Connect with Facebook
Waterfall Hill (Yaedagon Taung) Rock Climbing
| Elevation: | 1,065 ft |
| GPS: | 21.967, 96.216 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
| Page Views: | 5,682 total · 123/month |
| Shared By: | Andy Riley on Apr 2, 2015 |
| Admins: | Andy Riley |
Access Issue: Keeping climbs open depends on maintaining good relationships with locals and monks
Details
This climbing area is intertwined with monasteries and pagodas. It is critical for climbing in Myanmar to maintain these relationships through respectful conduct with the monks and the surrounding areas. Please be modest, respectful, friendly, and responsive to the wishes of the monks and local people. Do not climb on religious monuments, and remove shoes when crossing over established pagoda areas.
Description
Waterfall Hill was the first sport climbing area established in Myanmar. The climbing walls are set into the hills east of Mandalay and are beautifully intertwined with pagodas and monasteries. Monkeys roam and jump from tree to tree, while buddhist monks chant through the loud speakers; limestone cliffs all around. There are 4 climbing walls. Training wall is what it sounds like, and you should probably only go there if you are learning to climb. Monk's life wall has a few 2-pitch climbs. Fire Wall has the highest volume of climbing, varying in style and pitch length. Steve Wall has good quality tall routes. All routes are good for climbing until late afternoon, when the sun comes to the climbing side of the hill. If you would like to check out Tyler Hoffart's excellent blog, which documents his bolting efforts on Waterfall Hill, you can find it here: goldenlandproject.tumblr.com/ Enjoy.
NOTE: Many of the routes at Waterfall Hill are missing the hangers off of the first couple of bolts. You can either bring a couple of hangers and nuts for 3/8" bolts, or fashion a long stick clip once you arrive.
NOTE: Many of the routes at Waterfall Hill are missing the hangers off of the first couple of bolts. You can either bring a couple of hangers and nuts for 3/8" bolts, or fashion a long stick clip once you arrive.
Getting There
The directions to the monastery are not difficult to execute but difficult to describe. Head out of town East on 35th street. You will pass through some villages and will eventually take a right turn at a Y. You will eventually come to a sign for a golf course stay straight here driving towards the hill. The road will dead end here, and you will turn right and end up at a series of switchbacks that take you up the mountain to the monastery. Here are the GPS coordinates for the monastery: goo.gl/maps/MZAzQa4xLdP2 If you get lost, ask locals for the Yaedagon Taung Monastery.
Classic Climbing Routes at Waterfall Hill (Yaedagon Taung)
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
Weather Averages
|
High
|
Low
|
|
Precip
|
Days w Precip
|
Prime Climbing Season
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
Photos
1 Comment
More About Waterfall Hill (Yaedagon Taung)
Printer-FriendlyWhat's New
Because of how silly blogs are, you need to scroll all the way back to the beginning of the story, but it's worth it, I promise. Unfortunately, I believe they make you sign up for a Tumblr account in order to view the full blog. Those jerk faces. Anyway, I recommend taking the time to check it out. I filled that blog with photos and writings of the experience, which absolutely changed my life, especially my inner life.
I will always remember Waterfall Hill with huge love in my heart and a type of reverence that I have never experienced before, nor since. I sure hope to get back one day.
Once again, thank you to Andrew for getting all of this information organized and online, no small feat. Mar 26, 2016