| El Potrero Chico | | | | operates from the West coast. Both of these |
| | | | services offer American Mountain Guides |
| I've been hopelessly misled for years. I | | | | Association certified rock guides. Also |
| sincerely believed that the best winter | | | | available is a guide service that operates |
| climbing areas in North America were in | | | | seasonally out of Posadas managed by a fellow |
| Joshua Tree, CA and Red Rocks, NV. I was | | | | by the name of Andy. |
| wrong. I have just returned from El Potrero | | | | |
| Chico in Mexico and it is my pleasure to | | | | Stop going to Joshua Tree for the winter cold |
| report that I have found a truly amazing | | | | and crowds festival. Get you and your friends |
| place. Picture a towering limestone canyon | | | | down to some warm sport climbing in Mexico! |
| tucked away from the bustle of developers and | | | | I'll see you there... |
| hidden in the sleepy country of Mexico. Rock | | | | |
| towers two thousand feet high, warm 11 hour | | | | Rock Climbing the Incredible Hulk, Positive |
| winter days and more bolt protected sport | | | | Vibrations, Sierra Nevada California |
| climbs than one could possibly count. | | | | |
| | | | From Apply Now, |
| How to Get There The best way to get there | | | | |
| from the West coast is to fly into Monterrey, | | | | Your Guide to Climbing. |
| Mexico. From there, you can arrange for an | | | | |
| airport pick-up by a staff member from one of | | | | FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! |
| the accommodations listed below. | | | | |
| | | | The Incredible Hulk is one of the best alpine |
| From the Mid-west or East coast, many people | | | | rock climbing formations I have ever climbed |
| endure the long drive. | | | | on. The rock is comprised of clean compact |
| | | | granite that rivals many of the routes found |
| Where to Stay Homeros and Posadas are the two | | | | in Yosemite Valley. The Hulk host many |
| main places to stay. Drop them an email or | | | | challenging routes for the advanced rock |
| give a call to arrange reservations and | | | | climber, including the Red Dihedral and |
| airport pickups. | | | | Positive Vibrations which are the two |
| | | | moderate lines on the main face. |
| What Gear To Bring You will need car camping | | | | |
| style gear if you are staying in one of the | | | | The Hulk is located in the Sawtooth Range of |
| ranch style accommodations. There are small | | | | the Sierra Nevada mountains which is located |
| family run restaurants in the Potrero as well | | | | just outside of the town of Bridgeport, CA. |
| as community style kitchens and cook areas. | | | | The approach is moderate compared to many |
| At Homero's you will need to bring stoves as | | | | backcountry formations in the Sierras taking |
| well as cookware, while at Posadas you just | | | | only about three and a half hours. |
| need cookware and food. | | | | |
| | | | The formation itself is over 1000 feet in |
| The climbing gear you need to bring is rather | | | | height and offers between 8-12 pitches of |
| simple. Bring twenty draws (with a few long | | | | climbing. Standing at the base of positive |
| slings mixed in) and a 60mm rope. A 70mm rope | | | | vibrations, I believed the climb would be |
| can be helpful to link rappels and pitches. | | | | done in no time. |
| Make sure to bring comfortable climbing shoes | | | | |
| for the long moderate routes as well as your | | | | I realize afterwards, I had under estimated |
| tight sport shoes. A helmet is a must due to | | | | the formations formidable size. After six |
| the abundance of other climbers and the | | | | pitches of full value technical climbing I |
| sometimes loose limestone. Sport climbing | | | | started to wonder when the climb was going to |
| with a helmet, go figure... | | | | let up. By the ridge line after pitch 8, I |
| | | | was grinning from ear to ear but ready for |
| When To Go I visited the Potrero in early | | | | the climb to end. |
| January and the weather was fantastic. From | | | | |
| my understanding, the Potrero is too hot in | | | | Peter croft, Author of The Good, The Great |
| the spring and fall. Also, the New Years | | | | and The Awesome which is the best guide book |
| party is always a good time. | | | | for the area, put up a new hard route last |
| | | | year on the Hulk. The route is rated 5.12D or |
| Guide Services There a couple choices of | | | | so, and looks absolutely difficult. You can |
| professional guides that know the area. | | | | get a good view of the climb while on |
| | | | Positive Vibrations, 5.11a. Below is a link |
| Mooney Mountain Guides operates from the East | | | | to the brief description of that ascent in |
| Coast of the US and California Alpine Guides | | | | Alpinist. |