Yellowjacket Area Climbing
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Elevation: | 1,545 ft | 471 m |
GPS: |
43.9007, -71.556 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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Page Views: | 84,195 total · 612/month | |
Shared By: | Jay Knower on Aug 21, 2013 | |
Admins: | Jay Knower, M Sprague, Jeffrey LeCours, Jonathan S, Robert Hall |
Description
An overwhelming number of boulders and small cliffs dot the western slope of Bald Knob. The rock begins at the summit and extends downhill for up to a half mile.
The Yellowjacket Boulder is the most striking of the boulders, and is unique because of its highly-featured rock. The Yellowjacket Boudlerfield, however, holds most of the potential in the area. From one-move lowballs to towering highballs, the boulderfield offers what seems like unlimited potential for new problems.
The Hive is the best place to start, as the boulders are medium-sized and the landings are good. From the Hive, consider exploring the jumbled chaos of the Skyfall Area. If you're feeling really adventurous, head uphill and try to decipher the large talus and cliffs up above. Once you're higher on the hill, maybe hit The Pillars area for a few classic problems. Or walk further uphill and check out the Dark Crystal Boulder. And of course, no trip is complete without a stop at the Yellowjacket Boulder, which sits randomly by itself in a beautiful stand of old-growth pines.
The Yellowjacket Boulder is the most striking of the boulders, and is unique because of its highly-featured rock. The Yellowjacket Boudlerfield, however, holds most of the potential in the area. From one-move lowballs to towering highballs, the boulderfield offers what seems like unlimited potential for new problems.
The Hive is the best place to start, as the boulders are medium-sized and the landings are good. From the Hive, consider exploring the jumbled chaos of the Skyfall Area. If you're feeling really adventurous, head uphill and try to decipher the large talus and cliffs up above. Once you're higher on the hill, maybe hit The Pillars area for a few classic problems. Or walk further uphill and check out the Dark Crystal Boulder. And of course, no trip is complete without a stop at the Yellowjacket Boulder, which sits randomly by itself in a beautiful stand of old-growth pines.
Getting There
Park at the picnic area where Highway 49 and the northern end of Mad River Road intersect. Walk a bit up 49 until you can see an old logging road across the street. Walk up this road until it becomes a trail. You'll see the main stream come in from the right. (The idea is to follow this stream as this stream will eventually lead you directly to the boulders.)
The trail crisscrosses a bunch of cross country ski trails, but keep following the main stream into the woods. After about a third of a mile, you'll end up on the Yellowjacket Ski Trail. Once on this trail, follow it for a couple hundred yards until the stream crosses under the trail at a wooden bridge (this would be the second bridge you've crossed). Once over the bridge, head left into the woods.
Once in the woods, bushwhack up the stream bed, and look for periodic cairns. As long as you follow the stream, you can't get lost. You will come to some average-looking boulders on the left after about 4/10ths of a mile. Keep heading up the stream bed for another few minutes and you'll see the Yellowjacket Boulder. At the average boulders, cross the stream and head left up a trail to access the lower reaches of the Yellowjacket Boulderfield. You'll come to the Skyfall Area first, with the Hive right behind the jumbled boulders of Skyfall.
The trail crisscrosses a bunch of cross country ski trails, but keep following the main stream into the woods. After about a third of a mile, you'll end up on the Yellowjacket Ski Trail. Once on this trail, follow it for a couple hundred yards until the stream crosses under the trail at a wooden bridge (this would be the second bridge you've crossed). Once over the bridge, head left into the woods.
Once in the woods, bushwhack up the stream bed, and look for periodic cairns. As long as you follow the stream, you can't get lost. You will come to some average-looking boulders on the left after about 4/10ths of a mile. Keep heading up the stream bed for another few minutes and you'll see the Yellowjacket Boulder. At the average boulders, cross the stream and head left up a trail to access the lower reaches of the Yellowjacket Boulderfield. You'll come to the Skyfall Area first, with the Hive right behind the jumbled boulders of Skyfall.
Classic Climbing Routes at Yellowjacket Area
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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