So today wandered up Boulder and Eldorado Canyons with the intention of bouldering but there was very little of that which got done. I started off going up Boulder Canyon in search of Castle Rock and was thoroughly captivated with the canyon itself. I would show you all the amazing photos I took but I lack the technology and steady hands to pull the images from my brain. Which is the only place they are seeing as how I brought my camera but forgot my memory card at home… I found Castle Rock area near the end of the canyon and started exploring. I located the Castle Rock boulder pretty quickly but it was on the opposite side of the creek. I wasn’t too sure how strong the ice was and I wasn’t really in the mood to test it so I walked the long way around and trudged through 100 meters of knee to waist deep snow and I finally arrived at the boulder. I had left my pad and shoes in the car because I initially wasn’t too sure where the boulder was. That was probably for the better because even though the boulder looked inviting and the problems challenging, a couple of the problems had snow melting down on them. The boulder itself is decently stacked hosting Cage Free V11 and it’s sit start Free Range V13, Surface Tension V10, Citadel V8, a V5 and a V0 Which I don’t know the names of. I wrapped up my little exploration expedition, ate some lunch at home, grabbed my memory card and headed up to Eldorado Canyon.
Eldo was pretty impressive as well, although both canyons cater more to routes then to boulder problems. (I am still trying to figure out which local places will suite me best) I hiked around Eldo for about an hour just exploring and getting my bearings in the canyon. I have to tell you some of the routes made me want to rope up again. Seeing as how the canyon has a high quantity of large faces, cracks systems and lacks a high density of big blocks you can definitely tell the canyon wasn’t meant for bouldering. Don’t get me wrong, there was a few blocks but just not what I am used to in Santa Barbara, and those areas aren’t even THAT stacked. A lot of the problems traversed, which isn’t really my flavor and were walk offs as opposed to top outs (This is just a first impression with very little knowledge of the area so take my opinion for what it’s worth) After satisfying my curiosity I found the Milton Boulder, which was surrounded by snow but itself was dry. I promptly warmed up and ran up a couple of v3’s and a V4, which were all exceptionally fun, technical problems, definitely slab and face climbing at it’s best. I started to work on the V7 and V10 but both were a bit contrived for me and seeing as how the sun was already behind the hills the temperature had dropped about 15 degrees I decided to call it a day. It was nice to be able to get on some of the local rock but the days expedition left me with too much leftover energy and wishing I knew a couple people here who could show me around. I am sure that it will come in due time. Tomorrow I will be heading to Clear Creek to get on a couple of projects that I have from my previous trip out here. Here are a few more pictures from Eldo. The first is of South Boulder Creek, which runs through Eldorado Canyon and the second is of Wind Tower, if you look real close you couple climbers on the tower.
Tags: Bouldering, Eldorado Canyon, Pictures
