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Highest-set Boulder by Elevation in the World
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Howdy Folks, I recently returned from climbing Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina and during my time there I FA'd a ton of boulders during my downtime. One of the boulders I set, Head Splitter, I believe is the highest-set boulder on Earth, sitting at 6127 m (20,101 ft). Here is the mountain project page: https://www.mountainproject.com/route/123663127/head-splitter Does anyone know of an individual boulder problem at an elevation higher than this? Obviously, this metric is not important whatsoever, but I think it's kind of cool! I also set some other high-elevation boulders on my trip that surpass 5000 m, and even those may be some of the highest-elevation wise. I researched around and couldn't find anything higher, and I imagine if there were any they would have to be in the Himalayas or elsewhere in the Andes. Anyways, let me know what you think and happy climbing!  |
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Are we measuring according to the elevation at the base or top-out? Asking for a friend…. |
Evan Noronha wrote: This is the elevation at the base of the boulder |
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Berne zangerl has a film about bouldering in the Himalayas.. I’d guess one of those is the highest? I’m not sure the pictured ‘problem’ really counts as a boulder. You’re climbing in approach shoes without chalk or pads, after a two week hike up the mountain? Sounds like a fun way to ease the ennui at camp but hardly counts as establishing FAs, IMO. I did the same thing when I was climbing Kilimanjaro, until I realized that ten feet off the trail in every direction were piles of human waste.  |
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If this doesn’t get you psyched, nothin’ will! |
Miss Cat wrote: Hmm I guess I don't totally agree with the idea that one needs chalk, specific climbing shoes, and a pad for it to be considered a boulder problem. It may just make it more difficult to climb and more dangerous to fall, but I'd still consider it a proper boulder problem since it's an isolated sequence of moves with a defined start and finish. To each their own I guess. The Himalayas vid you posted below looks sick though! Definitely brings the stoke! |
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We did some cool pocketed boulder problems at base camp on the Polish Glacier on Aconcagua in the 80s. No record high altitude, no rock shoes or chalk or crash pads, but just having fun. It made me wonder how many great boulders there are on the high peaks of the world. |
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When I read “set boulder” I think of a climbing wall. That is how you “set” a route. There’s probably a bouldering wall in Leadville. You didn’t change the rock, just climbed what’s there. Sounds like an FA to me. Sounds better than to say you “set” it anyway. Whether a V-easy is worth mentioning at all, is another question. Also, those look nice and easy, fun, and accessible. Literal mountains of climbers have trekked through the same area. What makes you think you got the first? |
highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote: Based on talking to the porters and the cleaning I had to do on many of the boulders |
