Jumpingpound Block
routes cleaned and climbed by G.Cornell and G.Castillo, Sept. 2016
The Jumpingpound Block is a wonderful spot to go boulder, not only because the rock is nice, solid and fun, but the views down the Powderface are spectacular, and has a nice hiking trail that takes you right to the boulder. And gets good sun although it faces north.
It is possible to access the boulder as many day hikers do off one of the trail switchbacks but it is slippery and ankle-sprainng dangerousness and moreso with a pad, so it is safer to approach as this:
From the Sibbald-Powderface junction set your odometer and drive south on this gravel active haul road 19.3km on a very cool road that is enjoyable to drive! You will come up a hill, peak out, and there is a memorial cairn seen across a 50m meadow to the west. Just drive past and down to a very sharp bend in the road as it drops down to the level. Park at this sharp, muddy bend – out of the way which is fairly obvious and there is a trail sign post here. Walk along the 2- track path along a pretty high plain then the road turns down a very steep slope which is crazy to do after significant rainfall! After the big drop in the road, cross a footbridge and leave the valley bottom and the trail goes north(left) up and into a pretty forest. Come out in a meadow and you can just barely see the top of the block peeking out of the forest. Hike into the forest and come upon a small shaded meadow with a rotten log and small rocks. Enter the top corner and follow brief flags around some alders and up to the first block with the currently unclimbed overhang. The larger block just next up the way is the main block for bouldering. On nice days you will likely see day tripper hikers ambling and scrambling toward the main block from the main trail. The face faces NW but the area is a kinda suntrap and is just fun to laze about at. From the car the hike is about 15-20 minutes of easy trail walking. Routes are maybe all like V0-V2.
A-Fortress of Solitude- between a vibrant orange streak and black buttress, climb up a hump and head toward a good jug ledge above a groove. Follow up left onto more jugs and the top.
B- Needs Musical Score - near the left end of the main block before the large tree are some juggy left-facing flakes. Take these series up to under the bulge and move right on the orangey-white rock to an exit close to a seperated block. Hike the slab to the top and downclimb easily on the backside but scope it out first.
C- Mr.T Gym – start as the same or slightly left of the same flakes and soon move to a high jug and follow this left on a cool handrail that forms a bulge. Reach up for the high jug ridge and exit close to the left end.
D-Getraer-Stevens- found upslope on the edge of next small bluff. Sit start and follow jugs and crimps down low and come out onto the main face using a horizontal crack line across the boulder and the sloped top. Traverse to near the end and top out where comfortable.
E- Goler Wash- in the cramped corridor start off some low footholds and dodge the moss easily on slabby rock. Just level with the nut corner traverse that way and use the fun foothold out right. Exit from here which is neat.
F- Heuvos Divorciados- start at the end of a white foot-rail and go up over a cool bulge. You can help protect the corridor by hanging one pad from an obvious horn. Get to a a jug ledge and top out with the worry mostly behind you!! Have a spotter!
