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The Hill 


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Elevation: 2,000'
Page Views: 15,176. Good page?   
Administrators: Aaron James Parlier, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: TravisMelin on Dec 31, 2011

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This area appears to be on national forest and blue ridge parkway land.


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

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for The Hill:
Inertiatic-Final   V1-     Boulder, 15 feet   Stones : Whispering Wall
Precipice   V4     Boulder, 12 feet   Stones : Tipping Block
High Life   V4     Boulder, 12 feet   Upper Deck : Highlife Boulder
The Land of Milk and Honey   V4     Boulder, 15 feet   Stones : Burlstain Boulder
Smear Campaign   V4     Boulder, 16 feet   Stones : Burlstain Boulder
Bohemian Bearhug   V4     Boulder, 16 feet   Stones : Values Boulder
Prodigal Son   V4-5     Boulder, 12 feet   Egg Basket : Seventh Son Boulder
500lb Chest   V4-5     Boulder, 12 feet   Stones : 500lb boulder
Older and Boulder   V5     Boulder, 15 feet   Stones : Bouldergasm
Bouldergasm   V5     Boulder, 18 feet   Stones : Bouldergasm
Pilo Erection   V5     Boulder, 15 feet   Stones : Erector Boulder
Ivy League   V5-6     Boulder, 15 feet   Stones : Ivy League Boulder
Hump and Bump   V6-7     Boulder, 15 feet   Stones : The Fortress
Waves of Aggression   V6-7     Boulder, 13 feet   Stones : Wave Boulder
The Final Straw   V6-7     Boulder, 15 feet   Stones : Tipping Block
Lattick   V7     Boulder, 17 feet   Stones : Geriatric Boulder
Invisible Sun   V7     Boulder, 9 feet   Stones : Sun Boulder
Thoughtless Minds    V8     Boulder, 14 feet   Stones : Values Boulder
Seventh Son   V8     Boulder, 12 feet   Egg Basket : Seventh Son Boulder
American Taliban   V9     Boulder, 15 feet   Stones : Values Boulder
Browse More Classics in The Hill

Featured Route For The Hill
AT- Super Classic V9

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 Add Photo
The easy trail up from the parking lot...

The easy trail up from the parking lot...

Aaron James Parlier working on the FA of "Seventh Son" (V8ish)

Aaron James Parlier working on the FA of "Seventh ...

Aaron James Parlier working on the FA of "Precipice" (V4).

Aaron James Parlier working on the FA of "Precipic...

Basic Map of the hill. Boulder legend is pretty inaccurate, but it gives you the gist.

BETA PHOTO: Basic Map of the hill. Boulder legend is pretty in...

parking location for the fast access climber trail to the lower side of the stones.  <br /> <br />Trail starts about 15 feet from the road on the right side of the photo

BETA PHOTO: parking location for the fast access climber trail...

Parking for climber access trail to the stones

BETA PHOTO: Parking for climber access trail to the stones


Comments on The Hill Add Comment
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By Jay Shultis
Administrator
From: Blacksburg VA
Apr 30, 2013
CONDITION REPORT 

Found a tick on my clothes and the Poison Ivy is sprouting everywhere. It's going to be very out of season up there, very soon.

By Andrew Cassidy
Jan 14, 2012

More info, looks awesome? north or south of Roanoke?

By TravisMelin
From: Roanoke, VA La Crosse, WI
Jan 14, 2012

Hey Andrew, its to the north. Sorry I got kinda busy and havent had time yet to put in all the info...I will this week.

By TravisMelin
From: Roanoke, VA La Crosse, WI
Jan 15, 2012

By bigdan
Mar 12, 2012

Any more info on this location yet? Thanks

By Aaron James Parlier
Administrator
From: Boone, NC / Grayson, VA
Mar 12, 2012

Coming soon Big Dan, coming soon.

By TravisMelin
From: Roanoke, VA La Crosse, WI
Oct 5, 2012

my first three visits so far this season and no bugs (ticks or mosquitos), and no ivy. Conditions should be prime up there if the temp would drop about 10 degreees.

By Aaron James Parlier
Administrator
From: Boone, NC / Grayson, VA
Oct 5, 2012

AHHHHHH! So psyched for this season!

By TravisMelin
From: Roanoke, VA La Crosse, WI
Nov 13, 2012

Some more vaguish directions....https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201000115431571498961.0004ce6192de20d315487&msa=0&ll=37.455278,-79.62488&spn=0.001141,0.002411

By AndrewN
From: lynchburg, va
Apr 8, 2013

we need to get a big crew with allot of pads! project back of the values boulder is so close to going, fallen off the v7 move at the very top a couple times, but the 28 foot fall puts a damper on things without having a nest to land in