Olympic peninsula climbing

Gonna be working out at sol duc hot springs this summer. Anyone know of any routes worth doing on sore thumb? Any worthwhile alpine choss adventures? I like the elwhall and I’m sure I’ll be driving to index or Erie most weeks, but is there anything I’m missing? Many thanks. 

"worthwhile alpine choss adventures " is kind of the definition of the Olympics.  

Check out the Tyler Peak crags. There’s some fun single and multi-pitch.

The elwhal is awesome and best climbing on peninsula, Tyler peaks is alright and there is a place called crackenstien that is out near the elwhal. There is a Facebook group called peninsula climbers that is pretty active. Probably a further drive than index there is also lake cushman but I broke multiple holds on any route over 5.9 so stick to index.
There is also good rock all over the peninsula that hasn’t been developed but old age has weathered my memory of the locations of said rock.

The Elwha is fun definitely some cool routes.  I've bouldered plenty at the base too.  Index was definitely the ticket, Kinsgston-Edmons ferry is a pretty straight shot to Hwy 2.  Pretty quick if you avoid the rush hours    

Airbiscuit wrote: The Elwha is fun definitely some cool routes.  I've bouldered plenty at the base too.  Index was definitely the ticket, Kinsgston-Edmons ferry is a pretty straight shot to Hwy 2.  Pretty quick if you avoid the rush hours    

If possible go during the week.  It is slowly turning into a pretty consistant 1.5-2hr wait both ways (drive on) Friday-Sunday unless you go really early/late in the evenings.  

Weak,  it been almost twenty years since I live there. 

Trevor, I'm not sure what you got on at Cushman, but there is recent development out there that has cleaned up pretty well. See: Reclamation Wall. Otherwise most routes have been around for years, so moss and road dust are the biggest problems.

All that said, the climbing is just OK, but it's the closest to a hometown crag us Olympians will get. You just end up climbing the same stuff over and over again, but on long summer days it beats going to the gym after work.

Having the lake right there makes for a nice day out, as you can end your day with a dip in the water and ice cream in Hoodsport.

I think it was open book I broke actual holds on and back page I tried but I kept blowing off tiny foot chips and gave up. Anyway its fine after work type of crag but I wouldn't go out there just for climbing. I would think if you pull the roof of open book you will see all this rock that looks like it was just exposed for the first time. 

As a side note the surfing there is pretty good so buy a warm wetsuit and get your ass down to la Push.  Once you get in the locals should give up the sweet spots.  The scene there is chill.

Mike. if you are working at Solduc Sore Thumb is definitely worth a visit good views, great sunsets, good ambience, pretty good climbing and you will most likely have it to yourself. Lumpy Gravy is probably the best route and is the rappel route for all others that go to the top, so probably a good place to start.

Be aware that if you are used to climbing on good rock all rock climbing on the peninsula is going to seem kind of trashy, but if you are not too picky you will have a good time.

Sore thumb looks great, went up there once but it was too wet and cold to climb. Mediocre rock quality is its own kind of adventure, that’s fine, but is the climbing mostly bolt or gear protected? How are the bolts? Thank you much for the info!

Mike Zamzow,
All of the routes up at the Thumb are bolt protected and all were installed between 19 and 15 years ago, and I would assume are ok. Because of the steep exposed location things dry out relatively quickly up there, so things like chains and quick links show very little rust and degradation even after nearly 20 years out there.