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Elevation: 971 ft
GPS: 43.80386, -71.84091
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 340,925 total · 1,596/month
Shared By: Jay Knower on Oct 2, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Jay Knower, M Sprague, Lee Hansche, Jeffrey LeCours, Jonathan S, Robert Hall

Description Suggest change

Waimea is the flagship crag at Rumney and home of some of the hardest routes in the country. The schist looks like a crashing wave. Routes climb up the imposing overhanging features. My friend Lee constantly worried that Waimea would tip over because of its undercut nature. I think a bigger worry is the humbling that tends to happen to the climber on these powerful and technical routes.

Waimea faces south and slightly west. The crag gets sun in the afternoon. Many of the routes, because of their steep angle, stay dry in the rain.

Getting There Suggest change

The approach is long by sport climbing standards. Park in the lot. DO NOT PARK ALONG THE ROAD. From the small parking lot, take the shortcut trail across the hillside, passing Bonsai on the way. Follow this trail up the hill, to the right side of Waimea. It's also possible to hike up from Lower Darth Vader. Expect 30 minutes of walking.

Project Draws

Suggest change

On December 7, 2013, all of Waimea was stripped of fixed draws. Many of the draws were in really bad shape. If (when?) you put draws on your project, please put up quality quickdraws. Hanging your old junk draws on your project might seem like a good idea at the time, but many subsequent climbers will be cursing you as they clip the mank that you hung on the route. So, take one for the team, go get some new draws, and hang those on your project.

Mercifully, stainless perma-draws are slowly replacing the fixed mank on the cliff. 

61 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Waimea

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 581
Waimea
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 341
Flying Hawaiian
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 250
Technosurfing
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 123
Whip Tide
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 77
Restless Native
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 62
Aquarius
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 54
Tsunami
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 36
Man Overboard
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 65
Butt Bongo Fiesta
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 35
Cote d'Azure
Sport
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a
 24
Urban Surfer
Sport
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a
 12
Cold War
Sport
5.14b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b
 13
China Beach
Sport
5.14c 8c+ 34 XI- 35 E9 7b
 8
Livin' Astro
Sport
5.15a 9a+ 36 XI+ 37 E11 7c
 5
Jaws II
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Waimea
 581
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Flying Hawaiian
 341
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Technosurfing
 250
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Whip Tide
 123
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Restless Native
 77
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Aquarius
 62
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Tsunami
 54
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Man Overboard
 36
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Butt Bongo Fiesta
 65
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Cote d'Azure
 35
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
Urban Surfer
 24
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a Sport
Cold War
 12
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a Sport
China Beach
 13
5.14b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b Sport
Livin' Astro
 8
5.14c 8c+ 34 XI- 35 E9 7b Sport
Jaws II
 5
5.15a 9a+ 36 XI+ 37 E11 7c Sport
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