Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Bigfoot Country Limestone ~ Spring/Summer 2015

The Rhinecastle

The Rhinecastle

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge/High Rocks

Natural Bridge/High Rocks

Natural Bridge/High Rocks

Natural Bridge/High Rocks

Bridge Gulch Crag/Hayfork Haven



Bridge Gulch Boulder


There are several idyllic limestone crags in Northern California with a lot of incredible sport routes, good traditional routes, some top ropes and a few rare boulder problems. One of my favorites are the Wildwood Crags with the amazing Limestone Natural Bridge near Hayfork. The routes are not as long (~50-75ft) as some of the other limestone crags in Nor Cal but they are technical and bouldery on gray, gold and blue streaked cliffs, caves and boulders. After holding out on info for this area at first to try and ease into access here there was an increase in popularity leading to some access issues. Now with a renewed interest after a long break by myself and others and to preserve and share the climbing history here is a list of all the rock climbs and boulder problems that I know of in the area.

Native American Historic Heritage Site - Access Issues
There was a horribly tragic Indian massacre here long ago so it is now a sacred site.
Be extra cautious and respectful of all other users and tread very lightly on this sacred ground.

 Mountain Project - Natural Bridge CA
~2 main areas:
THE LIMESTONE NATURAL BRIDGE / BRIDGE GULCH
& THE WILDWOOD CRAGS
~7 main climbing/bouldering zones:
*Star = ok / *****Star = World Classic ~100 total routes + boulder problems!

Bridge Gulch Crag & Bridge Gulch Boulder
Limestone Natural Bridge
The High Rocks
Forbidden Castle
Wildwood
Rhinecastle



LIMESTONE NATURAL BRIDGE / BRIDGE GULCH
Bridge Gulch Crag / Bridge Gulch Boulder

Bridge Gulch Crag/Hayfork Haven
Newly developed crag in 2019 by Evan Wisheropp and friends ~20 routes from 5.5-5.12 with a few boulder problems from V1-V2ish. Above Bridge Gulch Rd just east of the Limestone Natural Bridge.
Look for info on this crag and others in Northwest California in Evans upcoming new guidebook:
Redwood Burl

Bridge Gulch Boulder
(L to R)


1 "Rasta Shaman" V3*** up steep left side of cave to flat jug drop off. FA: CS
2 "Shaman Direct" V5/6?** up right hand to slot jug - eliminate - skip left crack jugs on #1!?
3 "Shaman Crack" V6*** horizontal roof crack up left to flat jug drop off! FA: CS
4 "Bass Nectar" V5*** cave start then up steep bulge face left to flat jug drop off. FA: CS
5 "Sasquatch" V4***** cave start up right into V3**** stand start - main left exit/finish FA: CS
- right exit/finish!? 
6 "Spirit Bear" Sasquatch into Honey Bear.
7 low start direct on left undercling and right sloper!? or right direct micro crimper start!!?? - right exit/finish!? 
8 direct jump start off small left hand notch into right exit/finish of Sasquatch or left or into #9!?
9 "Honey Bear" V2*** high stand start FA: CS or V2/3? cool low start in scoop on pockets but sadly the big jug block between the low start and the high stand start is fractured and should avoided.
10 "Yeti"? Honey Bear into Sasquatch right exit/finish or left exit/finish!?
11 "Honey Nectar"?*** Honey Bear into Bass Nectar!?
12 "?" Honey Bear into Shaman Crack!!??
13 low start in scoop then up past questionably solid jug shelf and up left into Honey Bear?
14 bulge face up left past traverse seam into Honey Bear or Yeti or ??
15 mossy vertical-ish corner crack face to high mossy ledges top out!?
16 VB* short fun jugs to ledge then down-climb - mossy. FA: CS or dirty top out?
17 "The Scoop Traverse" V1**** start on easy slab on far right and traverse the base into the scoop to a no-hands ending in the cave or left to right into #16 VB - a perfect fun warm up or lap route with slick slabby feet and uniquely featured steep handholds! FA: CS/LB
18 V0-** easier right side of traverse only to or from rocks. FA: CS/LB
19 V0+** crux left side of traverse only to or from rocks. FA: CS/LB
20 VB* short mossy prow to mantle on scooped boulder near creek. FA: CS


