Group Camp B, Plan B Area + Backbone Ridge

Rough topo. Includes many of the better lines, bu...

Description 

Bouldering at these areas first began in the mid 80's with visits from Dave Groth and others. Mike Mcarron spent time here. It is a small bouldering area filled with blocks and boulders of hard grey sandstone. The quality of the rock is very good for the park, though spots still remain iffy here and there. The bouldering consists mainly of just under and just over vertical, though there are a few steep ones out there. The probmlems are host to an array of holds. Pockets, crimpers, slopers, pinches- you name it. For the most part the climbing here flows well, and with some of the highballs it is more like climbing a route than a "problem". There are plenty of shorter problems, but the highballs dominate the pine woods with a broken down palace sort of atmoshpere. It is a very nice hang as long as there isn't a troop of boy scouts screaming and running everywhere. To my knowledge there are about 30-35 problems that I know about, and room for more with a little attention.

I divied the area into two sections. First the Plan B area and second the Backbone ridge area. These two are very close to eachother, and share the main trail up the hill. Plan B will be to your left.

The problems lie on both south and north sides, so conditions will vary. Very nice in the fall, and not too bad in the summer. The Back wall gets great afternoon sun.

As always if anyone has more accurate/historic info/names why let me know. Grades are without consensus. Of the 40 or so times I have bouldered here, only once was I not alone.

There are also some possible TR problems on the far side of the bluff. Hike past the Plan B area and continue near the top or on the top. Eventually you will come across the out crops.

Getting There 

From the main office continue straight towards the group camp sites. Drive past the showers on your left and continue to the parking area at site B. On the weekends in the summer these sites are almost always filled. Be courtuous and ask to "hike through". Never yet encountered difficulty with that. Walk straight through the site and go either side of the boulder there. There are two steep trails that will put you at the same place on the ridge. On the weekdays it is almost always quiet and peaceful. 90% of the visitors to the park go to the lakes for swimming, boating, and fishing leaving this section relitively remote. Most of the landings are flat but not all. The older I get, the thicker I like my pads to be. Some of the highballs are kind of committer at the top. Some may prefer short topropes. Long chunks of webbing would be useful for that.

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