Contact Station Area  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  8,116. Good page? (1 like)    Administrators:  Aaron James Parlier, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Aaron James Parlier on Jul 4, 2012 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 73° | 61° 72° | 59° 70° | 48° 61° | 32° 61° | 32°

Inspecting True Grit Boulder at the Contact Statio...

Description 

Although this is a small area (only four boulders), its a very short walk, and houses a diversity of bouldering. From the dynamic, powerful, and inverted climbing on the first boulder (the "True Grit Boulder"), to the straight foreword and tallish boulder that the beginner and experienced both can enjoy together (the "Ranger Rick" boulder), this area has almost everything. The Periscope Boulder has the aesthetic and classic "Periscope" (v3) and the fun "Bombsight" to try. The Contact Boulder stands on its own as one of the favorite boulders to end (or begin) the day on... this area is all around great.

Getting There 

As you pull into the park you have to pay three dollars (at the peak season) as you drive past the little pay station which is called "The Contact Station". There will be a bigger building with a parking lot to the left directly after this and this is the Park Office. The office has drink machines, bathrooms, usually a friendly park ranger on duty, and cool stickers and stuff to buy. You will park here to get to the nearby Contact Station Boulders.

When you park at the station, get your pads and gear and walk toward the woods directly to the side of the Office. Look for the little green box on the hillside. Behind the little green box will be two MASSIVE red oak trees growing close together. The trail begins as soon as you walk between the trees. Just stay between the timberline trail and follow the black blazed markers. The trail will guide you to the Periscope Boulder (please stay on the trail to reduce impact).

The trail will guide you directly to the Periscope Boulder. To the right of this boulder will be the Ranger Rick Boulder. To the left of Periscope is the smaller Split Block, and past Split and slightly more downhill will be the True Grit Boulder.

To get to the Contact Boulder walk down the road and take a left down the gravel road with the DO NOT ENTER sign (I asked and I assure you it is approved to climb down here, just don’t drive your car). Once you reach the point where the road splits, walk downhill diagonally to the rocky looking portion. You are seeing the back of the boulders and it won’t look like much until you get to the front side.

The Classics

Featured Route For Contact Station Area

Mostly Harmless V4  VA : Grayson Highlands State Par... : ... : Contact Boulder

Sit start same as "Copperhead" (v3) on large jugs with a left heel hook. Move straight up to a solid flake and then out right to a rail/flake. Work your feet to the right and use a heel on the start holds before starting the traverse, moving far right to a flat crimp. Lower your feet down into the crack area before bringing your left hand down to a crimp. From there bump up with your right or go big for the jug on the right side of the crack. The rest is jugs the whole way to the top out. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in VA

Photos of Contact Station Area Slideshow

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The True Grit Boulder at the contact Station Bould...	Jason Lachniet's FA of "True Grit"(V-5)at the Cont...	Aaron Parlier with a snowy FA of "Tech-Tonic" (V-7...
Aaron Parlier just after the sit-start to "Tech-To...	Vanessa Keller on "Ranger Rick" (V-0+) on the Rang...	Vanessa Keller on the sit start to "periscope" (V-...
Vanessa Keller on "periscope" (V-3) on the Ranger ...	Travis Melin on "Periscope" (V-3) on the Ranger Bo...	Vanessa Keller on "True Grit" (V-5+) on the True G...
Joanna Jennings working the fun "Copperhead" (V-3)...	Joanna Jennings on "Ranger Rick" (V-0), Ranger Ric...	Katie Everson sizing up the Ranger Rick Boulder