Elbow Lake Boulders
established July 2006, G.Cornell and J.Miller
There are about a dozen, hidden 20ft+ plus high boulders here with many variations on each. The group sits seperate from a much larger(rope needed in most cases) set that is visible from the water’s edge of Elbow Lake. The smaller group is on excellent rock similar to Frank but with good landings(pad is still necessary though). The taller set would have fewer possibilities and would need some cleaning to create anything worthwhile.
From the parking lot near Highwood Pass, hike for 1/2hr. to Elbow Lake. As soon as you see the lake you should see a massive round boulder above the trees below a rock basin. Hike around the left side of the lake and go about .5km and when the trail splits and rejoins like an oval find a spot where a creek crosses the trail. Bushwack for about 100m through horrible low bush to the upper creek and hop over it(cairn). Meander straight up the woods or try to follow a dry, mossy small creekbed that eventually becomes the big deep gully to the right of the massive boulder. Try to stay on the left of it but it is easy to cross over at the very top. Expect about 1/2 hr+ hike from the stream. Probabley one of the faster alpine bouldering venues to get to. A spotter would be a good investment too.
1)Slick Fish(V0) go up greasy rock from a crouch. On the backside is a great toss route from a SS to a good flake rock: Love It Lots and Lots(V0).
2) One Jug(V0) Big north face needs some routes on good marble. This is on west face and arete.
3) Sad Boulder(V1) SS to a good crimp and go up the face on easier rock but with a poor fall potential. This is why you haul a pad into the alpine!
The Great Wall Of
The Great Wall Of is a very impressive protrusion of solid yellow rock flowing down from a forested hillside up King Creek. Since there is a no-bolting ban in effect at King Creek, this wall is left to rot with Mother Nature. Going to the top of the wall would be a dangerous highball, however there is some problems low down. There is a great, incomplete crack problem that leads into a traverse near the trail and a uneventful white handrail near the upper end of the wall, but with the sloping trail it makes for future potential kinda dismal.
To get here, park at King Creek. hike down the main trail next to the creek. After about 10-15 minutes of walking a funny square snout of rock pokes out from a rockface at waist height. Continue another 20m to the next ridge-wall of rock touching the trail. The bouldering face is yellow/orange and faces south-east.
