Just north of Bishop the floor of the Owens Valley rises abruptly, forming a 300 foot-high volcanic plateau that runs for miles from east to west. Along the southern tip, numerous canyons containing thousands of boulders can be found slicing into and through the plateau, including the two that make up the Happy and Sad bouldering areas. It's truly a climber's playground.
This area is often referred to as 'The Mesa' to locals...
Getting There
From US 395 in Bishop, take US 6 north out of town towards Benton/Chalfant/Tonopah. After 1.3 miles, turn left on Five Bridges Rd. Follow this down the straightaway around the left-hand curve, past the Aggregate Plant to a 4-way intersection where the pavement turns to dirt. Take a left on Chalk Bluff Rd. for the Happy and Sad Boulders. Turn right on Fish Slough Rd. for the Fish Slough Boulders.
Featured Route For Volcanic Tablelands (Happies/Sads)
The classic pocketed north face of the southern most boulder on the road circuit. One of the best V0's on tuff around Bishop. Perfect pocket pulling. The problem is the left-most line....[more]
Add PhotoPhotos of Volcanic Tablelands (Happies/Sads)
The Volcanic Tablelands
Looking north at the Tablelands plateau, viewed fr...
An evening session in the Tablelands.
The south end of the Tablelands, looking west towa...
The Volcanic Tablelands, just north of Bishop
Looking down from the Sads towards Bishop.
KK on a superb lip traverse on the 'Orgasm Boulder...
Don't mess with the locals...
Nate Bowe on 'Tim's Prow' v4, County Line Boulders
Nate Bowe on 'El Hueco de Hunta' v5, County Line B...
The Tablelands from the south, and the White Mount...
Nate Bowe on 'The Wave' at the Sanctuary, Tablelan...
Add CommentComments on Volcanic Tablelands (Happies/Sads)
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By Adam Winters Administrator From: Bishop, CA Jan 22, 2009
People need to settle down with the tick marks, it's getting ridiculous. It seems almost every boulder I walk up to I have to spend 10 minutes brushing off these eyesores! Come on, if you make a tick, brush that ugly bastard off when you leave the boulder!
Also, who needs tick marks on STARTING footholds??? Is it just me or is this completely unnecessary? Get some glasses because this is not far from plain old graffiti.
By Euan Cameron Administrator From: Redlands and Mammoth Lakes Jan 22, 2009
I agree it is getting out of hand. It seems to be 'the' in thing this year to mark it up.
Seriously it isn't a gym, tick marks don't belong outside.
Since when is it illegal to place tick marks on the rock? All the photos I've seen of the elite working HARD routes are tick-marked. This alone should indicate that it is OK to do so. Like, really, how are you supposed to see the hold if it is not ticked?
By Euan Cameron Administrator From: Redlands and Mammoth Lakes Jan 25, 2009
Nobody is saying don't tick. If you feel you need to tick then tick, just clean them off afterwards. Lets others discover the moves (the correct ones) for the themselves.
Volcanic Tablelands (Happies/Sads)
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