The Hill  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  2,000' Page Views:  15,415. Good page?    Administrators:  Aaron James Parlier, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  TravisMelin on Dec 31, 2011 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Bouldergasm

Description 

This south-west hillside is covered in hundreds of 5-30ft tall gneiss boulders. The views are amazing, and the approach is easy. Mostly untouched until recently....

The Good:
This is a low grade south/west facing hillside with occasional wide gullies. It is covered in 100s of gneiss boulders. Most have great flat landings.
To hike from bottom to top of the hill takes about 5-10 minutes so the approach is short as long as you know where you are going. The problems done thus far (approx 100 V0 - V8) are very good, unique lines. The problems often feature very subtle crimps, slimpers, and slopers, with bad feet, which lends its self to more difficult problems overall.
Want a FA? Heaps of boulders exist for new routing for those who enjoy that.

The Bad:
Poison Ivy, and ticks can be found if you get off the established boulders and trails, though I haven't found any yet this year...and I've been out a lot. Thus I see this as being on par with most southern crags : ie not good in the summer d/t heat and thick foliage, but great for fall, winter, early spring.

History: as far as I can tell vast majority of this stuff has not ever been climbed. The stuff right off the trail most likely has been done to some extent. I have seen some evidence of climbers (One spot of chalk under an overhang, one reinforced landing, nothing more), and have spoken with few who have climbed there as far back as 15yrs ago.

Getting There 

The Hill is generally located (uphill) from mile marker 87-89 on the BR Parkway. Nearby peaks sharp-top and flat top also have some climbing. But it is off limits within 100ft of the trail. Specific directions are poster under each area, but some poking around may be necessary your first visit.
The hike in on the main trail takes about 20 min for Egg basket, 25 for Tipping, and 30 for upper limits.
The faint climbers trail to the stones takes about 5-10 min.

From Roanoke: 45 min
From Blacksburg 65 min
From Lynchburg 40 min

The Classics

Featured Route For The Hill

American Taliban V9  VA : The Hill : ... : Values Boulder

The area test piece. Super classic in every regard. So good!Low stand start on good left sidepull and bad right side pull. Heel hook to help you move up and left on tiny crimps as you move out the bulge. Make your way left to eventually undercling a sort of 2 ft. triangle that points up hill. Chalk up, then move directly up with levitation or whatever you have in your bag of tricks. Once you get you feet onto the triangle its all over....[more]   Browse More Classics in VA

Photos of The Hill Slideshow

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The easy trail up from the parking lot...	Aaron James Parlier working on the FA of "Seventh ...	Aaron James Parlier working on the FA of "Precipic...
BETA PHOTO: Basic Map of the hill. Boulder legend is pretty in...	BETA PHOTO: parking location for the fast access climber trail...	BETA PHOTO: Parking for climber access trail to the stones