Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 OK, so here is the deal. Dr. and Mrs. Flash Amazing did a short overnight backpackin' trip up to Ramona Falls on Friday evening, taking the short leg (up the Sandy River) of the Ramona Falls Loop up to the falls, and returning via the slightly longer trail down Ramona Creek. Now, starting about 15 minutes or so down the trail from the falls (give or take; the Doc wasn't watching the time too closely), and continuing for several hundred yards, there is a cliff band of basalt on the side of the crick opposite the trail. It looks to vary from about 60 to 100+ feet in height, and seems to be comprised of huge exfoliatin' flakes (forgive DFA's not-too-geology-wise description) and large, clean, sweeping faces, as opposed to the usual columnar stuff. Light grey with lots of water streaks in places, and bulging out toward the top, a bit of it looks limestonesque from the trail. Unfortunately, the Amazing family had to book it back to town for a friend's wedding that afternoon, so there was no up-close or extensive gawking, but there's obviously a shitload of rock to be climbed up there, and it looked, for the most part, to be very solid (from a distance of perhaps 30 yards). So, knowing that this is a ridiculously popular hike, this crag has obviously been explored, and knowing that y'all folks get out into the wild unpaved yonder far more often than yours truly, someone has gotta know something about this fine-looking slice of volcanic goodness. Perhaps someone or some someones might be interested in sharing something? Beta, perhaps? A guidebook that might mention the place? Anyway, it made DFA want to pick up some of them trad widgets and sew up some crax, or hike to the top and rig some nice TRs off the handy cliffside trees. Anyone? Anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lummox Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 as if. check it out you own lazy self Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted July 28, 2003 Author Share Posted July 28, 2003 Come on, come on. Fo' sheezy, someone's gotta know somethin'. Shit loox hot up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 is ramona creek in renton? i heard there is a nice crag there next to the school in a ravine.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_White Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 Awww Dru, you're such a hard bastard. Everyone knows the real deal is in Tenino... PS: sorry DFA, no knowledge offerings. How close is it to Mt. Hood, might Iain know something about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted July 30, 2003 Author Share Posted July 30, 2003 It's off Lolo Pass Road, which is the road one takes from Zig Zag out to French's Dome. Come on, you punters. Spill the beta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 Lots of climbers have looked at that thing , though it has yet to see much exploration. Tim and I did a mixed route there a dozen or so years ago. Thats all I know. Break out your drill ,D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted July 30, 2003 Author Share Posted July 30, 2003 It's in a wilderness area -- no new fixed anchors allowed right? Or no drilling? Or is it just no power drilling in the wilderness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 no power drilling in the wilderness...you can hand drill....and remember to use neutral colored webbing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 You will be drawn and quartered if you start drilling up there, guaranteed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 iain said: You will be drawn and quartered if you start drilling up there, guaranteed. DFA, just think of the marketing aspect of this?? a little dfa in every bottle. true send power!!!! we can talk figures later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal_Burton Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 I've scoped that thing while on a hike couple years back. Looked like pro would be difficult, and thus, i'm imagining, the reason for waynes mixed route. Didn't look like it had open cracks like Lamberson, but it does sport some impressive sweeping overhangs if I remember correctly. Always meant to head back there to try some aid on it and check things out. Being as its right off of one of Hood's most popular hikes AND in a wilderness area, I don't think it would be a place for bolted lines of chalk caked holds. Get off the beaten path for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbw1966 Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 Some of the climbs for that area are listed in Olson's Portland Rock Climbs. Its on my list of places to check out as there is at least one route I can climb (5.9). I assumed this was a troll as I am sure the good doctor has a copy of PRC so didn't respond sooner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted July 31, 2003 Author Share Posted July 31, 2003 Dr. Flash Amazing is, as could be expected, equipped with all the latest crag reference materials, and is encyclopaedically versed in each (naturally). A quick perusal of the PRC guide, however, revealed no mention of this crag or of Ramona Crick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglehead Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 PRC (Olson) Look for Razorblade Pinnacle. That sounds like what you described. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 razorblade is way up the drainage over above mcneil. unless I am mistaken, I have seen it and it is below the glacier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglehead Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 Hmm, well I do remember seeing the cliff in question when I was hiking the PCT from the gorge to Bend, and I remember it looking loose and not seeing any bolts. but it was very crappy that day... So not razroblade pinnacle? yeah, you're probably right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted July 31, 2003 Author Share Posted July 31, 2003 It's way down in the trees, and it's not on the actual PCT. It's only about a mile or less up from the PCT, tho'. Definitely not a chossy-looking crag, either. Gorgeous, uhhhhhh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglehead Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 Yeah.... well it was foggy, and I remember the cliff being above the PCT at the Sandy river crossing.. Maybe a mile or two up on the right side of the river looking up the drainage? I think I'm thinking of a different escarpment entirely.... (edited for clarity, although I don't think it helped ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbw1966 Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 Maybe I am incorrect. I saw a right up on Ramona Falls in one of the local guides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 rbw1966 said: Maybe I am incorrect. I saw a right up on Ramona Falls in one of the local guides. Easy to confuse PRC with "Oregon's Scenic Meth Lab Tours", they're both about the same size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 iain said: [Easy to confuse PRC with "Oregon's Scenic Meth Lab Tours", they're both about the same size. speaking of that.....iain congrats i heard you are on your 3rd run of this version. is it true, you still go out and individually test each place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbw1966 Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 From page 144, Portland Rock Climbs (First Edition): "Ramona Falls Crag Minor climbing has been done here recently, but the area holds excellent potential for the future.. ." There is more but I'll let you find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted August 4, 2003 Author Share Posted August 4, 2003 rbw1966 said: From page 144, Portland Rock Climbs (First Edition): "Ramona Falls Crag Minor climbing has been done here recently, but the area holds excellent potential for the future.. ." There is more but I'll let you find it. You must got the old version of PRC. DFA could find no such mention of anything remotely Ramonal on the given page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbw1966 Posted August 5, 2003 Share Posted August 5, 2003 Thats why I wrote FIRST EDITION. Let me know if you cant find a copy and I can loan you mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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