srmaximo Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Hey Seattle Climbers, When I first moved to Seattle 9 years ago, I heard that there was a lead route going up one of the support pillars of the ramp going onto the 520 floating bridge (heading east toward Bellevue), accessible only by boat. I've got a canoeing date on Sunday (brr!) and was hoping to go scope it out. Anyone out there who can confirm its existence and give me directions? Thanks, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Damn, I swear I've seen something climbable when out canoeing there, I can't remember where though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 The Seattle Times had it as the cover shot of one day's newspaper. The legend has it that a WSDOT director nearly choked on his morning coffee while reading his morning paper then promptly made a few phone calls and the route was chopped by noon. I've never climbed the route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srmaximo Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 Say it ain't so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 then promptly made a few phone calls and the route was chopped by noon. The moral of this story is don't post pictures of your brand new route on a structure like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkMcJizzy Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 RuMR got upset when another poster suggested bolting routes on bridge stanchions in Portland. Bolting routes onto bridges should be considered to be stupid and irresponsible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanb Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I believe the holds were glued on by members of the greater-montlake-cut-artificial-structure-climbing-community and I don't think it was leadable...more of a dws. The rumor I hear was they were chopped immediately after 9/11. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darstog Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Back in the day, there were two DWS climbing routes in the area you're talking about. I, personally, last climbed these in summer 2001. WashDOT and the anonymous climbers/constructors have an interseting history. This was not the only climbing-related construction project in the area. At one point in maybe 2003 (?--thinking of it, the holds were still there then) a small, maverick team installed a slackline over the water, between two support pillars. While this was a very proud accomplishment and made for a fantastic slackline, WashDOT chopped the line within 72 hours of it's creation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexual_chocolate Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 there was even an abode under the highway there, accessed via a little trolley car, or an awkward duckwalk. complete with couch and bookshelf etc. some of you know the fellow who built it. he even lived under there for a little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyHarry Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Too bad word got out. There was a harder route and an easier one. Swimming in Lake Washington is kind of gross though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I'm pretty sure the top few holds are still in place. Gotta climb some 5.15 blank concrete to get to them though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cman Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 the easier of those routes was my first and only dws. it was easy, 5.6 until the last move. the other route looked fairly hard, going across the underside of the road deck. i never got up the nerve to give that one a try, too afraid of taking a backsplat from 30ft. next time just make all the holds grey and mabye they will stay up a little longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 then promptly made a few phone calls and the route was chopped by noon. The moral of this story is don't post pictures of your brand new route on a structure like this. why does the WSDOT have Raindawg's phone number? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reilly Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 These days it would be more than the route that is chopped. Can you say Homeland Security? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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.