ROCK CLIMBING IN SAN DIEGO

Where to go--The three best spots in San Diego County are:

- Mt. Woodson--Located in the Palomar Mountains, it can challenge experienced rock climbers. Mt. Woodson is crowded on weekends.

- Mission Gorge--Just off the Father Junipero Serra trail near Mission Gorge Road between Mission Valley and Santee, it is known as the businessman’s place to climb. Because of its proximity to the city, many businessmen head out in the summertime after work. There are challenging climbs and areas for bouldering.

- Santee--The Santee boulders, off Carlton Oaks Drive in Santee, is a great place for beginning climbers. Newcomers can learn techniques and get comfortable on the rocks without taking much of a risk.

How to get started--The best way is to sign up for a class. The Leisure Connection at San Diego State has daily and weekend workshops about once a month. A day at Mt. Woodson costs $19 and a weekend trip to Joshua Tree (near Palm Springs) is $29.50. Neither of those fees includes food but does include the use of rock-climbing equipment.

The equipment--The foremost piece is a good pair of rock-climbing shoes. Made with a strong leather sole, the shoes help climbers stick to the rocks. They cost about $90. Also highly recommended is a bag of chalk (similar to that a gymnast might use) to help climbers to get a solid grip.

For more difficult climbs, a rope is used for protection. A standard 165-foot rope costs about $125. Other pieces of equipment, such as “friends and rocks”--used as wedges in the rocks--and carabiners--used to connect ropes to the rocks--help make things safer. These can be purchased for a few dollars apiece.

Only shoes are needed for bouldering. When the climber becomes more advanced, he will need more equipment.