Mountain Project: Climbing Rumney

Black Jack Boulders

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Scattered in the woods at the base of the hill, the Black Jack boulders offer some classic problems on great stone. The boulders start near the road and extend uphill almost to Waimea.

This area is complex as boulders lean upon boulders and caves abound. Take some time and explore this area and you will surely find some hidden classics as well as some first ascent potential. Must do problems include, but are not limited to: Zig Zag Crack V1, Umbrella Traverse V2, Black Jack Crack V2x, Spraguesorus V5, Pyramid Power V7, Satan on a Halfshell V10, and Satan's Choice V11.

The Black Jacks can be blissful on dry winter days, or torturous in the heat of summer. Since most of the boulders sit on or near lowlying marsh land, bug season arrives with a vengence in the Black Jacks.

Getting There

Park in the lot. DO NOT PARK ALONG THE ROAD. Walk along the road single file to telephone pole 37 and follow a well-worn trail uphill into the woods. At the first big boulder you see, follow the trail left, through the Black Jacks.
Or better yet, follow the graded path path from the small parking lot and take the Short Cut trail traversing the hillside west from the top of the wooden staircase leading to the left side of the Main Cliff. Once past the midway boulder, don't head up the hill like going to Bonsai, but continue straight, under Monsters until you reach the Blackjack's Entrance boulder. This is only 5 minutes more and keeps you off the road, keeping the locals happy and you not run over. Plus you go by more great bouldering.

The Classics

Comments on Black Jack Boulders

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By Lanky
From: Portland, ME
Aug 22, 2008

Any reason the Blackjack's are divided up by specific boulder instead of considering the whole area one... um, area?

By lee hansche
Administrator
From: goffstown, nh
Aug 22, 2008

it might have started because the Black Jack Boulder is like a mini crag... but i think it makes sense to break it down, makes it easy to navigate... would be great if someone would make a map of the boulders...

By matthewWallace
From: plymouth, nh
Dec 15, 2008

I think it is divided up because it is much easier to navigate, if you look at how the pound is set up it is confusing to figure out where some of the problems are, it would be really nice if the pound was split up by boulders.

By M Sprague
Administrator
From: New England
Jun 6, 2010

To approach the BlackJacks it is better to take the Shortcut Trail than to walk along the road. That helps avoid friction with drivers on the small road. It is only slightly longer time wise and it also takes you right by the awesome boulders below Monsters. Take the main trail from the small parking lot running west parallel to the road (lots of boulders on the hillside above, below the Main cliff), and head up the wooden staircase like you are going to Armed and Dangerous. Break left before you get there following the blue flags and traverse the hillside above the 5.8 crag and below Monsters. The trail will pop you out right at the Entrance boulder at the beginning of the Blackjacks.

If you follow the trail uphill before you get to Monsters, you will come to the cool overhanging bouldering ledges to the left (along the trial from Venus), or go left there to the boulders above Monsters

By matthewWallace
From: plymouth, nh
Dec 20, 2010

Here are some video I found of Black Jack Bouldering, Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/user/niceporch#p/u/6/cZtOyCe4i5A

www.youtube.com/user/niceporch#p/u/7/zLt0pa0HRBU

www.youtube.com/user/niceporch#p/u/27/n3BGi9GKweg

Rumney has some great bouldering that I personally dont think gets enough credit!

By matthewWallace
From: plymouth, nh
Dec 23, 2010

For everyone who likes to winter boulder in Black Jack, I left a broom in the cave/hole to the right of the Umbrella Boulder. I plan on leaving it there for the duration of the winter and you are more than welcome to use it. I just ask that if you use it try not to break it and please put it back when you are done with it. Happy sending :)

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Black Jack Boulders

Description

Getting There

The Classics