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Rock Canyon vs. Maple Canyon

Original Post
William Kramer · · Kemmerer, WY · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 935

This last weekend we met 3 super nice climbers while climbing in Rock Canyon. We were discussing a nice, tricky little 5.7 way up the canyon and they had mentioned that a Rock Canyon 5.7 is nothing like a Maple 5.7. Topic changed at that point and since then I have been wondering what they meant, Maple easier or Rock Canyon easier? Never been to Maple, so who can enlighten me?

scottso Smith · · St. George, Utah · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 25

I can't answer that for ya, but if you've never been to maple, you need to go check it out. Might be a little crowed at the lower grades, but it's an amazing place.

Austin Baird · · SLC, Utah · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 95

IME - Rock Canyon 5.7 is easier than most other areas in Utah.

Tristan Higbee · · Pocatello, ID · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 2,970
Austin Baird wrote:IME - Rock Canyon 5.7 is easier than most other areas in Utah.
Depends on the route. Flakes is not an easy 5.7.

Neither is Main Crack.

On one hand, a lot of the RC sport routes can be pretty short, so they can seem easier. On the other hand, I always felt that the easier Maple Routes were pretty straightforward: reach up, grab the big cobble, repeat. (And there are plenty of short 5.7s in Maple, too.)

I dunno. I've climbed a lot in both places and 5.7 pretty much seems like 5.7 to me.
Austin Baird · · SLC, Utah · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 95

Agreed on many of the trad routes - I just assumed that, since he was talking about maple, he meant sport routes.

The exception is Red Slab. Trying to climb while watching big groups of BYU freshmen teach each other how to climb while another dude teaches a first date how to lead belay makes EVERYTHING feel harder.

Rubber Tramp · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 5

Maybe it is the cobble trust in Maple? Its solid rock, but its a world apart from limestone. Rock Canyon limestone is nice quality and not slickened up yet with sharp holds running around. Maple is nicely rounded conglomerate where I'd say >50% of the holds are rounded to some degree and sometimes require some sloper grip. Also a lot of the pebbles are quartzite pebbles and have that "I might be slippery" feel. But, the 7's were 7's and pretty fun. Won't find the pockets and sharp edgy feet you get in Rock Canyon everywhere in Maple necessarily.

Ken Noyce · · Layton, UT · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2,648
William Kramer wrote:This last weekend we met 3 super nice climbers while climbing in Rock Canyon. We were discussing a nice, tricky little 5.7 way up the canyon and they had mentioned that a Rock Canyon 5.7 is nothing like a Maple 5.7. Topic changed at that point and since then I have been wondering what they meant, Maple easier or Rock Canyon easier? Never been to Maple, so who can enlighten me?
I've never noticed any difference between rock canyon and maple canyon grades. They were probably just not used to the cobblestone of maple.
William Kramer · · Kemmerer, WY · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 935

Thanks for all the info, always on the lookout for spots for the kids, yet have some 10's and 11's as well so everyone can play.

Danny M · · CO · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 125
William Kramer wrote:Thanks for all the info, always on the lookout for spots for the kids, yet have some 10's and 11's as well so everyone can play.
The left fork of Maple Canyon is that kind of spot, with a flat 10 minute approach to all of it. The Angry Inch at Pipeline is still one of my favorite routes anywhere.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern Utah & Idaho
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