Jimbo Posted July 13, 2002 Posted July 13, 2002 I am new to the area and I am looking for a good rock gym. Good price, good people, mellow atmosphere, and in Seattle. Can anyone suggest a place. Also looking for buildings to boulder on. Any nice stone structures to boulder on? Quote
iain Posted July 13, 2002 Posted July 13, 2002 At the risk of being caught here on a weekend... Good spot I found down on Portland's waterfront...maybe you could check in with this gal: Quote
Dave_Schuldt Posted July 13, 2002 Posted July 13, 2002 Thy the University of Washinngtonn outdoor rock. Has cracks and slabs. Free, ignore signs. Located between Husky stadium and the ship cannal. Parking and trafic suck on weekdays so ride your bike. Parkinng is free in the lot on weekends if there is not an event. Also there is the water tower in Volenteer park on the north end of Capital Hill. Ther is also an ouutdoor rock at Marymoor park in Redmond. The one at the UW is better for solo bouldering. Quote
headmasterjon_dup1 Posted July 15, 2002 Posted July 15, 2002 [ 07-14-2002, 05:41 PM: Message edited by: headmasterjon ] Quote
headmasterjon_dup1 Posted July 15, 2002 Posted July 15, 2002 There is/was a sweet climb-from-the-water pillar on one of the many abandoned freeway pillars in the Foster Island Marsh on the Union Bay waterfront. There is/was a 5.8 route equipped with plastic holds that ascends the smooth featureless concrete pillar then pulls through two fun overhangs. The other route involves climbing up the backside of the same pillar then leaping across about 2 meters to another pillar which then climbs the pillar, pulls an overhang, makes a hanging monkey traverse under the roadway(abandoned) and pulls the final overhang. BUT... last thurs. a photo was printed in the Times of a climber scaling the pillar and most likely a TOP-DOG in the Dept. o transportation said, "Hey! what's that lil' f#cker doin' on my edifice!?!" "Yo bobby ma' boy, go yank them things off for yo' uncle!" So now, one must down-climb the overhang(no easy task) and finger-traverse under the roadway, mantle, crawl through a cave and continue on route, because the DOT only yanked the bottom five holds and top hold to an overhang of increased difficulty sans the top hold. I've been excited about this place for over a year now, because I knew more routes would be added to the endless pillars in the area (Most over 15 meters above the deck/lake) and make the place a builderers dream, and because I live minutes from the place. It's on Lake Washington Blvd. where there is an exit-on ramp for 520. Oh well, the jump/plunge is still rad. Don't let tales of rebar and old shopping carts below the water scare ya! I've checked it out with a scuba mask I'm more worried about getting sucked into the mud on bottom and never wiggling free! I hope the routes are replaced and no one is gored by hidden rebar! So basically... We rock scalers are being hassled by the man, what's new? DAMN THE MAN! Other less-known buildering spots in the Emerald City: THe Alaskan Way Viaduct has a perfect #2 hand crack in flawless concrete! anywhere along the viaduct will work but my favorite is across from the Aquarium where the tourists gawk at your bare-ass! Also, Dave Burdick has posted the old University of Washington Campus Buildering Guide Book on his website with some digital photos http://students.washington.edu/~dbb/uw_buildering/index.html Or across from the UW Rock try the obvious buildering crag... Huskey Stadium . http://students.washington.edu/caloeffl/halloween_ascent_2001.htm Welcome Jimbo and enjoy! "When it gets dark... it gets Ka-rasy!" [ 07-14-2002, 08:33 PM: Message edited by: headmasterjon ] Quote
mtngrrrl Posted July 17, 2002 Posted July 17, 2002 Vertical World has three locations: Seattle, near the Fisherman's Terminal; Redmond; Bremerton. One membership grants access to all. www.verticalworld.com Stone Gardens, located in Ballard near the locks. www.stonegardens.com. You should check out both gyms to see which has what you're looking for. I don't think either gym is accurately represented by their websites. YMMV. Quote
thelawgoddess Posted July 17, 2002 Posted July 17, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Jimbo: I am new to the area and I am looking for a good rock gym. Good price, good people, mellow atmosphere, and in Seattle. vertical world in ballard rocks for routes and hours. good bouldering, too ... if you like that sort of torture. mellow atmospheres anywhere are best found during "off-peak" hours. Quote
Figger_Eight Posted July 18, 2002 Posted July 18, 2002 the bouldering sucks at VW. Much better at Stone Gardens. Quote
Dennis_Harmon Posted July 19, 2002 Posted July 19, 2002 Vantage is a nice gym...but beware of all the rattlesnakes. And free! Dennis Quote
Rodchester Posted July 19, 2002 Posted July 19, 2002 Stone gardens in ballard and is pretty laid back environment. Vertical world is not actually in Ballard, but on the north side of Magnolia Quote
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