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Hatcher Pass Climbing
| Elevation: | 3,886 ft |
| GPS: | 61.813, -149.255 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
| Page Views: | 412,045 total · 3,436/month |
| Shared By: | Luke to Zuke on Jul 17, 2008 |
| Admins: | Jared LaVacque, L. Von Dommelheimer |
Access Issue: Archangel Valley Bridge Closed
Details
In the summer of 2014, the bridge that crosses the river just before Reed Lakes was closed due to structural problems. This bridge will remain closed until further notice. This adds a longer approach to the climbs beyond Reed Lakes.
Description [Edit]
This is a very untouched climbing area or rather unknown, full of FA's. The rock is blocky granite with alot of moss because the area receives steady rain in the spring and fall.
Routes
Hatcher Pass has a rich history of climbing, stretching back into the days of Fred Becky (not that those are really over...) Many of the loved classics were originally climbed in the 1980s. Grades can feel stiff and bolted climbs can feel very run out.
A rock climbing guide covers the climbing in Hatcher Pass, by Kelsey Gray. They are "Alaska Rock Climbing Guide" and is available in two editions, although the second is much better than the original, however like all guide books, there are mistakes in Kelsey's book, some mistakes include incorrect bolt counts and incorrect route lengths.
Bolts in Hatcher Pass
While a rebolting initiative has been happening throughout Alaska, many climbs in Hatcher still have bolts from their first ascents, when button heads, compression bolts, and other strange mank was the norm. Take every bolt in the area with a grain of salt. Many button heads still exist on very good routes. Some of these have seen partial rebolts, examples include 'Too Much Fun for You', and excellent 5.10 on the Monolith has alternating new and old bolts, and others have new anchors, but old bolts.
http://www.alaskarockclimbing.com/ for the route guidebook.
Bouldering
Current sites covering bouldering at Hatcher Pass areakclimber.com and a Face Book group called AKclimber, both run by Todd Helgeson and David Funatake. A bouldering guide to Alaska was recently released by Todd Helgeson and David Funatake with Kelsey Gray and covers most of the bouldering in Alaska and features an in depth Hatcher Pass section with great details and photos. The guide is available for sale at
http://www.akclimber.com/guidebook-ordering/ for the bouldering guide
Cleaning Boulders
Striking a balance between cleaning and leaving boulders in a natural state is difficult. Due to the mossy nature of Hatcher Pass, most boulders have a thick carpet on the top. Generally the rule is only to clean what is absolutely needed to climb the route. An example of bad cleaning can be seen on the Muffin Man boulder, at the base of the Diamond, you can see the orangish color from the road. Please be respectful of this beautiful resource.
Additional Information about Anchorage and South Central Alaska Climbing:
There is a gym in Anchorage, wwww.alaskarockgym.com and also a small gym in Wasilla.
Also, to give an idea of the rock at Hatcher Pass, here is a link to the official Trailer of "Falling Forward", which is a video about alpine bouldering in Alaska and will be premiered and released next spring. vimeo.com/101216080
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Relic on Toto (5.7)
Routes
Hatcher Pass has a rich history of climbing, stretching back into the days of Fred Becky (not that those are really over...) Many of the loved classics were originally climbed in the 1980s. Grades can feel stiff and bolted climbs can feel very run out.
A rock climbing guide covers the climbing in Hatcher Pass, by Kelsey Gray. They are "Alaska Rock Climbing Guide" and is available in two editions, although the second is much better than the original, however like all guide books, there are mistakes in Kelsey's book, some mistakes include incorrect bolt counts and incorrect route lengths.
Bolts in Hatcher Pass
While a rebolting initiative has been happening throughout Alaska, many climbs in Hatcher still have bolts from their first ascents, when button heads, compression bolts, and other strange mank was the norm. Take every bolt in the area with a grain of salt. Many button heads still exist on very good routes. Some of these have seen partial rebolts, examples include 'Too Much Fun for You', and excellent 5.10 on the Monolith has alternating new and old bolts, and others have new anchors, but old bolts.
http://www.alaskarockclimbing.com/ for the route guidebook.
