Difficult Area

Located across the river from the Difficult Campground day use area. A small area with a few smaller boulders and one large (The Hard boulder). There is a lot of potential for new problems and areas in the talus fields above the Difficult walls for those who feel like a steep hike.

Directions

Park at the lot for the the Difficult Campground Day Use Area and walk east on the Difficult Creek Trail, cross the bridge and continue up on to the plateau, looking for a faint trail on your right. Follow this trail over Difficult Creek (over a large log) and through the brush to a second crossing on an iron grill, the Difficult boulders will be straight ahead with the Hard Boulder on your right.

click on the tabs above to view topos and route descriptions.

The Hard Boulder topo

Hard Boulder

 

1. [V0 - V1] Variations abound coming out of the corner and heading straight up on to the slab.

2. [V0] Head up the slab starting off a small, flat block at the base.

3. [V??] Start in the middle of the wide scooped slab with hands on some small crimps and a high foot.

4. [V2] Start with your left hand low on the seam in a good hold and your right hand just up from your left. Put your feet on and pop up and right to the lip, then mantle over.

5. The Rump [V2] Start on a high sloping edge and pop left to a large flat edge and up to the lip.

6. The Ramp [V1] SDS at the bottom of the blocky ramp and move left and up to the top. An extended version starts on the good edge under the cave and butt drags left to the ramp. Heading even further left to top out above #5 ups the grade to V2

7. PROJECT SDS on good edge then move out the prow to the top (needs cleaning)

8. PROJECT Start as for #7 but move right under roof via crimps in a small crack to finish on #9

9. The Harder [V7] star SDS with the left hand on a good sidepull and the right on a small bump. Bust a big move up and right to a good hold (height dependent) then straight up via sharp holds to gain the top. Starting standing from the good hold at chest height makes it V5.

10. Rail Rider [V4] Start 5ft right of #9 matched on a rail just over the lip. Move left to a good edge, throw the heel and rock on to the slab to gain the higher rail and the top.

11. [V??] Start on a good rail just left of #1 and traverse the lip to finish on #9.