RRC Archives

I just moved to seattle this week and was wondering if anyone out there can help with info on sport climbing craigs, and or bouldering areas. I have bought a few guide books that cover the cascades, but being new to the area, firsthand beta will be helpful. I now live in Everett, Lake stevens area 1/2 hour north of Seattle, and can climb into low 12s. thanks

I have an older bouldering guide to Squamish if you plan on heading up there later- Lurkist has some beta on Index- sounds like a great area where you're at

From Everett, you can head east on Rt 2 and find some great bouldering in Gold Bar. I was able to check it out while living in seattle last summer: Boulders in the Forest way up a mountainside. It's been developed by some excellent folks and there are tons of problems. I'm pretty sure you can find it in a guidebook, but don't know which one. The road to the parking spot is a burly off road climb that takes some clearance from your vehicle.

I spent most of my climbing time at Index, but did check out Exit 38/32 a few days. There's quite a bit there and it's a popular sprt area but we didn't run into any crowds where we were.
I can't remember the name, but another great area I went to was by skykomish (rt 2 again). It's a backcountry sprt crag some dedicated climbers developed. it has some 5.8-5.11 slab in one spot and some killer long 5.10-5.12 vertical climbs around a corner. Killer views, long hike by a river and lots more routes to be had there. I'll try to post the name of this place if I can find it.

Check out Mazama Rocks in the North Cascades. It is a sport area that was partially developed by former local Woody Woodrum. I think I posted about in a thread some time ago where I recounted a road trip where we went to Mazama, Skaha Bluffs, and Squamish.

check out cascadeclimbers.com they are pretty nice folks. i usually go on out to smith in or. whenever im in the northwest - more reliable weather.

If Merrick doesn't post about this soon, PM him. He's got tons of beta on Seattle climbing.

Thanks alot everyone. I bought a guide book for exit 38 tonight, and am heading out to goldbar this weekend. I really hope the climbing community is as great as everyone back home. Now i just have to find a way to get Miguels after a hard day of climbing :D

I'd stick to the granite stuff: Bouldering at Goldbar (new guidebook just written by Kelly Sheridan), sport / trad at Index, Leavenworth (outer space is incredible.), alpine stuff in the North Cascades. I think that you'll find the sport at 32 and 38 to be pretty crappy compared to the RRG. The world wall at 32 has a couple of classics (Rainy Day Women 11d, Technorigine 12c, Chronic 13b), but in general, it's got nothing on the rrg.

Raekwon you are not kiddin i went to exit 38 two times so far and had some great weather, amazing scenery, but wow i wish people would have just sent the bolts and hangers back to the red so they could have been put to good use! I went dirt bike riding at Gold bar a few days ago and ran into some climbers on the mountain, ( had my shoes in the jeep) worked several problems with them and had a great time. I still have a ton of exploring to do, but the climbing at rrg has really set my standards high. There is a pretty sweet gym in Everett formally cascade craigs now vertical world only 15 min away. Any other info would be great! thanks