Limestone Natural Bridge

Limestone Natural Bridge {Bouldering}
(Bouldering - headlamps are good for the caves and under the Bridge)
The Bridge
11 "Bridge Traverse" V5/5.12**** start about midway and traverse left over rocky creek landing.
FA: CS or The Full Bridge Traverse - V8/9/double digit future project!?
12 "The Opening" V5/6** start on far right side of Bridge traverse left about 1/4 across. FA: CS
From the end the next 1/4 is the crux of The Full Bridge Traverse all the way to the V5/5.12 start.
13 "the tooth?" V4*** next to The Opening. FA: SB
14 "tooth traverse?" V3/4/5** traverse. FA: ?
15 "?" V1/2** far left side of bridge. FA: CB/RS?
16 "?" V4/5** left face of bridge. FA: CS/RS?
17 "Supercat" V6/7**** sit low jug and bust over bulge on boulder in creek under bridge. FA: CS
18 "?" V5/6*** FA: SB
19 "Wonderdog" V4/5*** FA: CS
20 "?" V4 FA: SB
21 ?? far right side of Bridge!?
22 V3/4** direct out mini roof under cave route start or V0/1** jugs.
The Trailside Boulders
23 V2/3*** left side of boulder above picnic table campsite. FA:KA/CS?
24 "Yawara" V4**** center face of boulder above picnic table campsite. FA: SB
25 "?" V2/3*** right side of boulder above picnic table campsite. FA:SB/CS?
26 "?" V4/5 traverse from left to right on boulder above picnic table campsite - low V5/6! FA: CS?
27 "Riggins" V3/4R*** highball face with water groove runnels - overgrown/mossy. FA: S?
28 "Gray Wall Traverse" V0/1/2***
The Cold Caves
Cool Cave
29 "Cool Beans" V4*** cave or V3 stand start - crack/hueco traverse left from cool cave. FA:CS
30 ?
Mystic Cave
31 "Mystic Cave" V3*** left sit to mid jug drop off FA: CS (V-harder to upper jug drop off - proj!)
32 "Mystic" V4*** right start to mid jug (V-harder from sit and to upper jug drop off - proj!)
33 "Mystic Traverse" V5**? start #32 then down #31 to no-hands rest in cave ~ fun link-up!?
34 ?
Cold Cave
35 ? right corner up left to seam and drop off!? - or left into #37!!??
36 "Peaceout"? center overhang to seam and drop off!?
37 "Peaceful Warrior"? center overhang to seam to left drop off!?
38 "Krampus Board" V4* stand start on lip campus ladder holds and random drop off - FA: CS
39 "Stranglehold" V5*** stand start left overhang past pinch to jug bucket drop off. FA: CS
40 "Peace Over Power"? Peaceful Warrior sit into Stranglehold!?
The Inner Caves
41 "Cave Crack"!? inside upper cave entrance/exit.
42 "Ice Cave" V!? deep inside cave. FA: CS
??
43 ?
44 ?
45 ?
The Notch
46 arete?
47 sit hueco thread!?
48 V? sit left or direct.? FA: CS
49 VB/0 slab face. FA: CS
50 traverse?

 Limestone Natural Bridge {Routes}
(Right to Left)
1 short cave?
2 "Scary Monsters" 5.13c**** FA: CB
3 Scary Extension? - up left to high anchor!?
4 !!?? - anchor up right of Scary ~ maybe blank crux after Scary or steep corner crack on right!!??
5 Scary Water? - cut left off Scary Monsters to Troubled Water anchor!?
6 "Bridge Over Troubled Water" aka "Troubled Water"5.12d/13a*** start #7 then right out undercling to anchor. FA: CS
7 "Bigfoot" 5.12c***** start center route in steep cave and go to midway anchor! FA (retro): TK/CS - or to the lip anchor is (5.14!?) mega project!! and to the top anchor is ultra mega project!!??
8 "High Anxiety" 5.12b/V5*** (5.11d/A1**) A1 or V5 jump start! - left side of Bridge. FA: KA
9 roof crack!?
10 "Futurama" 5.13a*** Bolts and RB's or Top Rope. Backside of Bridge. FA: PH
11 "Fast Forward" 5.10b** Bolts and RB's or Top Rope. Backside of Bridge. FA: ?


