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Any bouldering around Caliente / Pioche?

Original Post
Derek Lawrence · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 695

I've got be out there in the next couple of weeks for business for at least 2-3 days. Prob stay in Caliente. Working in Pioche and at least 1 day in Ely. Is there anything worth climbing?? I'm thinking bouldering only as i dont want to lug gear along...

Doug Foust · · Oroville, WA · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 165

I'm not sure about bouldering, but there is some awesome sport and trad close to Caliente.
mountainproject.com/v/nevad…

OKClimber · · Folsom · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 55

I think there is a place called Mecca out there. It was rumored to be as good as Hueco Tanks, but never really lived up to the hype. Sorry I dont have much info, and what info is available for that area is sparse. Hopefully someone with more beta will post. Good luck!

Derek Lawrence · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 695

Cool - thanks for the tips! That Mecca area looks like it might be the ticket... I found some beta here
travelnevada.com/tourist-at…

If anybody has better approach beta that would be awesome!

RedRock Rat · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 145

So there is quite a bit of solid fun bouldering around the Big Rocks Wilderness area. The North Eastern side of the boundary road has some amazing untapped bouldering and basalt crack lines. If you want more beta give me a call at the Ely BLM office 775-289-1968 Robert Stoldal
I can send you a map with select spots. What if I may ask is the nature of your work in Caliente?

If your up in Ely you'll need to stop by some of our new climbs(sport/tr and nasty 0 star gear lines) in the Hercules gap and on WP hill (there are a few more areas of intrest and lots of vegas folk have shown interst and bolted lines in the past but the beta is well.. sparse).

Mike Bond · · Kentucky · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 3,191
Derek Lawrence wrote:Cool - thanks for the tips! That Mecca area looks like it might be the ticket... I found some beta here travelnevada.com/tourist-at… If anybody has better approach beta that would be awesome!
Here is the original intro-guide. It will get you there and show you some of the stuff at the Plateau. The Plateau is not the best of Mecca. If you drive a couple miles further down the road and take a good spur road to the right (after a rough section), you will dead-end into a nice camping spot at a few boulders. This is the parking area for the Century Boulders which are left and back as you hike in from the parking area. It might take some exploring to find the main area, but it is worth it. The Centuries are the best and most diverse area...with generally better rock quality and for sure tons of steep boulders.

Hope this helps. Get up there quick...it is gonna' be too hot soon. Hope you have tough skin on your tips. The rock is sometimes sharp and always really course. Mecca (the North Pahroc Range) is HUGE! Explore!
If Mecca were 30 minutes outside of LV...instead of over 2 hours..it would have thousands of established classics and would already have a large guide...and hordes of pad-people...but luckily...it is in BFE...so you will likely have it all to yourself.

Please do be courteous of the ranchers in the area.

If you do hit the Plateau...venture into Green Valley and find a nicely streaked problem with a crux pinch/sloper for the left hand. The best V5 in NV!


Note: The section of road before Mecca is no longer Red....ignore that part.
Chris Burton · · Los Angeles, Ca · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 120

Wow. Seeing that mini-guide is a blast from the past.

"Mecca" is a nice place. Definitely have to do some exploring, but then that's part of the fun.

Derek Lawrence · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 695

Mike - thanks for the topo and beta!! I will definately be checking that out! Looks like I'll be out there the 17th-21st - Hoping that wont be too hot...
Robert - i'll call/and PM you for sure. I'll be up at the Ely BLM office 1 day - just not sure which yet (i'm doing title, etc. research, mostly in the lincoln county offices in pioche, just gonna stay in caliente...)

Thanks again all!! I thought I'd be s.o.l. for a week but it looks like i should be able to get my climbing fix :)

Derek Lawrence · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 695

One last question - How bad are the snakes??

I'll be out there next week and am planning/hoping to get out to the Mecca area every evening. Assuming I'll be alone so a snake bite would be bad...

Mike Bond · · Kentucky · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 3,191
Derek Lawrence wrote:One last question - How bad are the snakes?? I'll be out there next week and am planning/hoping to get out to the Mecca area every evening. Assuming I'll be alone so a snake bite would be bad...
I'm a HUGE snake-phobe! So if it were a snake fest...I would not have spent so much time up there.

I have spent well over 30 days at Mecca and never seen a single snake. Granted, most of those days were in late fall, winter and very early spring....so your experience may vary this time of year.

I have seen snakes at other crags in that area of Nevada, but never at Mecca. Caliente does have a hospital...just in case.
freddull · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 0

Is there any updated info on this area? Haven't been out there in quite a while. Hoping to head back soon, but I remember that it's not that easy to navigate through the sea of choss. I've heard that there are some quality areas at mecca but I haven't seen much beyond the platau area. Any beta would be helpful.
Thanks
frank

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Nevada
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