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Stoney Point (California)
Encyclopedia
Stoney Point, also known as the Stoney Point Outcroppings, is a city park near the north end of Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Route 27
) in Chatsworth, California (part of the city of Los Angeles
). It is famous with rock climbers because of its large boulders, which afford many opportunities to practice the sport of bouldering
, and many routes of different levels of difficulty have been developed. The proximity to the road allows access to bouldering without any hiking if desired. The top of the rock formation offers excellent views of Chatsworth, the Santa Susana Mountains
, and the entire San Fernando Valley
.
until the 1790s, with Spanish invasion. It was used as a marker by the Southern Pacific Railroad during construction of the railroad through the Santa Susana Mountains
. It is also said to have been used as a hideout by the outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez
in the 1870s.
. In the '50s and '60s pioneering rock-climbers Royal Robbins
and Yvon Chouinard
learned to climb at Stoney Point.
From 1959 to 1995 one of Americas most accomplished climbers Bob Kamps was a regular to be seen on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. He was always available to teach anyone his art, as was another monumental free-solo climber Michael Reardon.
In the '70s the Stonemasters (a local group of climbers determined to put their own stamp on the sport of rock climbing) also frequented Stoney Point.
Stoney Point has a long history of association with rock climbing and bouldering yet there are few first ascent
s recorded. This may be because it is viewed as a practice area and therefore not significant from a first ascent point of view.
Pile Ups- offers a traverse up the arete of the boulder.
Turlock - highball bouldering with an anchor on top for the top ropers. Features famous climbs such as the "Crowd Pleaser" and "Crystal Ball"
B1 Boulder - High difficulty climbs such as "Master of Reality", "The Crack", and "Titty F$@k"
Stoney Point Documentary
California State Route 27
State Route 27 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that runs from Pacific Coast Highway at Topanga State Beach near Pacific Palisades, through Topanga Canyon including the community of Fernwood Pacific also known as Topanga, and continuing through Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, West...
) in Chatsworth, California (part of the city of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
). It is famous with rock climbers because of its large boulders, which afford many opportunities to practice the sport of bouldering
Bouldering
Bouldering is a style of rock climbing undertaken without a rope and normally limited to very short climbs over a crash pad so that a fall will not result in serious injury. It is typically practiced on large natural boulders or artificial boulders in gyms and outdoor urban areas...
, and many routes of different levels of difficulty have been developed. The proximity to the road allows access to bouldering without any hiking if desired. The top of the rock formation offers excellent views of Chatsworth, the Santa Susana Mountains
Santa Susana Mountains
The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south, from Santa Clara River Valley to the north, and Santa Clarita...
, and the entire San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
.
History
Stoney Point is the site of a Tongva Indian rancheriaRanchería
The Spanish word ranchería, or rancherío, refers to a small, rural settlement. In the Americas the term was applied to native villages and to the workers' quarters of a ranch. English adopted the term with both these meanings, usually to designate the residential area of a rancho in the American...
until the 1790s, with Spanish invasion. It was used as a marker by the Southern Pacific Railroad during construction of the railroad through the Santa Susana Mountains
Santa Susana Mountains
The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south, from Santa Clara River Valley to the north, and Santa Clarita...
. It is also said to have been used as a hideout by the outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez
Tiburcio Vasquez
Tiburcio Vásquez was a Californio bandit who was active in California from 1854 to 1874. The Vasquez Rocks, 40 miles north of Los Angeles, were one of his many hideouts and are named for him.-Early life:...
in the 1870s.
Rock climbing
Climbing development began at Stoney Point in the 1930s when it was discovered by young climbers then active in the Sierra ClubSierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
. In the '50s and '60s pioneering rock-climbers Royal Robbins
Royal Robbins
Royal Robbins is one of the pioneers of American rock climbing. After learning to climb at Tahquitz he went on to make first ascents of many big wall routes in Yosemite...
and Yvon Chouinard
Yvon Chouinard
Yvon Chouinard is a rock climber, environmentalist and outdoor industry businessman, noted for his contributions to climbing, climbing equipment and the outdoor gear business. His second company, Patagonia is known for its environmental focus...
learned to climb at Stoney Point.
In the '70s the Stonemasters (a local group of climbers determined to put their own stamp on the sport of rock climbing) also frequented Stoney Point.
Stoney Point has a long history of association with rock climbing and bouldering yet there are few first ascent
First ascent
In climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
s recorded. This may be because it is viewed as a practice area and therefore not significant from a first ascent point of view.
Boulders
Boulder 1 area- featuring famous bouldering climbs such as "leaping lizards", "Yabo's Mantle" and "three pigs"Pile Ups- offers a traverse up the arete of the boulder.
Turlock - highball bouldering with an anchor on top for the top ropers. Features famous climbs such as the "Crowd Pleaser" and "Crystal Ball"
B1 Boulder - High difficulty climbs such as "Master of Reality", "The Crack", and "Titty F$@k"
See also
- Tongva settlements
- History of the San Fernando Valley to 1915History of the San Fernando Valley to 1915The history of the San Fernando Valley from its exploration by the 1769 Portola expedition to the annexation of much of it by the City of Los Angeles in 1915 is a story of booms and busts, as cattle ranching, sheep ranching, large-scale wheat farming, and fruit orchards flourished and faded...
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in the San Fernando Valley
External links
Stoney Point Documentary