Whereabouts of the Elgin Wall??

[mtnhippy]

I noticed (on mountainproject.com) a climbing area in NE Oregon called the Elgin Wall. I spent some time growing up in Elgin and never heard of it. Anybody have specifics?

[shapp]

NE of town, go to the Rockwall grange and look north. The Rockwall grange is on a USGS 7.5 minute topo, look up north and you will see the cliff band on the map. Mostly 5.10 hard and up crack climbing.

[mtnhippy]

Thanks. I'll swing by there this summer when I visit the relatives.

[billcoe]

Watch for rattlesnakes. It's the only place I've ever been rattled at while climbing, in this case right in the face while on lead. I think I saw the snake, but it just happened so fast, that f*ing thing rattled just as my head was clearing what would be even with it's location. It was right in front of my eyeballs on a ledge just below the top. I dropped below grade immediately while almost simultaneously shitting my pants. Got totally pumped while down climbing and pulling my pro out as I went. The memory really hasn't faded although it's been over 30 years......

[shapp]

http://libremap.org/data/state/oregon/

 

go to this site and search "rockwall" one word. I am surprised you never heard or have seen it, the wall is easily seen from some main roads just out of town. I forgot to mention there are lots of ticks in the spring, and I mean lots. I think late fall or a nice sunny winter day is a good time to go, no ticks and no snakes then.

Shapp

[mtnhippy]

Rattlesnakes and ticks. Two of my favorite little buddies. Great climb partners. Maybe I'll just drink Hamms down at the Brunswick instead.

[shapp]

mid 1990s elgin wall, note I heard Roxanna Brock freed this at 5.12 (the z-shaped finger crack through the yellow lichen)

 

Edited February 18, 2009 by shapp

[wayne]

Wow! Nice looking rock!