No idea which problem this is or where it is. Gre...
Description
The Rock Maze is a small area, but is filled with many fun, moderate boulder problems. Many good and interesting ones are in the V5 and under range. Most rocks are around 10 feet high or under on Sandstone, with a few traverses and higher problems. And if your tips get too shredded, then you can have fun exploring the mazes. They are really narrow, and tall enough to play hide and seek.
Make sure to check out Muscle Corner (V5), Southern Discomfort (V2), and Slot Machine (V1).
Getting There
From Rapid City, follow Nemo Road NW out of town. After about 14 miles from the edge of town (intersection with Berry Pines Road), Steamboat Rock recreation area is seen on the right. Either park here, or there is a small blocked off dirt road on the other side of the road to park at. You can also get here by taking highway 44 out of Rapid City, then cutting over to Nemo Road from Norris Peak Road.
Hike south up this road, then shortly after take a left on a faint road. Follow this road as it parallels the rocks that are just to the left. Take a left at the hill crest and walk for a minute or so to the main area.
This burly beast-of-a-problem is located within ten feet of Erica's Arete on a huge boulder. The potential for a very serious, life-threatening fall is...well, very serious. I debated on whether placing a couple of bolts mid-way up this monstrous boulder problem (thus the name "Little Monster"), but chose to err on the side of the strictest of ethics, since most people trying this will be a solid 5.13d climber and, of course, have at least thre...[more]
Part of the problem with the Rock Maze is that there isn't anything to consult for information on the area. We do not have a guidebook or anything else, except for the website, and what information I have been able to get my hands on has been inconsistent and incomplete at best.
I'm heading out to the Rock Maze this afternoon to take pictures of EVERY single problem I know of (or until my camera can't hold anymore data), and then it won't be so hard to figure out what problem we are all talking about. I've spent the last four years out there searching and doing stuff that I had never done before with a variety of individuals, stuff that nobody has told me otherwise about--until now.
I have put stuff up on the site to start keeping record for the area, because it is a spectacular area, in my opinion. It would be nice to have some kind of source (this website) to consult and add to over time, and that has been my intentions from the beginning--not to claim FAs or anything as trivial. I couldn't give a shit. I just want a resource to let us know what is around and what skill/strength level is required.
I've also been trying to clean the area up, because whoever visits the area seems to LOVE Taco Bell and Amoco (there's trash everywhere). And I realize that other people besides boulderers go to the Rock Maze. We just need to watch this activity and clean up when we can, right? I take almost an entire garbage bag out with me every other time I go out there. AND, somebody has been destroying vegetation--obviously climbers (I'll add a picture for effect tonight).
Love,Dan
PS. Baldy, Iron Moutain, and any other area I am aware of will be combed with a camera in the next month, too. So, when we're done with the Rock Maze, then we'll hash out the others.
This place rocks. The problems are pretty easy to find, the majority you just have to walk around the outside and you can see most of them. If you come here tho i would recommend to bring a brush for some of the holds.
Rock Maze
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