Carp Posted October 16, 2006 Posted October 16, 2006 I'm struggling to find info about climbing in the San Juans. Can anybody throw me a bone? I'm especially interested in Orcas Island, but anything works. Quote
Billygoat Posted October 16, 2006 Posted October 16, 2006 Ketch is working on some stuff on Orcas. Access seems to be the limiter. There is some to be had on Lopez but you'll have to go through me to get there Same rock as Erie but not developed/developable, if you know what I mean... BG Quote
ketch Posted October 16, 2006 Posted October 16, 2006 (edited) Ya, there is a little adventerous stuff on Orcas. It is still being looked over and developed. Some of it is water access. I am open to having another helper at times or another pair of eyes in the explore. Are you planning a trip to Orcas? If so when we can hookup for a day or so. PS I am told of some good bouldering on San Juan. I have not seen the it but the reports have been positive. I think I could track down some info on them as well. Edited October 16, 2006 by ketch Quote
bwrts Posted October 16, 2006 Posted October 16, 2006 Fresh oceanic crust rocks mixed with some old beach deposits covered by glacial spew. Now that makes for some great Rock climbing experiences. Honestly, I have wondered about the development quite often while sailing around the islands. Quote
MarkMcJizzy Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 Same rock as Erie I thought the same thing, until I looked at a map. Broadly speaking, rocks east of Orcas, including Lopez, are the same as Mt Erie. Mt Constitution is composed of very different rocks, which could be many tens of millions of years older, and generated thousnads of miles away from the Erie rocks. Fresh oceanic crust rocks Ben, you should know better than to say this. The rocks are all middle Mesozoic flisch, and have been incipiently metamorphosed. Quote
bwrts Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 that was more of joke you dolt written only to lure you out of your cave. I am well aware of the imbricate thrust sheets (nappes) that make up the San Juan Islands...the islands are not a Mz "flysch" but rather segments of the ocean floor and trenches from long ago (faulted and folded) together. The age of the rocks has been dated to cover most of the Mesozoic and the islands also contain Paleozoic rocks. The incipient metamorphism is of a low grade nature. Honestly, the word fresh was used to indicate the crappy nature and young exposure in regards to the rest of the Cascades. Mark, I have an awesome new tectonic map from Joe Dragovich and Ned Brown that I am sure you would love to see. I could even pdf it to you for some money in exchange...as you know there are no FREE lunches. cheers. Quote
olyclimber Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 Same rock as Erie I thought the same thing, until I looked at a map. Broadly speaking, rocks east of Orcas, including Lopez, are the same as Mt Erie. Mt Constitution is composed of very different rocks, which could be many tens of millions of years older, and generated thousnads of miles away from the Erie rocks. I have climbed on what Billygoat is talking about and it is indeed the same stuff as Erie. Not talking about Mt. Consitiution, which is a heap of choss in comparison (not saying that Erie and Lopez climbing is that great.....but) Quote
MarkMcJizzy Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 Nice back tracking Ben, trying like hell to cover up when you're wrong. In regards to flysch, that was specific to the Constitution formation, I was not clear about that. The imbricate structures has nothing to do with lithologies. Brandon considers (at least) portions of the Constitution Formation as flysch, and I would assume that Joe and Ned do also. You are argueing apples and oranges. Oly: I believe that you are wrong. Would you like both Ben and I to pdf you our maps, so you can verify the aerial extent of the Fidalgo Igneous Complex? Quote
olyclimber Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 Please. But having climbed at Erie and Lopez, I can tell you the rock is very, very similiar. But I'm not a medical doctor, nor do I play on television, so I'll leave it to the geologists to tell me why they are different. They do appear to have the same properties and offer the same quality of climbing. Quote
olyclimber Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 And the climbable rock that I'm talking about on Lopez (the stuff Billygoat mentions) is a pretty small area. Just a few cliffs. Quote
MarkMcJizzy Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 Lopez could certainly be part of the Fidalgo Complex. Billy did mention Orcas, which is not composed of the Fidalgo. Quote
