Flagstaff

FLAGSTAFF IS A AWSOME PLACE TO TAKE BEGINERS LOTS OF GOOD TOP ROPES AND SOME GOOD REPELING! AND THE BEST PART IS MOST OF IT IS A SHORT TWO MINUTE WALK FROM THE ROAD

Not much can be said concerning the wonderful bouldering at Flagstaff. Both the history and profundity of rock on the mountain is overwhelming. But here's the deal - it's filthy. I know damn well it isn't only climbers (as a matter of fact it's mostly the climbers making any concerted effort to keep the place looking snazzy), but let's step up to the plate and pretty the place up. If we all brought one Safeway or "whatever" bag every time we travelled to the crags, and tried to fill it, think of the improvement. It takes minimal time and minimal effort. Anyway, love the place, love the site.

I don't think Flagstaff is for beginners. Very sharp grit will shread your hands. You must be able to Boulder in the mid to upper V scale or you will be frustrated on many sandbagged ratings. Great place to go though, but too many gapers. Beginners should look at Mt. Sanitas. Problems shouldn't tear your hands as much and lots of hot babes chillin.

I have had an unbelievable amount of luck hitch-hiking up to flagstaff from baseline rd...this is awesome if you don't have a car, and it's the hikers and climbers that mostly pick up folks---thank yall

Pretty sweet bouldering but it can tear your hands apart.

OHHHHHH...mommy, my hands won't quit hurting. The rock is all sharp and hurty...sob, ohh, boo, hoo. If I would have just climbed at the BRC my hands wouldn't hurt so bad. Hope none of you whiners ever want to come out to Yosemite and climb long cracks, because you might drown the party that was about to pass you with your hurty hand tears. Come on grow a pair and enjoy the great bouldering on Flag without all the moans. Props to the clean up dude, Flag needs it!!

Does anyone know anything about the boulder just above the parking area on the right after the main monkey traverse parking area? There was some chalk on some up problems, but there is also quite a good traverse from right to left . Just wondering if anyone has done it before, I'm sure someone has.

Well AC, I will actually admit to doing umpteen silly little vertical problems on it as well as the right to left traverse in 1999. As you know, plenty of people have probably fooled around on it through the years, although it has never been included or mentioned in any guides. The problems are too short to be of interest to most boulderers ... nevertheless, it is one of the nicer boulders for full-on beginners; ie: nice landings, short falls, pad not required, etc.

Here's a link to the miniguide for this boulder:

http://flagstaffmountainbouldering.blogspot.com/2008/03/tuto>>>>>

Thankf for the beta Chip! Also some additional comments: What is the VB rating? I don't believe I've seen it before. Also, the traverse on tutorial rock is probably still V4/V5 without the big hold.

You bet. The VB rating is common at California areas and in RockFax bouldering guides. It usually equates to 5.8/5.9 boulder problems.

Well AC, I revisited Tutorial Rock when you suggested it was still V4/5 without the huge handlebar rail. While I will agree that the high traverse riding the lip could fairly be graded V4 or and deserving of a *, the low traverse dropping down from the slopers just past the two pebbles to what is left of the rail, continuing left into the start for Layback Lesson and then up, is quite a bit harder and less enjoyable on crumbly sharp rock. Its too bad the handlebar rail went bye bye. It was a truly awesome finish.

V6 then I guess. Heel hooking eases the weight on the arms quite a bit.

I guess I was just psyched to find something "new" up there. New to me that is.

Flagstaff is a great place to find "new" problems, especially if you have been bouldering for a while. Now I don't mean FA's, those are few and far between. I am talking about walking that extra little bit to the boulder you keep seeing just off the road, down the hill, or across the valley. Get off the beaten path, walking on hard surfaces of course, and explore! Usually it doesn't take too long to find something up on Flagstaff that will intrigue you for weeks. The best part is you tell your buddies about your latest project and they've never heard of it, or they've always wondered about that boulder and just never had the time to explore. The rock is gritty, but suck it up and after a couple of days you won't notice.

-D

Where are the top ropes on Flagstaff? I am taking my young neices climbing and I can't find info on website exactly where they are. Thanks.

I'm new to the area and just starting to get aquainted with the local spots. Does anyone know what the south arete of the North Boulders go at? The boulder I am referring too is the closest to the Red Wall, there is an obvious sit start on two underclings to some pinches and slopers. Name? Grade?

I just wanted to point out this awesome website for Flagstaff beta (by Chip Phillips):

http://www.flagstaffmountainbouldering.blogspot.com/

It's linked to on a couple of pages, but it needed to be in a more prominent spot, because it is really solid and fills in many gaps here.

Thanks for the plug Caleb. FWIW, the blog-guide on the above link should be completed by the end of 2010. It has been a much longer process than I expected.

It was always my hope that I would publish this guide as a fold-out map on tear-proof/waterproof kevlar paper. At this time, however, I believe the online format works best for this sort of endeavor. Entries may be edited/modified, etc. as unknown and new information comes to light.

As of 01/2010, approximately 640 problems covering 2/3 of the mountain are up on the blog-guide. More will be up soon. Hopefully, it will be a great resource for those of us who enjoy venturing up Flagstaff from time to time.

The guide is crazy comprehensive, great job, really well done.

Hey, can everybody list what they think are the best classic boulder problems on the mountain? I'm trying to make a list of the best boulder problems associating history and great movement for the grades of V0-V12. Curious to get others input on the subject!