Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
| Messages 1 - 8 of total 8 in this topic |
pyrrhonota
Trad climber
Davis, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 30, 2009 - 11:46am PT
|
I am moving up to Clarkston Washington for work (SE Washington State). What is the local climbing like, or is there even much locally? (city of rocks looks to be a good 8 hours away). Any info to get me oriented and figure out what to bring would be much appreciated.
|
|
ryanb
climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Mar 30, 2009 - 12:21pm PT
|
I would contact, Blowboarder. I think he is the boards eastern wa and N. Idaho expert. As a liberal Seattlite i only hear rumors and stumbled across areas.
The short answer is there is rock of pretty much every type. Some of it is world class. Some not so much. There area few guidebooks but who knows how good they are:
http://www.outdoorexperience.us/store/product_info.php?products_id=48&osCsid=93490759ba593e03c87c702e04d4302d
http://www.rei.com/product/745996
There is a granite crag (granite point) between clarkston and pullman and more in the wallowas and random intrusions in the plateau. There is limestone near spokane and in the hells canyon region. The whole region is filled with columnar basalt of varying quality. Sandstone can be found but is why bother when granite is close. Further afield, Index, Leavenworth, Trout Creek, Smith, the North Cascades, the Valhallas, the Selkerks and the Sawtooths, Mazama, Banks Lake and Leslie Gulch are all just over the horizon.
Western WA Monday Edit: How the hell did my nut tool get that rusty in one weekend!!!
|
|
Tork
climber
Yosemite
|
|
|
Mar 30, 2009 - 01:55pm PT
|
A blast from the past, I went to U of I.
Both WSU & U of I have climbing walls as well as great Outdoor Programs with tons of info, gear rentals and organized trips. A good place to find partners.
There is some bouldering near WSU campus as well as buildering on both.
Granite Point, right on the Snake River, is the closest, 1/2 hr, for top rope climbing and a few bolted routes. No destination area but I spent a lot of time climbing there and enjoyed it. Often half a dozen ropes get set up and you can get a good workout. Also some bouldering there.I use to climb there after class until my fingers were raw, then hang out with friends on top, drink a few beers and watch the sun set over the river.
A few hrs north, near Sandpoint, is Laclede. http://www.mountainproject.com/v/idaho/laclede/106272875
and farther north is Chimney Rock http://www.mountainproject.com/v/idaho/chimney_rock/106112539
Spokane has a few spots, Minnehaha is the main area. http://www.mountainproject.com/v/washington/minnehaha/105933411
Made many trips to Frenchmans, 2hrs, for splitter cracks and bolted collums. Very nice!http://www.mountainproject.com/v/washington/vantage_frenchman_coulee/105792231
Leavenworth, 4hrs, is very nice! http://www.mountainproject.com/v/washington/leavenworth/105790610
Smith Rocks, 6hrs. http://www.mountainproject.com/v/oregon/smith_rock/105788989
I also found this link
http://www.cbe.uidaho.edu/jbailey/UI%20extra%20ciricular%20pages/Rock%20Climbing%20Pages/rock%20climbing%20homepage.htm
Jeff
|
|
Spider Savage
Mountain climber
SoCal
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2011 - 08:44pm PT
|
My deepest sympathies for this Californian.
|
|
Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2011 - 09:03pm PT
|
Yeah, I kinda agree with Spider. I went to School at U of I, then ran an outdoor shop in Moscow (Idaho) for 10 years, before fleeing the area.
It is possibly a good time for you to get into whitewater boating, or fishing------for which Clarkston is a great location.
Re: City of Rocks. Clarkston is 270 miles of crappy highway from Boise. Think 6 hours unless you have a death wish, and Boise is 3 1/2 hours from City of Rocks.
My favorite local area was Lightning Dome, near Grangeville (Strangeville)--about 90 miles from Clarkston. Multi-pitch slab on good granite.
The Outdoor Program at U of I will have information on that and other areas.
We drove to Leavenworth WA to climb a lot too. About 220 miles for resort town fun and lots of climbing variety.
The good news is: After doing that initial 100-200 miles of road-tripping, you have access to a lot of great climbing areas.
If you are a rightwinger: there is also still an active John Birch Society group in Clarkston. Find a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker and you will fit right in.
Oh---and after you live there a few months, I understand you won't even notice the sulphur stench from the Pulp Mill in neighboring Lewiston, Idaho.
**Yes! Lewiston, one of two most beautiful sights in Idaho.
#1. The Sawtooth Mountains.
#2. Lewiston in your rear-view mirror.**
|
|
Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2011 - 09:11pm PT
|
My deepest sympathies for this Californian
dont listen to the naysayers. if their recommondation had any salt they would have you in hours of traffic jams in Cali.
fact is their is some good rock and NO traffic jams in the area.
even more unbelievable is that there is better experiences in the outdoors up in that area. just dont tell the f*#ks in cali (i cant believe i agree with rokjox on something)
|
|
Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
WA, & NC & Idaho
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2011 - 11:51pm PT
|
Lots of new sport routes around Spokane, I grew up there,
Deep creek- hard basalt
Post falls- Great moderate granite
Rocks of Sharron- good sport, some trad,
Banks lake, good sport, ok trad, nice swimming.
Lots of other areas including Tum Tum wa, Markus and china bend,
Pic up a copy of Inland North west rock climbs by marty bland,
Unfortuntaely most of the good stuff is 'round 2 or more hours away!
Best, Get some cross coutnry skis for the winter at the spokane ski swap, usually some time in november???
-e
|
|
| Messages 1 - 8 of total 8 in this topic |
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!