The boulder approach
In the far northwest region of Los Angeles County in the Valley, an outcropping of picturesque sandstone rocks bubbles over the landscape. These boulders captivated a local Burbank falconer and budding entrepreneur named Yvon Chouinard, who at the age of 15, spent many a weekend, often barefoot, on the Stoney Point crag learning to rock climb and rappel. As a falconer, Chouinard had to be able to lower himself down to aeries using ropes to capture a falcon to train, a practice still used today under strict apprenticeship with the California Hawking Association. Chouinard’s early experiences at Stoney Point sparked a lifelong love of the natural world and extreme mountain climbing, which spawned his creation of the successful outdoor equipment and clothing company Patagonia.
But one need not have all that ambition to enjoy the bouldering and hikes at Stoney Point, only a bit of fortitude to park on Topanga Canyon Boulevard to the west and Canoga Avenue to the east. (Exit your car on the non-traffic side for safety.)
Info
Address Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Canoga Avenue south of 118 Freeway, Chatsworth, CA 91311 | Getting there Unmetered street parking on Topanga Canyon Boulevard to the west and Canoga Avenue to the east. Never leave valuables visible in the car. | Hours Daily, sunrise to sunset| Tip Modernist real-estate developer Joseph Eichler built 108 homes from 1963 to 1964 in an area of Granada Hills known as the Balboa Highlands (Balboa Boulevard and Lisette Street, Los Angeles, CA 91344). Drive or walk through the neighborhood to see the signature glass entryways and sloped roofs.
Mild hikes can be accessed from almost any starting location and hikers can watch climbers crawl over massive rocks. Or, embrace your inner Chouinard and scale the boulders yourself. The sport of bouldering involves climbing without ropes and harnesses for typically short ascents, often 20 feet or less (we aren’t talking free climbing up the face of Half Dome in Yosemite here).
If you’d like a bit of guidance or have a desire to climb and rappel, local REI stores often offer classes for a fee that includes gear – ropes and harnesses for rappelling, optional mats for bouldering, and specifically designed climbing shoes with a softer rubber covering the toe and arch for added grip (visit www. rei.com/learn for more information). But don’t be surprised if you see Stoney Point climbers foregoing shoes altogether, just as Chouinard once did.
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