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Table Rock (Boise) fire

Original Post
Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,374

For those who haven't gone up yet, rode my bike up yesterday. As bad as it looks from the front side, the back side is straight charcoal. Not even lichen on the rocks. Trails are all painfully obvious now, as is all the trash and graffit. The areas pounded to dirt previously are dirt now, so the climbing and bouldering is still there, sorta, but pretty depressing. A few swaths escaped, mainly the actual quarry, a lone stand of sagebrush out on the very end of the point near the quarry, and some other pockets here and there, but again, mostly burned.

For nonlocals, some incredibly stupid idiots decided to play with their bottle rockets atop our local mesa a couple weeks ago. At least only one family lost their home, and no human lives were lost. This time.

Kyle Fowler · · Jackson, MS · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 25

Well that sucks.. never been there but I'll be in Boise next week and that was the first place I wanted to check out. Side note - wanna go climbing at black cliffs sometime between the 22nd and the 30th? Just got the guidebook in the mail and I am psyched. It'll be me and my mom and we're very safe. Got all the gear just thought it'd be cool to have somebody that knows the area.

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,374

Hi Kyle!

I'm the mom on this end (59), and my son (22) is my main climbing partner. Pm if you and mom would like to try and meet up. My son's life is often pretty overbooked, but he really enjoys taking folks out. Even if he is booked, I'd be happy to go with you, but I'd need a ride, and one of you needs to lead, cause, well, I can't get up diddly squat out there. I have a bunch of fun anyway!

Kyle Fowler · · Jackson, MS · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 25

Ok sounds great.. I'll pm you once we get in town.

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,374

Great! My son is a pretty solid 10 something climber, so probably a good match.

What sort of climbing were you after? Which in the book got you stoked?

And, if anyone wants to see an exceptionally well done video of this fire, look for Table Rock fire Boise, the vimeo one is what you are after (overnight time lapse). I'm not any good at this, on my phone, anyway, or I'd pop it on.

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,374

Hey, just saw you kayak. We've got a pretty new whitewater park downtown. Drowning isn't my cup of tea, but...

Kyle Fowler · · Jackson, MS · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 25

Haha no I'm not big on drowning either but yea we are planning on a day of whitewater... I like easy trad routes or 10-11 sport but for my mom I thought we'd stick to the 6 to 8 range. Although I gotta get on bologna pony and see if I can hold on :)

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,374

Bologne pony, eh??? Yeah, you'll do fine.

My profile pic is about the third time I ever did anything, and is totally typical of the black cliffs. That's more or less Stems & jammies, plus everything else within reach on a top rope, without too big a pendulum. If you can get to it, and stuff a body part in, you're on route, is my philosophy.

So, columnar basalt just as pictured. Arêtes and dihedrals, and usually "a boulder problem in the sky", the bulging cap at the top. Straight up vertical climbs, with a few random roofs and ledges, just so ya have something to worry about.

If you don't mind having no clue what problem you are on, or even what rock, you might enjoy Swan Falls bouldering, if that's your thing. The joke is that the grades refer to figuring out what particular rock you might be on.

Stay flexible, by the way. It could be scorchy hot, smoky, or both, end of July, never know, but morning and evening are doable usually. And there's always plenty of places to play. Look forward to meeting you, I hope!

Kyle Fowler · · Jackson, MS · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 25

That sounds awesome. Never climbed on basalt before so it should be interesting. We are definitely flexible. My brother just got a job at Boise state so all we have to do is help him get moved in and the rest of the time is for fun! Being from Mississippi, anything under a 100 degrees is a pleasant day but we'll still be looking to chase shade. Can't wait to be there!

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,374

Hey, Tyler, pm if you need a catch and an old lady will do. We're headed for toasty, July finally arrived, I guess, so keep that inind. I don't have a car and can't lead, but catch sport, lead and trad quite happily. If my son is around, he's about 10c sport, dunno what on trad, and enjoys meeting people also.

Kyle, pm any time, if you want to get a phone number and start getting this lined up. BSU is my gym, by the way. :-)

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern Utah & Idaho
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