Winston Peak Rock Climbing

Elevation: 6,850' - 7,400'
Seasons: 🌸, ☀️, 🍁
Routes: 3 or 6
Problems: 100+

Winston is my new favorite spot to boulder in the summer. It's higher than Horse Flats or John Henge so it's just a little colder. It seems windier which feels nice in the summer. Climbing the last few hours in to sunset on the east slopes is amazing.

Map

Black - The Westside
Green - Lower Area
Grey - Carpet Boulders (Robbie Brown Boulders)
Yellow - Flat Area (Landmark)
Light Blue - Middle Area
Red - Steve's Secret Stash (Upper Area)
Orange - Northeast Area

The Bobcat Fire ripped through this area in 2020 and it is still evident years later. You can see charred sections of manzanita and other burnt trees. The fire has left a fine dust on the ground and my bouldering pads and other gear get vaccuumed after a visit or two. It also gets in my car, all over my ankles and shins, and it's fun to see how much dirt comes off in the shower.

"Named after L.C. 'Lid' Winston (n.d.). According to S.B. Show, Winston was a Pasadena banker, who was caught in a blizzard while on a hunting trip in these mountains. His frozen remains were later discovered on this ridge (1900). Later the high point was named Winston Peak, and then extended to the neighboring ridge. Peak called 'Mount Winston' on the original HPS List." -Louis Quirarte, "Summit Signatures: The Origins of Southern California Peak Names"

Directions

For the Lower Area, park in the lower area. For the Middle Area, Upper Area (Steve's Secret Stash), and North East Area, park at Cloudburst. And between these, there is also a good parking spot for the Robbie Brown Boulders (aka Carpet Boulders).

Lower Boulder Parking GPS: 34.352878, -117.944443

Cloudburst Parking GPS: 34.351382, -117.934257

From the Shell gas station in La Cañada head north on the Angeles Crest Highway, aka The 2, for 32.1 miles.

Hukaht Canyon

"In 2022, the derogatory term “squaw” that had been used for numerous geographic locations across the U.S. was scrubbed from federal use. The label was removed from 80 geographic features in California, ending its long history of offensive use in an official context. It has been used throughout history as a deeply derogatory ethnic and sexist slur, particularly against Indigenous and Native women.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve a cabinet secretary, carried out the removal of the term. She directed the Board on Geographic Names to terminate using the term and implement name changes proposed by a task force.

Ultimately, nearly 650 geographic sites, including the 80 in California, were renamed.

Thus, one of the names in the San Gabriels became eligible for change. A canyon in the backcountry was renamed from Squaw Canyon to Hukaht Canyon. “Hukaht” means “deer” in Serrano, the language of the Serrano people, who are one of the Indigenous inhabitants of the San Gabriel Mountains." - Angeles Adventures

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