Nine Mile Hill  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  139,305. Good page?    Administrators:  Jesse Zacher, Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Matthew Seymour on Oct 15, 2009 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

BETA PHOTO: The long pumpy traverse along lower East Creek in ...

Description 

The climbing along Nine Mile Hill exists on the Cretaceous-era Dakota Sandstone formation. Although not as solid as its famous Wingate brother, the Dakota is certainly capable of moments of brilliance. Several cliffs along Nine Mile Hill have been developed with both traditional crack climbs and bolted sport routes. However, the main draw along Nine Mile Hill is bouldering.

The boulder fields along CO-141 extend the entire nine miles from the Gunnison river to the top of the Uncompagre Plateau, at an average width of over a mile. Now that is a lot of boulders! It is true that a lot of these boulders don't contain climbable rock; for every climbable boulder there are perhaps 5 unclimbable boulders. But in an area where the boulders literally number in the thousands, that leaves about (hmmm lets see [several X 1,000 X (1/6)= uhmmm]) a lot of climbable rock. Whats more, a lot of those boulders that have routes have amazing routes.

The bouldering in this area is still largely undeveloped, and much that has been developed has gone unreported. This often gives the bouldering an adventurous feel.

The earliest known bouldering in this area was developed in the late '80s and early '90s by the climbers heading out to the main canyon. Many areas were developed throughout the '90s, and there were a few chipping incidents whose offenders shall go nameless here. Many of the classic areas were explored and developed by the reticent hardman Matt Lisenby and friends throughout the late '90s and early 2000s. Many more strong climbers have developed boulders as of late. Several of them have posted these areas to this database, and I will let them tell their own stories.

The land in the Nine Mile Hile area is all BLM, and few regulations are in place. There is no camping in the East Creek Day Use Area. Once you pass the cattle guard at the base of the real hill there is legal at large camping with the usual 14 day limit. Please help keep this area free of regulation by being respectful of this great resource.

Getting There 

From Grand Junction, Colorado. Head south out of town on US-50, towards Montrose and Delta. After traveling about 9 miles south of Grand Junction, turn right on CO-141, toward Gateway. This intersection is located in the small town of Whitewater.

The Nine Mile Hill area begins about 1 mile past this intersection and continues along CO-141 for about, you guessed it, nine miles.

Driving directions to crags are generally measured from the intersection of CO-141 and US-50, or from the cattle guard just past East Creek Day Use Area and the beginning of Nine Mile Hill proper.

The Classics

Featured Route For Nine Mile Hill

Flash Flood V3-4  CO : Grand Junction area : ... : Bankfull Boulder

Stand start at the hueco feature and up with a left hand to a two finger pocket, then move out to a right hand sidepull pocket. From there, go up with the left hand to a high crimp and right hand to a small pinch. Get your right foot up high and go to the large pocket straight up, the pocket has a nice lip and is really solid. From there, just move up and top out....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of Nine Mile Hill Slideshow

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BETA PHOTO: Traverse wall along Hwy 141 at the bottom of Nine ...	East Creek in the Fall makes for scenic climbing a...	Some very pretty lichen and sandstone combinations...
BETA PHOTO: Bucket Racer Boulder.