ days? there must be quality stuff closer than Clark mountain or mt. charleston?!

Well you have the entire South Sierra and East Side. In Bishop tons of folks with SD gym tags on harness. But hurry up, once Tioga Pass opens up the ORG and Pine Creek go to over flowing. 

Abogado Chris, yeah I did boulder there frequently and climbed the pinnacle. It has been a while, but I recall the bouldering was quite fun, especially the one with the obvious crack along the road. Lots to explore there.

On the subject of bouldering, Dos Cabezas is really nice as well, although that's in the low desert and more of a winter spot.  

plantmandan wrote: Abogado Chris, yeah I did boulder there frequently and climbed the pinnacle. It has been a while, but I recall the bouldering was quite fun, especially the one with the obvious crack along the road. Lots to explore there.

On the subject of bouldering, Dos Cabezas is really nice as well, although that's in the low desert and more of a winter spot.  

Dos Cabezas was already getting too hot last time I went in March. Valley of the Moon is supposed to be rad as well but my civic can’t make it out there so I have not been yet. Only got half way up that road haha. 

Mira mesa mesa rim is usually a bit less busy I think than mission valley.  They are opening another one in north county next year - san marcos I think so that might help reduce busyness.  Or not, definitely try and avoid that 5-8 period.

Vertical hold is cheaper, shorter, emptier but mainly only a good choice if you live/work close by, I would choose Mesa Rim otherwise despite the busyness.  For bouldering there is vital, grotto and the wall.  Haven't been to any of those.

thanks everyone for your help!