bwrts Posted October 19, 2006 Posted October 19, 2006 Nice back tracking Ben, trying like hell to cover up when you're wrong. In regards to flysch, that was specific to the Constitution formation, I was not clear about that. The imbricate structures has nothing to do with lithologies. Brandon considers (at least) portions of the Constitution Formation as flysch, and I would assume that Joe and Ned do also. You are argueing apples and oranges. Oly: I believe that you are wrong. Would you like both Ben and I to pdf you our maps, so you can verify the aerial extent of the Fidalgo Igneous Complex? So Mark, are you a UW grad or just owner of the UW side of the NWCS tectonic arguement....You state ALL above and now recoil and say "some", kinda like the arguments in the papers from Cowan and Brandon vs Brown et al. The imbricate structures have everything to do with what is currently visible on the surface. Perhaps there is a mentioning of massiveness in the lithological description but that is monor compared to the tectonic evolution in the area. You are right, apples and oranges. Ultimately, the rocks are seriously funked up and typically are not favorable for rock climbing. Yet, I have spyed some stellar looking crack lines along the banks of a few islands during sailing trips. But in all honesty, I do not believe they are worth more than small talk while piloting the sailboat. Quote
G-spotter Posted October 19, 2006 Posted October 19, 2006 maybe it's the westernmost outcrop of the Sweet Renton Pluton Quote
MarkMcJizzy Posted October 19, 2006 Posted October 19, 2006 Actually I went to WWU, the same time Joe did The imbricate structures are how they got there. You could imbricate dirt. Anyway, you were the first to back step, but in a couple more paragraphs you'll be crying about living in Seattle, and calling people cidiots. Oh, by the way, isn't this when you insert the fact that you're Fred Beckey's tennant into the arguement? That always works good. Quote
Billygoat Posted October 19, 2006 Posted October 19, 2006 Dudes: Lopez rock = Erie rock except that strange, hard, smooth green stuff at the end of the beach. Can't be developed cause it is a part of BLM ACEC (Wilderness) land, but it is fun for us locals. Quote
bwrts Posted October 19, 2006 Posted October 19, 2006 Yes, both erie and lopez are part of the Fidalgo Complex, however the lithologies of both rocks, I "think" are not the same. My refrence is only at 1:625K so, it is very broad. I have not spent as much time on Lopez as Fidalgo or even San Juan. Look fwd to exploring the island sometime. Actually I went to WWU, the same time Joe did The imbricate structures are how they got there. You could imbricate dirt. Anyway, you were the first to back step, but in a couple more paragraphs you'll be crying about living in Seattle, and calling people cidiots. Oh, by the way, isn't this when you insert the fact that you're Fred Beckey's tennant into the arguement? That always works good. Mark, you are so funny. I am glad there are people like you to keep people like me laughing. You are right, imbrication is a catch all but the fact is they are thrusted on top of each other. This is why we see Garrison schist ontop of the constitution formation. You told me I should know better than this....so I explained my outlandish comments to what seemed better, yet you continue to challenge each thing I say...so And what is your point about my "cidiot" statement in the past. The kid wrecked my friend's and my summer day. Also based on the comments I heard at Index that day, many other people were completely irritated. Furthermore, I think the Hawks hanging out at the Country were very upset (based on the constant screeching). However, that is done and now it is over. As for your FB refrence. Big deal, I pay him rent to live in his house, which is more or less a storage unit for the grandfather of all us "Cascade Climbers". In the long scheme, my living there has given me the savings to soon buy my own storage unit. I do hate living in Seattle, I think I have made that obvious many times over. So, why don't you fOff. Ps. I forgot you are a viking grad....hahahaha give me a buzz when you can Quote
Mr._Natural Posted October 19, 2006 Posted October 19, 2006 I climbed on some cliff in 94 or so that was part of the camp my girlfriend worked at. I think it was on Lopez? I heard Paul Allen bought the camp? can anyone confirm/deny? I assume that it is still off limits? Quote
Billygoat Posted October 20, 2006 Posted October 20, 2006 There's no "cliff's" at Paul Allen's (maybe a few bouldering problems) that I know of, but the cliffs we frequent are close by. PM me and I'll take you there... BG Quote
Jason_Formo Posted October 20, 2006 Posted October 20, 2006 That camp was on Lopez, and there is climbing on what is now Paul Allen's property, which used to be Camp Nor'Wester. The camp had two climbing areas, both small with under 10 routes each. One was a chosspile with some easy stuff behind the cooks cabin. The other had some harder routes on what I recall was quality rock. I haven't been there in over 17 years, but both cliffs were around 30-40 feet tall. Quote
Carp Posted October 22, 2006 Author Posted October 22, 2006 Camp Nor'Wester is still in business. I don't know if they moved, or how that relates to Paul Allen's property. Thanks for the entertaining and "informative" replies. Quote
Billygoat Posted October 22, 2006 Posted October 22, 2006 Nor'Wester moved to John's Island. Don't even think about getting to climb at Sperry Peninsula (Paul's) now. No poaching either. that place is guarded 24/7. Quote
Carp Posted October 22, 2006 Author Posted October 22, 2006 Don't even think about getting to climb at Sperry Peninsula (Paul's) now. No poaching either. that place s 24/7 guarded. The voice of experience? Quote
plexus Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 The best climbing in the San Juans is in the SW corner of Colorado!!! Quote
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