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Great Barrington Bouldering Beta

Original Post
Keyan P · · Portland, ME · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 80

Hello, seems like GB info is kept pretty secret as I can't really find any information on the climbs there. Can anyone give me some beta on directions to the boulders? Are they spread out or easy to find? Maybe there is a homemade topo? I know everyone says just go there and have locals show you, but I'm worried about driving that far only to find myself lost and alone! Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

Kevin Heckeler · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,616

Great Barrington, MA?

There's a rock wall with some routes (seen photos and know 'locals' who climb there, it's okay... they go to Gunks and ADKs every chance they get, fwiw). Not sure about bouldering.

Great Barrington Area (...Reservoir Rocks**)

boulderproblems.com/areas/r…

I think this is the target of your search?

climbgneiss.org/index.php/r…

It appears to be officially closed, which might explain the lack of information:

"Closures

Currently Reservoir Rocks is “officially” closed to climbing as there is no written Memorandum of Understanding which exists between the climbers (and other user groups) and the Town of Great Barrington. Members of the WMCC and the Friends of East Mountain have been working on preserving access to the area for over 4 years now and meetings continue on a regular basis. The long term goal is to preserve the open space in perpetuity for all user groups to enjoy this beautiful and unique parcel of land and to allow climbers and non-climbers access.

Current issues

Reservoir Rocks and East Mountain was the site of the 2005 Access Fund's Adopt-A-Crag initiative which was hosted by the WMCC and the Friends of East Mountain. Approximately 20 volunteers spent a beautiful Fall day helping to build water channels on the existing trail and installed a beautifully made Kiosk (built by Jon LaValley). In addition, the volunteers hauled out two huge truckloads of trash out of the woods. We are hoping to continue our work this year by working on installing a ladder on the upper tiers and to do further trail maintenance and clean up this Fall for the Adopt-A-Crag."

Nick Votto · · CO, CT, IT · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 320

Tons of bouldering there but I don't really know the details too much unless I'm actually out there....once your in the center of town head east on Bridge St, cross the river and park on the road where you see the other cars. A trail/road heads south into the various bouldering areas. There's lots and lots of good stuff I just don't know the trail beta that well, but my friends do. Once it gets colder we'll be heading up there I'm sure.

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

Follow well worn trails. . .

Justin Sanford · · Broadalbin, New York · Joined May 2009 · Points: 555

I've got GPS points for a majority of the main boulders mainly up higher on the Reservoir by boulder problems like Crystal Methods, The Bump, Snooze Button, Phen Phen, Big Hairy White Thing, etc. Shoot me a message if you have a device capable of uploading GPX files.

It is a complex bouldering area if you've never been before, online videos and pictures are a must to help wayfind on your bouldering trip. As far as locals are concerned, I have been fortunate enough to meet some friendly ones who didn't mind pointing me in the right direction and some who could've cared less that we were there and didn't want to share any local knowledge...

Have fun there, it is a great New England bouldering spot.

Cheers!

Josh Villeneuve · · Granby, CT · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 1,814

PM Sent

Keyan P · · Portland, ME · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 80

Thanks everyone. Yes it was Reservoir Rocks I was thinking of. I'm hoping to get out there when it cools down a bit (mid-November into the winter) if anyone is headed there then let me know!

Josh Villeneuve · · Granby, CT · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 1,814

The path's are becoming harder and harder to follow due to a lot of current logging. Can't even see the path to the Speed boulder anymore.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northeastern States
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