Bouldering
Current sites covering bouldering at Hatcher Pass areakclimber.com and a Face Book group called AKclimber, both run by Todd Helgeson and David Funatake. A bouldering guide to Alaska was recently released by Todd Helgeson and David Funatake with Kelsey Gray and covers most of the bouldering in Alaska and features an in depth Hatcher Pass section with great details and photos. The guide is available for sale at
http://www.akclimber.com/guidebook-ordering/ for the bouldering guide
Cleaning Boulders
Striking a balance between cleaning and leaving boulders in a natural state is difficult. Due to the mossy nature of Hatcher Pass, most boulders have a thick carpet on the top. Generally the rule is only to clean what is absolutely needed to climb the route. An example of bad cleaning can be seen on the Muffin Man boulder, at the base of the Diamond, you can see the orangish color from the road. Please be respectful of this beautiful resource.
Additional Information about Anchorage and South Central Alaska Climbing:
There is a gym in Anchorage, wwww.alaskarockgym.com and also a small gym in Wasilla.
Also, to give an idea of the rock at Hatcher Pass, here is a link to the official Trailer of "Falling Forward", which is a video about alpine bouldering in Alaska and will be premiered and released next spring. vimeo.com/101216080
Getting There [Edit]
From Anchorage drive north on the Glenn Highway, 30 minutes, to Palmer. Continue through two stop lights, prior to ascending the large hill, that leaves Palmer. Keep following the Glenn to N. Palmer Fishhook Rd., which will be on the left hand side, approximately 2 miles from the 1st stop light. You will take this for 30 minutes. Drive parallel to the Little Susitna river up to the "Mother Lode Lodge" take the sharp U-turn, head up the hill for a few hundred yards, then take the easy-to-miss, sharp right up a single gravel road,you will see the Archangel Rd. sign. Continue on this past a river and then over a bridge. The climbing begins approximately 3.75 miles up. The bouldering starts at the Aldershade Boulders(marked by a large cairn on the right side of the road) on the right hand side, hidden by view, but right off the side of the road, around mile 1.75 from the start of Archangel Road. A 4x4 is required if you want to drive past the Reed Lakes Trailhead parking lot, which is approximately 2.5 miles up the road from the start.
Guidelines for bolting in Hatcher Pass
[Edit]
Over the last several years discussions have been started about adding new bolts to existing climbs. While REPLACEMENT of bolts is usually an accepted practice, the ethics in Hatcher are strictly against adding bolts to climbs. In very rare occasions this can be done , but you must have the express permission of the FA party. Any discussion of adding new bolts should be done only after that permission has been garnered.
If you are indeed interested in replacement of bolts, feel free to contact one of the admins, they can direct you to climbs that are in dire need of TLC, and may even be willing to give you hardware for that.
When bolting, please do not mix metals, and use only stainless gear. Climbs only a few years old in Hatcher with mixed metal (different hanger than bolt) show signs of serious galvanic corrosion and will soon need to be replaced.
If you are indeed interested in replacement of bolts, feel free to contact one of the admins, they can direct you to climbs that are in dire need of TLC, and may even be willing to give you hardware for that.
When bolting, please do not mix metals, and use only stainless gear. Climbs only a few years old in Hatcher with mixed metal (different hanger than bolt) show signs of serious galvanic corrosion and will soon need to be replaced.
Classic Climbing Routes at Hatcher Pass
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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Photos
4 Comments
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I didn't say it isn't possible. I sure hope you will share more of the HP gems you know about with the community, Shocker!
As for relativity, at the Smoke Bluffs there are 35m pitches of magical granite (that are cleaner than I've ever been) stacked right next to each other like a climbing gym less than 100 yds from the parking lot (i.e. Supervalue zone). This is just one zone (of many), at one climbing area (of many).
Currently at Hatcher, one has to bike four miles and hike a mile for pitches that are good and fun (not to mention in a setting that is hard to beat) but generally short, spread out, and with questionable cleanliness. Once the road opens, it will cut out 2.5 miles of that approach, but still...
I don't dismiss the quality of anything at HP. It hosts some of my favorite ski descents; packraft road runs; huts; backpacking trips; and some good ice, mixed, and granite climbing!
Route development potential for granite rock climbing is seemingly endless at Hatcher. However, there are many hindrances... Jul 13, 2015