Visible from Sacramento on a clear day, the Crystal Range is one of the most stunning ranges in the Lake Tahoe area. Desolation Wilderness from its lakes is great and all, but have you experienced it from above? The Pyramid to Price Traverse is a 3rd/4th class scramble along the Crystal Range. The traverse itself spans 2 miles. Getting out of the traverse is the toughest part. Here’s everything you need to know about the Pyramid Peak to Price Traverse.
If you’re a climber and you don’t visit Payahüünadü (Bishop), do you really even climb? Located in the high desert between the Sierra and the White Mountains, Bishop is a world-class climbing destination with a little bit of something for everyone: bouldering, sport climbing, trad climbing, and more. Bishop has some of the best bouldering in the country, and possibly the world: the Buttermilks. The rock is sharp. The feet are glassy. The views are unbeatable. Take any newer climber here and they’ll definitely be shut down on the technical climbing that the Milks require. To make their lives easier, here’s a guide to the best beginner boulders in the Buttermilks.
You’d be remiss to not stop in Queenstown when in New Zealand. It’s the adventure capital of the country with hiking, canyoneering, backpacking and climbing in close proximity. Queenstown climbing is near synonymous with climbing at Wye Creek, or perhaps the crags of its neighbor to the north in Wanaka. Even with the abundance of bolts to clip, Queenstown is home to some damn fine schist bouldering, with stunning views of the Remarkables to boot. Here’s your guide to everything about Jardines bouldering.
Bouldering outdoors is just about the laziest type of climbing you can do. Boulderers wake up late and get to the crag after 9am. We measure approaches by how close they are to the car. We don’t like walking more than 15 minutes. Most of our time is spent laying on giant mattresses. I already put together a post on bouldering outdoor essentials. Now, it’s time for bouldering non-essentials. This is a list of stuff you really don’t need for bouldering, but they are so awesome, you’ll be glad you have them.
If you’ve come to New Zealand, looking for rocks, then look no further. Castle Hill bouldering is a premiere climbing destination. Or at least it should be, with thousands of problems within a ten minute walk of the parking lot (or car park, as the kiwis call ’em).
We spent two and a half days romping around Spittle Hill and Quantum Hill. We’ve got all the beta for bouldering Castle Hill.