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Elevation: 1,098 ft
GPS: 43.80513, -71.84452
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 58,409 total · 279/month
Shared By: Lee Hansche on Jan 12, 2007 · Updates
Admins: Jay Knower, M Sprague, Lee Hansche, Jeffrey LeCours, Jonathan S, Robert Hall

Description Suggest change

The Prudential is a beautiful mostly overhanging cliff that is a little out of the way (meaning not crowded). Located west of the more popular (and populated) Waimea area. Though it's only about a 15 minute walk from Waimea it sees only a fraction of the traffic that it deserves.

The cliff faces south and many of the routes are steep and normally stay dry. These things make it a great winter crag, when the sun hits it on a cold winter day you would think it was still autumn. It should go without saying that it gets hot in the summer so plan accordingly.

There are some killer routes here including one of my favorite routes at Rumney, Stoned Temple Pilot (5.12a), this route and a few others at the crag feel a bit like climbs you would find at the Red River Gorge thanks to a band of honeycombed rock and the super overhanging nature of the climbing. Other faves include, The Premium (5.12c/d), Horned Behavior (5.12b), and Machine Head (5.11c/d). The mantel finish on Machine Head is worth the hike all on its own.

All "super classics" aside there are great sport climbs here from 5.10a to 5.12c/d. Even a few trad lines like Prudential Crack (5.8+), Wiggler Wants It (5.12a R) and the newer addition Losing Your Life and Living Through It 5.12c. The grades at Prudential tend to be solid "honest" grades, in other words you will have to earn what you send at any grade. So be prepared to work!

So next time you want to spice it up a bit, take a walk and check out this beautiful piece of schist. The routes are like nothing you've climbed at Rumney before and afterwards you will find yourself spraying to your friends about the sick routes you did without the noise and distraction of the everyday cliffs.

Getting There Suggest change

There are a few ways to get to The Prudential. I'll start with tour of the west crags rt. this line will take you past a few other lower traffic areas that you'll likely stop at on the way and never get to your destination, saying, "next time we will keep going and find the Prudential".

Starting at Waimea head down a trail at the far left (west) end of the cliff. Follow this down hill and around Triple Corners (there is a trail that links Blackjack boulders and Triple Corners that is more direct. You may want to take this instead of starting at Waimea.)Continue around Triple Corners over some boulders and start heading up hill again, steep at times. At one point you'll accend a short but steep gully with a fixed rope in it. Up the hill you get to a large and awesome crag called The Hinterlands. Skirt the crag to the left and continue along the trail. You'll see a good sized cliff as you hike under a large gully. This is Yellowknife Buttress (you'll want to stop and climb every route on this georgous cliff but press on you are almost there. As you pass Yellowknife a little more scrambling will lead to The Prudential.

The cliff's right side is steep, this is the part that stays dry. The left side is split by a large ledge with a few trees on it. There are a few nice 5.10s on the left end of the ledge. Under the ledge there are a few climbs and direct sarts to the upper routes.

The other approch is to continue through the Black Jacks to its western edge and pick up a trail marked in parts with fallen small trees and sticks. This trail wanders through a less-steep but perhaps longer trail to the Northwest Territories crag. Hike up hill to the gully and turn right. The cliff on the right of the gully is the Prudential.

Enjoy.

You may want to add the third approach from the pit parking lot.  Faster and more direct.

28 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at The Prudential

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 20
Bright Eyes
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 52
Blue Sky and Rhino Horns
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 92
Nice Land
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 61
El Funko
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 79
Swedish Girls
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 75
Finland
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 7
Soft Machine
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 113
Machine Head
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 121
Stoned Temple Pilot
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R
 5
Wiggler Wants It
Trad, TR
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 50
Mission Accomplished
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 45
Horned Behavior
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 30
The Half Premium
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 16
Soft Job
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 10
The Full Premium
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Bright Eyes
 20
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Sport
Blue Sky and Rhino Horns
 52
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Nice Land
 92
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
El Funko
 61
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Swedish Girls
 79
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Finland
 75
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Soft Machine
 7
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Machine Head
 113
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Stoned Temple Pilot
 121
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Wiggler Wants It
 5
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R Trad, TR
Mission Accomplished
 50
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Horned Behavior
 45
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
The Half Premium
 30
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Soft Job
 16
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
The Full Premium
 10
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
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