Bishop Bouldering (and a few extra questions)

Hi guys,

I'm planning on visiting Bishop around mid to end of March next year (most likely on my own) and I have a few questions.

1. Will it be too cold to boulder?  I appreciate it will be on the cooler side but will it be COLD cold?

2. I know Bishop is famous for it's highballs but is there still enough for a solo boulderer to get stuck in to?  I've been in touch with a local outdoor shop that rent pads so I'll probably rent 2 or 3.

3. Will the hiking trails around be acessible?  I don't want to climb every day, I'd love to hit a few trails so would like to know if any around the area are likely to open and acessible in March or will they be snowed under etc?

Thank you in advanmce for any info and advice that you're able to provide :-) 

I lived in my unbuilt minivan in Bishop for 2 winters. It will certainly not be too cold to climb. Winter is peak bouldering season. You may get cold at night, but there is loads of bouldering in the sun and you will be fine. There may even be a snowstorm or two but it melts out very quickly. 

Bishop has an enormous number of climbs, so many will be high, many low, and many in between. You can choose what suits you. You will likely be able to jump in with groups and use their pads too. Spring break can be incredibly busy. I never had more than one pad with me. 

There are so many trails. Enough of them will be melted out, but snowy if you continue into the high mountains. You'll have plenty to do. Have fun.  

1. nope. cold nights, but days are sunny unless it's storming.

2. I work at said rental shop :) With a large pad or 2, there's WAY more volume than you can climb in a season.

3. High-elevation stuff will probably be inaccessible unless you're on skis or snowshoes, but there's a lot of other stuff down low

Simon Mrowiec wrote:

1. nope. cold nights, but days are sunny unless it's storming.

2. I work at said rental shop :) With a large pad or 2, there's WAY more volume than you can climb in a season.

3. High-elevation stuff will probably be inaccessible unless you're on skis or snowshoes, but there's a lot of other stuff down low

Hey, thanks for the reply and so sorry for the late response from me.

Awesome, I'll be sure to swing by the shop and say hello :-) 

Any trails that are lower elevatio nthat you would recommend?