daisy Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 Hello out there! I just moved to Washington from California and love to sport climb. I was looking for some good places to climb at. Where can I get some guidebooks and other info? Are there any gyms around Walla Walla? Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 Fossil Rock is bad ass! There are books at Vworld in Seattle. Quote
Lambone Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 I thought you hated VW caveman??? Anyway, did you take advantage of the free admission for Veterans on Monday? Quote
sexual_chocolate Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 I tried to find fossil rock once; found a big boulder with rocks and plastic screwed on. Is there more, and where is it? I walked out the dirt road until I saw the big bolted boulder on my right, down in the gully. Where's the rest, and is a winter visit worth it? Anything stay dry? Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 I did not. How was I supposed to prove I was a veteran? Wear my medals? Quote
Dru Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 i'm sure if you told them you had ~1700 posts on cc.com they would let you in for free any time Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 quote: Originally posted by sexual chocolate: I tried to find fossil rock once; found a big boulder with rocks and plastic screwed on. Is there more, and where is it? I walked out the dirt road until I saw the big bolted boulder on my right, down in the gully. Where's the rest, and is a winter visit worth it? Anything stay dry? You're missing out on some cool stuff. Check out Boyal Bobbins Bunny climb! You should have went up and left....... Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 quote: Originally posted by Dru: i'm sure if you told them you had ~1700 posts on cc.com they would let you in for free any time Hi, I am one of the biggest blabbermouths on the internet website. I constantly talk trash about your establishment! Can I come in and play? Quote
Lambone Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 Sure, here is a list of our daily rates. Peace Out Quote
johnny Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 Daisy, you are closer to Smith Rocks than most of us, especially me! It is just south in Oregon. Beacon rock beckons also, just drive downstream, if your driving on the Washington side its on the left. If you lived in North Carolina like I do now, one guidebook covers the whole state with equal amounts of vagueness. Since you live way out west, pick a climbing area and sure as shit someone has written a guidebook about it. Spoiled? Hmmmmmmm, I kinda liked it actually...... Why Walla Walla? Its not wet enough! If you ever find yourself in the Yelm area (are you listening sexy chocolate?) Fossil Rock is actually pretty cool for a good crank. Many of the routes stay dry even in the pouring rain. Good luck staying dry on the approach though. Leave your ethics at the door please, its all bolts with added bonus holds though. Get Yoder & Ford's Guidebook and ride your bike instead of walk the aproach road, save yourself an hour. Nothing much over 5.12 but if you are like me that is PLENTY!! A cool thing to do is to crash on the top of the rock. There is some good bouldering just down Madrona gulley (the route to the top) Noone really does it so you are likely to have the rock to yourself. Good views, relatively quite, a great place to relax and......... Quote
Lambone Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 Ok, back on the topic. In the interest of Daisyies question: Probably the best guide for the state is Washington Rock Climbs by Jeff Smoot, published by Falcon Press. Some may argue, but it is the cheapest way to get a comprehensive guide book. The pictures are good, and the route descriptions are fairly accurate. The major drawbacks of this book are - 1. it's outdated. 2. it has only a limited selection of routes.3. it's big and heavy to carry in the pack.4. it's published by the evil Falcon empire. Local guide books are also available. There is one for Fossil Rock, Exit-32+38, Sky Valley(index), Leavenworthless, etc. Unfortunately the old book for Frenchmans Coulee (vantage)is out of print. Authors are working on an updated version, of this as well as other seattle area guide books. sorry, don't know much about Walla Walla. Have fun! Quote
daisy Posted November 14, 2001 Author Posted November 14, 2001 lambone- Thanks. You have a funny name...... Quote
Lambone Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 Keep your mind out of the gutter! It was supposed to be Lambone, but for some reason it wouldn't let me registered it with capitol letters. Have fun, there is lots of great rock climbing to be had in the PNW. Investigate Tieton this winter! [ 11-14-2001: Message edited by: lambone ] Quote
Peter_Puget Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 The use of man made holds has unfortunately placed a shadow over the entire Fossil area. The Boyal Robbins Wall Area mentioned by Cavey is pretty much a "natural" area with climbs offering a wide range of difficulties. The climbing at Boyal Robbins is not unlike that at Smith Rocks. Just don't think holes, think funcky rocks sticking out all over the place. The routes there are less than half a rope length and are pretty fun. My faves are the .11a pictured in the Smoot guide and the arete just to its right. While it would be possible to climb some of the routes in a light rain my guess is that most of the routes at the BR Wall would not be climbable in the rain. Due to the limited (at least if you eschew bolt-ons) amount of climbing and the length of the approach unless you just want to go exploring I would think twice about going there unless you live nearby. By the way to put that last recommendation into perspective:I don't live in the area and planned on going there a week ago. Quote
Matt Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 Daisy, According to Jeff Smoot's web site there is a new Vantage guide scheduled to come out soon. Does anyone have the inside scoop on this? http://climbingwashington.com/routeinfo/#Vantage Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted November 14, 2001 Posted November 14, 2001 Way out there you are probably better off hitting Vantage. I never have been to the other places out there. The WA Rock Climbs book has not so detailed info as well as a large number of areas covered though. Beckey went to Vantage so it has to be at least ok! Quote
Terminal_Gravity Posted November 15, 2001 Posted November 15, 2001 Daisy, You're less than 2 hours from the Wallowa Mountains/ Eagle Cap Wilderness. There is more climbing out here than Smith, Fossil & Vantage combined. It is, however, all trad and wild or virgin rock. I am always looking for a rope partner. Let me know if you want to climb. Free Beer PS - Where from in CA? [ 11-14-2001: Message edited by: Terminal Gravity ] Quote
Matt Posted November 15, 2001 Posted November 15, 2001 Kevin Pogue is a geology professor at Whitman College. He has a website outlining rock climbing areas close to Walla Walla. Whitman also has a decent climbing wall, as far as I know the only one in Walla2. http://people.whitman.edu/~pogue/climbing.html By far the coolest sport climbing area near Wally World is Spring Mountain. Try and get there before it's covered in snow! Quote
daisy Posted November 15, 2001 Author Posted November 15, 2001 Matt-That is a pretty good website. Thank you very much. I have heard of Vantage and saw it on the map at the website. Is it easy to find? If the guide is outdated how do I get one Quote
Lambone Posted November 15, 2001 Posted November 15, 2001 I have also heard that Spring mountain is really nice. You won't be able to get a Vantage guide, unless you stumble across an old copy somewhere. There is info on the popular routes at vantage in both Washington rock Climbs, and Jim Nelson's Selected Climbs in the Cascades II. Vantage is easy to find, it is near The Gorge Ampitheater. hope that helps. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.