Climbing Echo Cliffs

Yesterday we returned from an overnight backpacking trip (more on that later)...And a few weeks ago we rock climbed at Echo Cliffs in the Santa Monica Mountains.The hike in is about 2 miles and pretty arduous. There is rock scrambling, steep slopes of rocks to the path and a ladder. Yes, a rebar ladder. But it's gorgeous and fun and totally worth the energy. Plus, the difficulty of the approach keeps the place from being over-run by climbers, which is awesome, because it's some of the best sport climbing in Los Angeles.We climbed 2 routes on Easy Street. It some of the most enjoyable climbing I've done. The routes we were on are actually two pitches, and then could be top-roped, but no one felt good enough to lead the second pitch (it was very hot and the hike in was tiring). So we climbed the first pitch of the 2 routes. Our friend set up a top belay, so I got to tie in and hang out up there while he belayed H. Very fun. To top it off, H led his first climb!We decided to pack it up earlier than we liked due to the hike out and plans to grab food at Neptune's Net. There is nothing like a plate of peel and eat shrimp and a cold beer after a 4m hike and rock climbing.It was the perfect was to spend a Saturday.