[TR] Renton WA - Coal Creek Wall FAs 5/24/2009

[Marco Falken]

Trip: Renton WA - Coal Creek Wall FAs

 

Date: 5/24/2009

 

Trip Report:

A welcome new bouldering wall has been discovered convenient to Renton. I'm no geologist, but this formation appears to be very recent, and of stone similar to gray concrete. There's a suprisingly good variety of holds, including a lot of fun diagonals and edges, even pockets -- I'm not sure if the Creator meant it to be climbed, but it almost looks like it.

The wall tops out at around 18 feet in the middle by maybe 100 yards long. It's vertical. I began bouldering right at the south (upper) end; the climbing continuesa all along the wall. So far I've done just easy stuff, with trail shoes, but there's more potential. It's peaceful now as the new Coal Creek Pkwy is closed for construction; when it opens it'll get noisy.

 

The downside is very rough concrete; this will toughen your fingers. I use rocks or tools to beat down the sharpies on new routes. Also some loose crumbles on FAs, this wall is just weeks old. More hands cleaning off the slag should result in a fun little bouldering crag in the Renton & Newcastle area. Some degenerates may even want to "enhance" holds. Maybe I'll post a photo. There's a similar-looking wall on the Newcastle side of May Creek, I haven't checked that out yet.

 

Gear Notes:

Climbing shoes optional. Brush might be handy, and optional old hammer to dull sharp burrs, or I use rocks found around the base.

 

Approach Notes:

Jogged over from the house after work with the Maggie the dog.

The wall is on 138th Ave. SE (Coal Creek Pkway), in Renton, starting just N of SE100th St. or just uphill from May Creek bridge. It's currently a construction site.

Hazards. Construction junk. I don't know if local Authoritahs will get irate with climbers once the road opens.

[Drederek]

Do ya think the cars will be any more annoying than an 8 year olds birthday pasty?

[Marco Falken]

Yes, I think so. But that's a personal preference. Anyhow for now it's quiet.

[RICHARD_CILLEY]

Sounds like you are already enhancing the holds.

[Marco Falken]

"Enhancing", not me, more just pounding the slag and burrs off the existing holds. A few more hands on it would speed the smoothing & cleaning.

I was just back there again, and this wall really is worth bouldering, for locals. The variety and relative naturalness of holds has me thinking that the constractor who shaped it must be a climber who sneakily designed it to be climbed, -- whoever you are, thanks for an inspired job.