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(3) Hummingbird Wall and Hummingbird Terrace

Washington > South-W & Tacoma > Columbia Gorge > Farside / Dropzone
Warning Access Issue: Highway 14 Parking DetailsDrop down

Description

Extremely easy and fun routes continue to the top on gear, and if setting an intermediate belay on the ledge, great gear protection can be had with some looking around and careful observation. Hummingbird Wall is located towards the West end of the main cliff, above where the trail drops down a few feet and crosses the old garbage drop zone. When climbing in this area, note that Skamania County locals often come and scavenge the garbage located here. They may be below you all day digging into the dirt, as they have been doing for the last 35 years plus. Be very careful not to drop or knock off rocks or big sticks unless you are sure you are alone and that non-climbers, who have no awareness at all that you may be perched invisibly and out of sight up high, are not present. Again, because of some of the shockingly easy routes in the area that top off, the ledge area intentionally did not have gym climbing style bolted anchors put in or any fixed anchors left AT ALL. You MUST ascent to the top to get off or back down. This was done and left this way so that climbers could get a feel for what a real climb might entail, and have an opportunity to learn how to build a multi-pitch gear anchor at the base of the Hummingbird Terrace climbs (upper). Very small pro is mandatory for the anchors. Topping out or leaving a gear anchor is thus mandatory, and a great way to end the day to access cars and top out, as well as Hummingbird Terrace just being a nice place to hang out and enjoy the day or have lunch. When people are on the ledge, the possibility of the dirt sliding off with you on it is real enough that you should be on belay or tied off to your gear anchor at all times. A single 60 meter rope is sufficient to rappel to the ground from the very top of the cliff and you can climb to the top on any line and skip the intermediate anchor on all of the Hummingbird Terrace routes if you choose.

Getting There

This is the obvious two-tier section of the main cliff.

Routes from Left to Right

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Hummingbird Wall seen from the West. The edge of Hummingbird Ledge is just at the edge of the frame to the top.
[Hide Photo] Hummingbird Wall seen from the West. The edge of Hummingbird Ledge is just at the edge of the frame to the top.