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Elevation: 1,058 ft
GPS: 43.05027, -90.09502
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 140,979 total · 666/month
Shared By: JJ Schlick on Oct 26, 2006
Admins: Ian Cotter-Brown, Doug Hemken, James Schroeder, chris tregge, Ben Strobel
Warning Access Issue: DO NOT WALK THROUGH THE CAMPSITE DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Bouldering at these areas first began in the mid to late 1980's with visits from David Groth and Mike McCarron. Both of them were strong as nails at the time. David always had a preternatural ability to zero in on the best stone and lines around, and Group Camp B is no exception. True to form for that era, little to no documentation took place as bouldering beta was spread by campfires, libations, and scribbled notes on bar napkins rather than the internet. The 1980’s were all about hard free ascents with a rope. It would be a decade before the bouldering boom of Y2K would sweep the climbing world and legitimize bouldering in the eyes of many.

GCB is filled with large separated blocks and short walls of hard grey sandstone. The quality of the stone is excellent for the park, and the bouldering consists of just under or just over vertical lines. A couple steeper lines can be found but they’re short lived pleasures. The highballs truly dominate the pine woods with a broken down palace sort of atmosphere. It is a very nice hang mid week when it’s quiet.

 The problems are host to an array of archetypal holds- pockets, crimpers, slopers, pinches, you name it! This stone was made for bouldering. For the most part the climbing here flows well, and with some of the highballs it is more like climbing a route than a "problem".

The area is divided into two sectors. First the Plan B area which is a collection of Boulders and a small wall. Backbone Ridge is a conspicuous ridge of rock which juts out of the hilltop with bouldering on both sides. It’s pretty classic for the Midwest and showcases the park test piece Sandstone Violence which is as good as it gets for the style.

Getting There Suggest change


As of 2009 the park rangers have asked us **NOT TO HIKE THROUGH THE CAMPSITES**! Please see thread or map below for alternate ways to get to the problems. There are a lot of different user groups packed into a relatively small area. Common courtesy and respect for the campers experience will go a long way and help keep this gift from the gods open to climbing. Don’t be “that” guy.

Updated (2009) Group B topo with Plan B Area and the Backbone Ridge split into east side and west side. Alternate approaches are the dotted lines.

101 Total Climbs

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Location: 4. Group Camp B Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Group Camp B

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V0+ 4+
 99
Seperation Anxiety
Boulder
V0+ 4+
 111
High Anxiety
Boulder
V1-2 5
 68
Picasso Right
Boulder
V2 5+
 48
Scarete
Boulder
V3 6A
 68
Picasso Center
Boulder
V3 6A
 52
Face Left of Wright's Arete
Boulder
V4 6B
 85
Resolution
Boulder
V4 6B
 148
Get the Hell Outta Dodge
Boulder
V4+ 6B+
 150
Hangman
Boulder
V4-5 6B+
 70
Nameless
Boulder
V5 6C
 80
Split Personality
Boulder
V5 6C
 21
Venom
Boulder
V5 6C
 7
Product of the Southwest
Boulder
V7 7A+
 46
Highly Executed
Boulder
V8 7B
 27
Sandstone Violence
Boulder
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Seperation Anxiety Plan B Area > High Anxiety
 99
V0+ 4+ Boulder
High Anxiety Plan B Area > High Anxiety
 111
V0+ 4+ Boulder
Picasso Right Backbone Ridge > W Side- Backbone Ridge
 68
V1-2 5 Boulder
Scarete Backbone Ridge > W Side- Backbone Ridge
 48
V2 5+ Boulder
Picasso Center Backbone Ridge > W Side- Backbone Ridge
 68
V3 6A Boulder
Face Left of Wright's Arete Backbone Ridge > W Side- Backbone Ridge
 52
V3 6A Boulder
Resolution Plan B Area > High Anxiety
 85
V4 6B Boulder
Get the Hell Outta Dodge Backbone Ridge > E Side- Backbone Ridge
 148
V4 6B Boulder
Hangman Backbone Ridge > E Side- Backbone Ridge
 150
V4+ 6B+ Boulder
Nameless Backbone Ridge > W Side- Backbone Ridge
 70
V4-5 6B+ Boulder
Split Personality Plan B Area > High Anxiety
 80
V5 6C Boulder
Venom Plan B Area > High Anxiety
 21
V5 6C Boulder
Product of the Southwest Backbone Ridge > W Side- Backbone Ridge
 7
V5 6C Boulder
Highly Executed Backbone Ridge > E Side- Backbone Ridge
 46
V7 7A+ Boulder
Sandstone Violence Backbone Ridge > W Side- Backbone Ridge
 27
V8 7B Boulder
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