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Elevation: 6,800 ft
GPS: 46.91644, -110.70509
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Page Views: 18,950 total · 182/month
Shared By: Brian Thompson on Sep 1, 2015
Admins: GRK, Zach Wahrer

Description Suggest change

The Prospector crag is 80-150ft tall composed of Neihart quartz. From the parking area the tall west wall and two tiered south wall can be seen. The rock has a peach color throughout like most rock in the Memorial Falls area. The majority of the climbs ascend the two tiered southern face. Atop the first 80ft pitch is a sloping ledge "luncheon ledge". Upper tier climbs departing from luncheon ledge include Gold Rush and High Ore. Top ropes can be set up by scrambling around the east (lookers right) side of the crag and up a gully. Luncheon ledge can be approached by breaking off the scramble immediately after a constriction and following the base of a short cliff to the west to a notch. Scramble down the notch to begin the climbs or alternatively ascend the first pitch on the bottom tier. The straightforward crack in the middle of the bottom tier is "Crack stuffer". Walking left around the base of the Prospector takes you to the base of the West wall. The top of the west wall is ~150ft.

Neihart quartz can only be found in a couple places around the world. First identified in Neihart (thus the name) and renowned for its hardness, the rocks you climb on were rich in precious metals. In Neihart, miners followed veins of silver and other precious metals. The town of Neihart was at one time over 3,000 residents with a train shuttling ore and humans to and from Great Falls through the Sluice Boxes state park. Route developers can attest to the rock hardness. It eats up a drill bit like no other rock. It looks and sometimes acts like a giant crystal.

The Prospector is a new/developing climbing area. There may be loose rock on and/or above the climbs. It is highly recommended to wear a helmet and belay from protected stances while traffic "cleans up" the cliff.

Be very careful approaching the top of the lower tier climbs for setting up top ropes. The ledge is sloping right up to the edge. It is recommended that anyone looking to top rope the lower tier climbs sling the boulder at the base of the top tier wall for protection.

Please consult local route developers for information on bolting new routes in this area.

Getting There Suggest change

From the Memorial Falls parking area turn right and drive north along highway 89 for about .25 miles. On your left you will see a primitive camp site. Park here. Looking up from the parking area one can see the Prospector high above Belt creek. The trail to the Prospector is immediately across the road from the campsite's fire ring. Follow the trail up and left through switchbacks. The approach trail ends to the left of the bottom tier of the South wall.

24 Total Climbs

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