Mount Boner seen from Punk Rock. Brian is on Shaki...
Description
A fun sport crag with quality routes from 5.8 to 5.11 on solid granite. The routes here are similar in character, but longer than, the routes on the neighboring Punk Rock. Try them all, but I particularly enjoy Shaking the Pope's Hand (5.8) and Smack the Cold Booty (5.11b). All routes (with the possible exception of the 5.10 roof route at the far right of the crag) can be set up with a TR, although access around the back side of Mt. Boner is a bit more involved than for Punk Rock. Just follow your nose and be prepared for a few low fifth class moves.
Getting There
Follow the directions to the Ironclads. Hop out of your car and make the grueling 1 minute approach to Mt. Boner, the obvious crag to the left of Punk Rock. Unlike Punk Rock, you will not be able to belay out of the back of your pickup, but it's pretty close.
By Charles Vernon From: I'm in transition right now Nov 5, 2001
Having done every route on both Punk Rock and Mount Boner (yeah, I know, woo-hoo) I have to agree that Smack the Cold Booty and Shaking the Pope's Hand are definitely the best on either rock, and really the only ones possibly worthy of more than 2 stars.
The 5.10 roof problem on the far right side of Mt. Boner should be noted to have loose hangers under the roof and above, probably just need a wrench, so Beware!~
After an entire spring of brutal training and rock-work, I decided, on this very day, to give a go at Mt. Boner, and more-so to attempt the seemingly impossible and rarely accomplished "Mt. Boner in-a-day". To make matters even more striking and improbable, I decided to try it on self-belay. . . (okay, fact is nobody wanted to go with me). I started with Alvino Pon's brilliant testpiece: "Shake Hands With The Unemployed". After regaining my nerves I went over to "Confessions". Following a brief 30 minute meditation session in hopes of re-gaining my mental edge, I moved on to the other 6 routes; believe it or not, I fired them all, ON SIGHT and without a rest. If I am to be considered for the "Climber of the Year" award, please allow me at least 30 days to prepare my speech. . . . Thanks in advance for all of the support and back-patting. And also, please know that I accomplished this great feat for the love of climbing. . . not some ego-building award (which I will accept).
So maybe it's not a destination. . . and maybe it isn't beautiful rock. . . and maybe there are some rednecks with wheels and guns. . . and maybe they are short and unenchanting climbs. . . and maybe they were bolted on TR with a 6-pack of Busch strapped to the "gunners" helmet drip-system. It's still a fun place for a drive-by rope-gunnin'. . . and besides, the Irondclads (and even Punk Rock), when incorporated, makes it a destination. I was the only one within sight and earshot tonight. The sunset views from atop Mt. Boner's "summit" were actually serene and sublime.
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