nervedoc Posted January 10, 2002 Posted January 10, 2002 Today I tried to go check out Fossil Rock, only to be turned away by Billy Bob Logger. OK I'm new to Tacoma so, is this place always a pain in the rear, or am I just lucky. Is there any other rock around the south puget sound or the Kitsap penninsula area? Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted January 10, 2002 Posted January 10, 2002 I think there is some sandstone slabs near Wilkeson. Ask Lucky ..... Quote
rat Posted January 10, 2002 Posted January 10, 2002 ya gotta lot a nerve there, doc. who you callin' billy bob? Quote
erik Posted January 10, 2002 Posted January 10, 2002 for the most part fossil is a couple times kinda crag. you go a couple times and you are done. the sandstone towards wilkeson is more of a practice area used by learning institutions and a local guide service. fossil sits on weyherhauser land and wilkeson on champion land. they both are controlled logging areas and are subject to be closed or open without any public warning. if you really want to climb at fossil. park your car at the junction of the k-line and bald hills road and start riding your bike. just go to north bend if you want to sport climb and go to index if you want to do some real climbing. email if you want more info Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted January 10, 2002 Posted January 10, 2002 I disagree with Erik. Fossil is ever changing: Not with mass amounts of development but with holds. They seem to fall of everywhere changing ratings Quote
panther Posted January 11, 2002 Posted January 11, 2002 Dude there's ALWAYS the Spire! You can meet Bad Teeth Dan! Just keep an eye on your wallet and cornhole! Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted January 11, 2002 Posted January 11, 2002 Squire ROck is the best. Crisco Slab and gumby death harness land. How about that guys aussie rappelling off his gear loops Quote
LUCKY Posted January 11, 2002 Posted January 11, 2002 Dude Fossil is choss and i wouldn't go there only bumblies like me that get elvisleg on 5.7 go there . and if you go there you will miss the roar of the freeway and rain at exit 38.If you do go park at the 1000 rd gate #202 and bike in or park at the end of peissner road and go up the 4000 road for a more clandestine approach.Dude its way podunk and I would advise getting a local for your first trip. Quote
Jens Posted January 12, 2002 Posted January 12, 2002 Fossil is mostly a pile garbage but had one crag that was simply incredible. every single bolt and anchor got chopped abou t 12 years ago beacuse it was a "sensitive" area on DNR land. I haven't been to the "sensitive" crag since it was chopped 10 years ago, but the crag had soaring euro sty le walls and was better than WW1 or WW2 for pure stamina training. It had a few drilled pockets but zero bolted on holds. It was tall also, 2 pitches. To bad it is a crag of yesteryear. I still have dreams about the place. Per haps one of WA best. PS . Anybody no how to get to the Champion stuff at Wileson? It won't screw it up. Quote
mikeadam Posted January 12, 2002 Posted January 12, 2002 Jens, is that the wall that sits above Ottoman Empire which had that red sling dangling from the fixed knifeblade? Mike Quote
Sean_Halling Posted January 12, 2002 Posted January 12, 2002 I don't know the exact roads but I will give a shot at describing the way to Wilkenson. Near the end of the town there is a Y. To the right takes you to Ipsut. You wanna go left where the old historical school is. You follow this road for a mile or so, until you see an obvious main gravel logging road on the right. You follow this up (watch out for logging trucks roaring down just barely in control) until you come to an intersection. Stay to the left going past a gravel pit. This is only a mile or so from the paved road. You then see a flat cleared out area to your right where they store logs. You can see the crags at the far end of the clearing on a small hill. Keep going on the road until you are near the northeast corner opf the flat log storage area. You can park near a gate here. The the east a little ways from the gate is a trail up to the crags. This is by no means exact but it's how I found itand remember how to get to it. Quote
Backcountry Posted January 12, 2002 Posted January 12, 2002 Yeah and just ignore the bullet pock marks all over those faces...its only the local yahoos...their aim isnt so good so dont worry...Halling and I have done some laps out there and never ran into problems...Halling's on it with the getting-there... Quote
Smoky_Mcpot Posted January 12, 2002 Posted January 12, 2002 Fossil may be a little on the choss side ( the huge protruding holds)but the view of Rainer is killer the approach is like cross traning and the area has the feel of Hobbit habitat. YODA hangs at Fossil Quote
johnny Posted January 14, 2002 Posted January 14, 2002 If you go to wilkeson, be sure to park at the OUTSIDE the gate just before the gravel pit. It can be locked and it would suck to be on the wrong side of it! Just walk 100 yards and then right through the pit and find the trail on the far side. Don't underestimate this place, Most of the bolts are new and if you like slabby friction it rocks! The first slab you come to is for the most part pretty easy. The far right line has a cool mantle move, maybe .9 or so and there is a double bulge line smack in the middle of the slab that is really cool. It is only .5 if you go around the bulges but solid .9 or low 10 if you go direct. (Can we call it "Battle of the Bulge"??) The first line you see on the extreme left side of the slab I call "bulletholes" and is great fun, especially if you only use the holes and none of the flakes or crimps. (.7 with, .9+ without) There are a couple of lines on the far end that will make you think. (around .9+ or low .10) The last route just before the big overhang is quite thin and steep, I still have yet to get it. It might go around hard .11. Actually I have never been there......... Quote
Crackfiendcarla Posted January 15, 2002 Posted January 15, 2002 Where is Fossil? I'm one of those pathetic climbers that gets Elvisleg on a 5.7, so it's probably perfect for me. Thanks for the info on Wilkeson. Any other south-end climbing advice would be most appreciated as well. Quote
johnny Posted January 15, 2002 Posted January 15, 2002 Whoa there! I mistook this thread for the wilkeson one. Oooops!!! Fossil is cool too, if you have lots of forearm strength. Seems like I had more of that when I was single. Hmmmmm..... Carla, If you like Elvis, go to Wilkeson, the problems there are more foot oriented. In climbing, footwork breeds success!!!!!!! Quote
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