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Burge North (Tonasket)

Washington > Okanogan

Description

This page includes four separate crags just a couple of miles NE of Burge Mtn. on the lower NW/W/SW slopes of Mt Pheobe, all composed of gneiss, all on FS land, and all accessed from the same parking spot on the Burge Mtn Rd - #3235

Listed from north to south;

Hidden Canyon is the most northern and isolated crag, up to 220' tall with a variety of short and long, easy and hard routes (26 mixed and sport routes, 5.5 to 5.12a as well as some boulder problems V-easy to V3).

The secluded CSC Bouldering Area just above and west of the small pond about 1/2 way in to Hidden Canyon (34 short problems V-easy to V1-).

The small SJW Wall about 1/3 of the way in to Hidden Canyon. A fun place to visit with relatively easy access and nice views from the top. It has good rock, a nicely featured short SW face with some easy sport climbs, a longer more interesting west face and a shaded north facing bouldering wall (9 routes 5.5 to 5.10d, and 8 problems V1 to V5).

And the small and delightfully secluded Burge Hollow - Hidden Canyon South area just a few hundred yards south of the parking turn off, with some great rock and short moderate climbs (21 mixed and sport routes 5.7 to 5.11d/12a).

One big plus; no rattlers, same as at Burge.

* Note - a key to route descriptions;
NAME; grade and quality (* - good, ** - very good, *** - great, **** - world class classic); (length); type of pro. used - G = natural/gear, F = fixed (b - bolt, p - piton, fn - fixed nut), M = mixed; TR = toprope, R = runout/dangerous, PG = scary/risky; Description; FA (first ascent date), GU = ground up ascent, TR = top rope ascent.

Getting There

From the Tonasket-Havillah Rd turn right onto North Siwash Rd, and follow for 0.2 miles, take the first left (Burge Mtn Rd. #3235) and follow this up 1.55 miles to park at a FS access road with a locked gate (#048) - a total of 14 miles from Tonasket. 

A gentle 25 minute hike north along this old logging road gets you to the base of the Hidden Canyon (it's another 10 minute hike up the west slope to the top). The best and biggest rock is on the large face left of center (Wu Wei Wall) which is best accessed along the base from the west. 

The little crags, SCS Bouldering Area and SJW Wall are on the left less than half way to Hidden Canyon (about a 15 and 10 minute approach respectively), and Burge Hollow (Hidden Canyon South) is less than a 5 minute walk across the road from the parking area.  

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Okanogan National Forest map of Burge North (and surrounding crags)
[Hide Photo] Okanogan National Forest map of Burge North (and surrounding crags)
Deadhead Wall in Burge Hollow
[Hide Photo] Deadhead Wall in Burge Hollow
Glimpses of the hidden SJW crag from the open forest below
[Hide Photo] Glimpses of the hidden SJW crag from the open forest below
The first glimpse of Hidden Canyon from the Burge Mtn FS road.
[Hide Photo] The first glimpse of Hidden Canyon from the Burge Mtn FS road.
Hidden Canyon from the south
[Hide Photo] Hidden Canyon from the south