Ely's Peak

Ely's offers some sweet lines on basalt with good crimps, but generally poor friction. Here you'll find jagged overhangs, steep cracks, and there's a fun erratic. For the most part, the climbing here is on short cliffs, but there are a few boulders. There are also a few good TR and lead lines on the main formations. As soon as spring comes we'll have some pictures, and as soon as I get off my ass I'll draw up a better mini guide. Until then, if you need beta just email us.

The Bouldering Areas

1. The Trailside Stones

...After getting to the old railroad trail, hang a left and hike for a few hundred yards. First, you'll see a 20ft-ish chossy formation on your right. Keep going for just a few yards,and after some trees you'll get to the good stuff. It's marked by some distinct graffiti.

1. The word "Gumbie" marks the first problem. Its an overhanging seam that goes up and traverses right at a diagonal seam. It might be like V3 or V4. A direct variation hasn't gone yet (to the best of my knowledge), but could make a hard and scary line.

2. The next climb is unfinished, but what's been done is super fun. It's marked by the words "snooky + curly", and lies just to the right of gumbie. Follow the crack up and through.

3.The last problem I'll mention is on the slab to the right of the main face. Climb the slab between the left face and the arete.

2. The Ghetto

...These problems are found at the very end of the trail to the Northwestern Bluff. They are on cliffs too small (for the most part) to toprope, but with that mentallity one should ready themselves for bold and scary topouts. This was some of the earlier development at Ely's for bouldering, and I am not sure of any specifics on individual routes, but the rock is great.

3. The Boulder

...This is a sweet erratic. To get here, just follow the trail. As the bluff tapers you'll see it on your left. There aren't a lot of climbs on it, mostly just eliminates. It has a unique nose that makes for some sweet throws.

4. The Saddle

...If instead of going left to the bluff, you just follow the trail straight on, eventually you start to see rock again. I am not sure how far you go, or what any of the route names are, or even if the lines have ever been climbed, but after a 20 minute hike up this trail last fall we stumbled acrossed some amazing stone. The climbs are blocky, overhanging, and sharp. My beta is to keep walking untill the three rock tiers on your left converge into one, and start climbing there. Bring a crashpad and a good spotter, because the landings are bad.

*This is a piss poor mini-guide for the area, but as soon as we get daily highs over 10 degrees I'll try and get you some better beta.