Climber.Org Reference Data

A compendium of knowledge for your edification!

Links on this page point to interesting info, techniques, and databases which contain many pages of data.
Please help us improve this data bank by contacting the webmaster and letting us know what you can contribute.

Here's a quick summary, scroll down to browse longer descriptions of the major databases:
sixteeners.html 16000 ft Peaks in North America
peaks.html 2000 Highest Peaks in AZ, CA, CO, NV, OR, UT, WA, and WY (links to other databases)
highpoints.html 50 State High Points, and a riddle too!
avalanche.html Avalanches and Avalanche Receivers
BearBoxes.html Bear Boxes (food storage lockers) in the Sierra Nevada, with maps and GPS coordinates
biblio.html Bibliography of mountaineering references to read when it's raining buckets and we're indoors.
reviews.html Book Reviews for books that contributors read and enjoyed.
ClimberExpectations.html Climbing Partner Expectations (a checklist to avoid misunderstandings)
DesertPeaks.html Desert Peaks List (99 summits, with map and GPS data)
DesertPeaks.html First Aid training opportunities.
glossary.html Glossary of Slang for climbing and mountaineering.
hotlinks.html Hot Links for Climbers (other organizations and useful sites)
HotSprings.html Hot Springs list from the Angeles Chapter.
LiabilityWaiver.pdf Liability Waiver for climbing peers Acrobat PDF (high quality) or plain text (fast and easy)
OGUL Peaks List Peaks and Gorges Section List (Tahoe OGUL Peaks List)
RangerContacts.html Ranger Stations in CA (contact information, address and phone)
showers.html Showers near the Sierra Nevada (places to clean up near trailheads)
shuttles.html Shuttle Service for the Sierra Nevada (transportation for trailheads)
SierraPeaks.html Sierra Nevada Peaks List (280+ summits, with map and GPS data)
weather.html Thunderstorm Prediction
geodetic.html UTMs and Degrees (a Geodetic Data Primer)
weather.html Weather - forecasts and history
weatherInTheRockies.html Weather Hazards in the Colorado Front Range
Wisdom.html Words of Wisdom from greater climbers and greater thinkers than us.
decimal.html Yosemite Decimal System for climbing difficulty (What's a class 4 climb? What's a 5.6?)
Some items that used to be here are now on the gear and techniques page.


Longer Descriptions of the Major Databases:

peaks.html AZ, CA, CO, NV, OR, UT, WA, and WY Peaks (about 2000 summits/state, links to other databases)
This database contains merged data from the Climber.Org Sierra Peaks database, Ron Karpel's peak pictures, and the USGS geographic feature database. Entries from all three databases are merged and presented so you can easily browse for the peak you are interested in. Coordinates and elevations are given, along with map and county names. Use these links to view online maps, jump into the original databases, etc.

DesertPeaks.html Desert Peaks List (99+ summits, with map and GPS data)
SierraPeaks.html Sierra Nevada Peaks List (280+ summits, with map and GPS data)
These database contain almost 300 peaks in the California Sierra Nevada, and about 100 in the southwestern deserts, complete with GPS coordinates, height, climbing difficulty, map names, area maps, and links to photos and detailed maps. They are supersets of the Sierra Club's 'Sierra Peaks List' and 'Desert Peaks List' with the extra peaks marked so you can find 'The List' peaks. Information on current register conditions and needs is included, including contact information if you want to report a full summit register and/or volunteer to replace one.

BearBoxes.html Bear Boxes in the backcountry (food storage lockers, with GPS coordinates)
This database contains well over 100 food storage locker locations, gleaned from rangers and hikers over several years. Each box is plotted on an area map, with GPS coordinates when known. Some of the boxes are NOT documented by the official websites or at the trailheads, and are here because people like you took notes and took the time to contact us. Please help by sending GPS coordinates (or even marked maps) along with a text description of how to find the box. Remember that people may be looking for them in the winter or after dark, and give as much detail as you can.

RangerContacts.html Ranger Station contact information (address and phone)
This database is a compilation of contact information from several sources. It lists some features so you can search for the place you're going and find the right place to apply for a permit or get more information. We're always looking for more place names, update us whenever you use this file. More and more parks and forests are putting up websites, so send us URLs and email info in addition to phone number updates.

showers.html Sierra Nevada Showers (places to clean up near trailheads)
Cleaning up! Most entries are for the Eastern Sierra, but contributions are requested for other areas. These are places where you can pay for a shower (some coin-op, some pay-at-the-register). Prices and availability may change, so help us keep up to date!

shuttles.html Sierra Nevada Shuttles (transportation for trailheads)
Getting home! Most entries are for the Eastern Sierra, but contributions are requested for other areas. These are places where you can pay for a ride. Prices and availability may change, so help us keep up to date!