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Anyone been to Mariba lately?How bad is the bushwack?I have a map and a compass. I'm sure I'll get a little lost,but maybe its not too bad?is the OW mentioned in the guide doable Geezer?

Mariba is the coolest approach in the Gorge. The books directions are pretty much right on...

parallel the old fence line/field staying in the woods. If you stay within sight of the field you'll find much less dead-fall to deal with. It's not a rhodo-jungle... it's fairly flat hike. When you get past the field, start trending left and look for a significant depression in otherwise flat terrain... there in a clump of rhodo you'll find a cool surprise passage to the valley. I like playing in the passage as much or more than the climbs at Mariba... and I make it a point to go there every year before the critters come out... it's probably one of the coolest spots in Clifty.

Once through the passage it's simply straight down and straight up to the wall.

I don't know about the off-width, but the 5.7 is very very cool.

Check out the cool crack boulder problem beneath the 5.9 to the left of the 5.4 (since we're not actually using route names).

deleted username wrote:I make it a point to go there every year before the critters come out...

Is this a bad time of year to visit Mariba Fork?

Ok I've been there several times. I even did the OW I asked about. I didn't like the 7 much. I don't know why you would be worried about critters,other than being bitten by a snake because getting in and out of there can be arduos. If you havent been there be very careful to look back and remember how you came in becuase you can't see the only exit from the creek. The big thing to remember is it is above the clearing in the rhodos on that side of the canyon and the clearing is above the massive log jam in the creek.Assuming the log jam is still there. We had an epic getting out of there as it was getting dark and apparently we werent the only ones. That being said,it's a beautiful place with several waterfalls a monsterously big amphitheater and lots of deer sign everywhere. If your wanting to do the Guantlet, its in a water runoff that stays wet so go when it hasn't rained for several days.

I was there last Tuesday. I didn't care for the 7 much either, but the 9 was really good. I didn't find any of the routes right of Laceration and we hiked the cliffline for a looooong way. I think the routes are worth doing if you are looking for somewhere obscure. Reach the Beach is more classic than Africa for the grade in my opinion

You have to go past the amphitheater with the waterfall around a corner under an overhang and up a bank to get to the 4 and the 10. It is a long way right of Laceration and most of them stay wet.