Pictures coming eventually. I have changed jobs and don't have access to a working scanner now.

Dave and I hadn't been climbing (outside the gym) since we went to Big Bear in October. Now that my baby was born and I was on vacation, I managed to take a day and climb. I picked Dave up around 7:00am on Thurday and we headed up the 15 but we did not know where we were going to climb. It was a toss up between Apple Valley (I will get some pictures next time we go) and Williamson Rock. We had been having rather warm and dry weather for January so we knew that Apple Valley would be warm and snow free. We did not know if Williamson would be the same. We stopped at the McDonalds at the 15 and 138 to grab some food. Looking at the mountains towards Wrightwood, there did not seem to be any snow so we decided we would take the 2 (Angeles Crest Highway) to Williamson Rock which about 7000 feet above sea level.

We were lucky in our guess. There was very little snow and it was rather warm once we got to the parking area. It wasn't very windy either. We took the long hike down the valley to the bottom of the climbs. The change in altitude was affecting us slightly (about 6500 foot difference from an hour earlier). We started on a climb called Warm Up which is a very pumpy 5.8. Even though it was one of the easiest rated climbs of the day we did, it was difficult for reasons I am not sure of. Next we moved farther down stream and did a set of climbs all in a row. I beleive it went 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.9, 5.10. By the time we had finished the 5.10 both Dave and I were bleeding pretty well (sign of a good day of climbing). We were also pretty worn out and Dave had to get back so we started hiking out. This was the most difficult part of the trip. I can not say for sure how many vertical feet it was because my GPS wouldn't work in the valley, but I would guess it was atleast 500 feet over a very short trail. We got in the Geo and headed back to Orange County.

This was my first trip to Williamson. I hope to go back some time soon. We were the only people there on that day. Next time I hope that there are some others there doing some of the nice 5.11 routes.