The High Rocks
Gray Wall aka Dirt Surfer Wall
(L to R)
12 "Shakedown" 5.10d*** warm up or cool down. FA: KA
13 "Smoke and Mirrors" 5.11b** technical. FA: KA
14 "Spellbinder" 5.11d*** technical and pumpy. FA: KA
15 "Ritual" 5.12b*** sustained and bouldery. FA: KA
16 "Limestoned" 5.12b/c**** bouldery technical classic. FA: CS
17 "Dirt Surfer" 5.11c**** the original classic. FA: PH/EC
18 "ADD" 5.11d/12a* start Dirt Surfer end Wake and Bake - beware hollow flake. FA: AR
19 "Wake and Bake" 5.10c/d*** sort of a warm-up ~ but awkward and semi runout. FA: CS
20 "Burning Sage" 5.11d**** mega classic! FA: CS
21 "Firestoker" 5.12a**** dirty start - clean pocketed headwall face to cold shut anchor. FA: CS
22 "Supernatural" 5.13a*** steep arete to face! FA(TR): KA
23 "Magic Man" 5.11d**** the mega-classic steep arete/face! FA: KA
24 "Dark Magic" 5.12a*** bouldery start - hard clips. FA: CS
25 ??

UV Wall 
(R to L)
26 "Ray Ban" 5.10c/d*** short fun route to chain anchor in notch. FA: AR
27 "Cold Blooded"? 5.12? project? left of Ray Ban. FA: ?

Yellow Wall aka Orange Wall
(L to R)
28 "?" 5.12d*** bolts up steep prow! FA: PH/EC
29 "100 Innocent Souls" 5.12b**** prominent orange streak to tree. FA: EC?
30 right side? RB's?

Orange Cave
(L to R)
31 "Graceland" 5.10b/c*** - Left slab face. FA: AR
32 "Orange Cave" 5.11d**** Steep fun cave corner! FA: ?
33 5.12d*** Short steep face! FA: ?
34 5.13!? open project!?
35 ??

___________________________________________________________________________


WILDWOOD CRAGS
The Forbidden Castle?
1 ??
2 ??
3 ??

Crack Wall?
4 left crack!?
5 right crack!?
6 ?

The Overhang!?
7 left seam!?
8 center face!!??
9 right face!?
10 ?


Rhinecastle {Bouldering}
1 "Lil Growler" V4*** sit start left hand side pull crimp and low right hand underling crimp and bust a hard move up into the V2** stand start on short blob above parking / trailhead. FA: CS
Flintstone Rock {beware of rattlesnake living near the base of the rock}
2 "Flintstone Traverse"? traverse base of Flintstone Wall?
3 "Flintstone Solo"? far right side of Flintstone Wall?
4 highball hueco face?
5 hueco face traverse? 
Sublime Boulder {nice shade tree ~ beware of rattlesnake living near trail}
6 "The Snake" V3** sit start undercling go up far left. FA: CS
7 "The Snake Traverse" V4*** right to far left. FA: CS
8 "Sublime" V4*** undercling start up left then back right to jug drop off. FA: CS
9 "Sublime Traverse" V5?*** traverse start to Sublime.
10 "Sublime Direct" V? center direct from shelf sit!?
??
??
11 boulder on top?
12 boulder on top?
??
13 ?
14 ?
15 ?

Rhinecastle {Routes}
Main Wall - left
1 broken terrain??

Main Wall
2 left slab arete?
3 face to diagonal to slab arete?
4 face?
5 ?

Striped Wall
6 far left?
7 brown corner left?
8 hueco line!?
9 right side?
10 far right?

Flintstone Rock
11 "Pebbles" 5.10a/b**** right layback crack into #12 pocket face. FA: LB/CS
12 "Flintstoned" 5.10c/d**** direct pocket face between cracks. FA: CS
13 "Rhinestoned" 5.10a/b**** left splitter crack right to #12.{The first climb on Rhinecastle!}FA: CS
14 "Bam Bam" 5.10d/.11a**** left crack up into left face bulge - thread+bolt top anchor. FA: CS
15 "Climestoned" 5.11a**** direct start #12 left into #14 to thread+bolt top anchor. FA: CS

 The Castle Wall
16 "Castle Hueco"? short left hueco wall?
17 "Climestone Cowboy" 5.12a/b bulge face! 4 bolts to ring anchors. FA: CS
18 "Rhinecastle Cowboy"? 5.11+/12? left start to #17?
19 "?" right bulge face(s)!?
20 center face!?
21 right face!?
22 thread face ~ far right!?

 High Castle aka High Tower
23 left face!?
24 "?" 5.11a**** crack start left into direct/center face. FA: SR/CS
25 "Highcastle Crack" 5.8/9** crack up right to gully ledge. FA: CS

The Watchtower aka The STEEPle
26 steep prow/arete!?
27 steep prow face!?
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