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New bouldering area in Boston area

Original Post
Louis Eubank · · Portland, ME · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 181

I just scouted a new bouldering area in Dedham, Mass at Wilson Mountain Reservation. Looks like there could be 10-20 routes, potentially more, including one fun 'highball' section of 20+ feet. Anyone interested in checking the place out with me, potentially helping scrub a few problems clear of moss? I'm in the process of contacting the Reservation to check on their policy regarding cleaning routes.
If you're in Boston w/out a car, I'm happy to pick you up at Forest Hills (last stop on the Orange Line). Wilson Mountain is 15-20 min away from FH, depending on traffic.

Russ Keane · · Salt Lake · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 392

That's sick dude. It it Puddingstone? I live in JP and I am very avid in local bouldering. Would love to go check it out.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Careful.. if i remember right they don't like the scrubbing stuff. I grew up in the next town over....

Joe M · · MA and NH · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 11,725

I believe Kelly Sheridan climbed a bunch of problems there back around 2000 or so. I checked it out once, and remember there being some ok stuff and one hard looking project on a cool overhang.

Louis Eubank · · Portland, ME · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 181

Russ - it's not Puddingstone, it's definitely metamorphic, probably granite. And now I've exhausted my HS freshman geo knowledge.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Also check out High Rock in needham/dover and hale reservation in Westwood

Nick Grant · · Tamworth, NH · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 424

Louis, I'm from Dedham, and we used to climb on the rocks around Wilson Mountain back in the 70's and 80's before they set up the park and everything. It was bushwhack city! If I remember, way back, there's also a nice big slab for beginners.

Russ Keane · · Salt Lake · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 392

Louis I saw your post about cleaning off these rocks.

Have you been able to climb anything yet? Or is it just a cleaning for now.

I would like to check them out if possible. I will help clean for sure...

Louis Eubank · · Portland, ME · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 181

Russ - I started scrubbing today. I climbed there last week and had a blast. Just found two new outcrops and one boulder today, but there's some serious seepage from all the snow, since almost all of the routes are on outcrops. So I'll be doing more scrubbing and less climbing until it gets colder or the snow melts.

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280
Louis Eubank wrote:Russ - it's not Puddingstone, it's definitely metamorphic, probably granite. And now I've exhausted my HS freshman geo knowledge.
Back to frosh geology: granite is igneous, not metamorphic. Think alot of the stuff out there is granite in nature, from what I remember seeing on my visits to the Boston area.
Louis Eubank · · Portland, ME · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 181

Hmm, if only there was some way I could have double-checked my geo knowledge / lack thereof before sounding like an idiot. Wiko, Woki, Weki... something like that. Regardless, I'll be headed out there again tomorrow if anyone wants to tromp around / scrub / climb on routes that are a bit wet.

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Pics..take some of the rock, close ups if you can, and we can have a geological comparison and discussion of the material here. More experts can jump in and maybe identify.

Russ Keane · · Salt Lake · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 392

Well I asked about puddingstone because the Roxbury areas of the city of Boston are FILLED with puddingstone. It used to be a quarry.

Hammond Pond is the well-known area where you climb this strange stuff. Dedham is not far from there.

Jason Hayden · · North Clarendon, VT · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 9,585

The geological maps of that area show two different types of granite on the land that the reserve is on. Westwood Granite and Dedham granite.

There is a map online that shows all the rock formations in the town for the town master plan.

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

link?

I built this map today for all you... Mass... folks ;-) right Clicking on a layer in the 'Active Layer Window' will allow you to adjust opacity so you can gleen various info... like show me where all the bedrock outcropping of X type of Granite are? Powerful stuff man...

maps.massgis.state.ma.us/ma…

Jason Hayden · · North Clarendon, VT · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 9,585

Morgan - the link was bad...it's a dowwnload PDF of the Dedham town plan and the maps are at the end of the document.

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

word... updated link let me know if ur still having issues.. that should work. It's not for those faint at heart for tech stuff... there's MANY MANY layers that can be added... tax lots, surface geology and glacial features (listening u boulderers?). I just setup the basic map for you guys, elevation, bedrock geology, and outcroppings. I pref to use another program that's simpler but the MassGIS folks aren't around and I can't figure out how to get the data into ArcGIS. Once I do I'll update link with the other online mapping program.

Russ Keane · · Salt Lake · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 392

Woah! Cool program.

You could use that for driving around looking for certain types of bouldering! "Follow that granite streak!!"

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
Russ Keane wrote:Woah! Cool program. You could use that for driving around looking for certain types of bouldering! "Follow that granite streak!!"
That was the point of me posting it... ;-)) Folks here now have a map of all bedrock outcroppings across the ENTIRE state, a geology map and topography map map all in one. BOOM! Finding new cliffs/boulders should be liking eating apple pie. Well not that nice but ya... kinda a holy grail for climbing.
Max Dismukes · · El Paso, TX · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 213

A quick google search yielded a few pictures. Looks like granite to me. Louis, if I don't see you at Rock Spot before you head here again, send me a message. I'd love to check it out. Great spot to bring the babies!
Photos -
panoramio.com/photo/38971742
whereiwalked.wordpress.com/…

tks · · Boston, MA · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 20
Louis Eubank wrote: I just scouted a new bouldering area in Dedham, Mass at Wilson Mountain Reservation. Looks like there could be 10-20 routes, potentially more, including one fun 'highball' section of 20+ feet. Anyone interested in checking the place out with me, potentially helping scrub a few problems clear of moss? I'm in the process of contacting the Reservation to check on their policy regarding cleaning routes. If you're in Boston w/out a car, I'm happy to pick you up at Forest Hills (last stop on the Orange Line). Wilson Mountain is 15-20 min away from FH, depending on traffic.
Hi, I went hiking through Mt Wilson the other day but didn't come across any of the boulders you mentioned.

What's the best way to find them? Entrance, trail, etc?

thanks!
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northeastern States
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