As of now, I've only been developing one area...which I'll get to shortly, but from what I hear, there's quite a bit of climbing in Yellowknife (Gripped Magazine was WRONG!!!).
The area has a few bolts on the steeper faces, but as there isn't much height, it doesn't have a lot of potential for rope climbing. From what I can tell, the boulder problems of this spot haven't been touched. To date, each problem has required a significant amount of cleaning, removal of loose holds, and of course, coming up with a worthy name.
Let us get onto the meat and potatoes. The spot. Correction, THEE SPOT.
It is known as the "Ski Club" climbing area.
It is known as the "Ski Club" climbing area.
The climbing area can be accessed from Niven Street, or a hiking trail off the Ingram Trail (which is accessed by the ski-club). Using the Niven Street directions, entry begins from the "never to be finished" complex of townhouse on Niven Street (see photo below). By walking to the back of the gravel parking lot of this site, and continuing up to the crest of the hill, you can practically see the little valley where all the goodness is to be had.
(townhouses on Niven Street & parking lot)
If you follow the series of guide posts that have been placed to mark the hiking trail, you'll eventually come to an education display board that with some text on Old Town (which can be viewed from the look-out over Back Bay) (see photo).
The first few boulder problems are located just down from the educational display. By hiking 10 meters or so, down into the valley and in the direction of the bay, you'll come to a vertical/slightly overhanging granite ledge. On the underside of this ledge are a few doozies. There is a V3 and a V5.
This is a sweet traverse along a thin and sharp seam with rather poor feet. Start at the beginning of the seam and traverse left until you come up to a dihedral at the end of the seam. Climb up the dihedral, while staying off the arete. (Seems to me, v5)
This climb begins on the slopey ledge. From the ledge fire up to a fat pinch, and then to a series of crimpy rails. I expect this climb to get harder as the feet at the start of the climb crumble away. (The bookshelf, v3 )
The next few climbs are located directly down from previously described problems. By walking a treacherous course, almost down to the bottom of the little valley, there are a number of overhanging granite faces. This next spot is a slightly overhanging face, that's about 12ft wide.
While I've only cleaned two lines, there's potential for a few climbs on this face. The line on the right, starts at a horizontal crimper and moves up along the rail. I've yet to climb it, but I think it's about v6. The line on the left, starts with a left hand on the undercling and a right on the rail. From there fire straight up! The left line goes at v3/v4.
If you move to the right of these two climbs you'll come to a number of higher and steeper overhanging faces.
The first face you come to is relatively small, but has two of the best easy/moderate climbs I've spied yet. There's a slopey rails that starts left and moves right and up. It's a lot harder then it looks, and I think is about v4. Then there's the ultra classic that starts on the rail and fires up to a rail, and then to the top. Awesome!
I haven't touched much else on these faces because they're pretty wet. But soon I'm going to spend some time on the steeper stuff. The next, and last boulder that I'm going to introduce in this post is located further up the valley towards the Ingram Trail. It is located on one of the middle terraces, probably 20 meters or so up from the valley floor (a map is my next mission!).
So far I've cleaned two lines on this big fellar. There a sit down start on the right of the boulder that goes at v4 (staying on the face); and then there's a tricky traverse that moves from the left to right, and comes into the v4. I think the traverse and T.O. goes at v5...it's pumpy, and has been spanking me.
(The v4 starts on the right side of the boulder. Start on the big flake and move up, SDS. The traverse starts on the far right on the two large horns, stay on the face)
Alrighty, that's it for today. If anybody is down for some cleaning and climbing drop me a line at: themaxcody@gmail.com
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