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Welcome to Climb Naked Shoes - When good climbing shoes are all you need!
Regional Guide – Northwest:
ClimbNakedShoes.com is proudly based in the Northwestern region of the United States, and while it may not be home to Yosemite, Red Rock, or Moab, it is a bountiful region renowned for its production of wine, apples, wheat, and, of course, really big rocks. From the challenging climbs of the Cascades, to the pillared basalt routes in the Columbia River gorge, to the “foothills” of the Rockies, there’s something in the Northwest for any climber.
The Northwest, defined here as essentially Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, can be broken down into three specific climates. First – the coastal region, home of the greater Seattle and Portland areas, frequently drenched in rain, and hemmed in by the spine of the Cascade mountain range, which features Mt. Baker, the world record holder for most snowfall, the sleeping beauty, Mt. Rainier, and the infamous Mt. St. Helens, among others. The second region is the parched central parts of Washington and Oregon, desert-like expanses riddled with glacier-carved scars in the shape of basalt-lined canyons, where the deer and the antelope range, and the climbers dance happy circles around their carefully kept campfires. The third region rises in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, featuring climbing on older basalt and limestone.
If you plan to climb in the coastal region, be prepared for rain, and you may want to take note of certain areas, like Fossil Rock and the Peshastin Pinnacles, which tend to stay dryer either due to their formidable overhang or remote, rain-shadow locale. Generally, the parts west of the Cascade spine are wetter, with the trend decreasing as you move South beyond Portland, and anything to the east of the Cascades is apt to have closer to 200 sunny days per year.
If you happen to be so fortunate to live in, visit, or pass through the Puget Sound area, climbing opportunities abound around the thriving metropolis that REI, Microsoft, and Starbucks call home. The large percentage of climbers in the community and the varied terrain surrounding it make this region a climber’s wonderland, with thousands of routes and more than enough of something for everyone.
To the North, climbers can explore the Bellingham area and Mt. Erie, both of which feature relatively new additions to the dessert tray of the region’s climbing, and are well worth a visit, especially for the views of the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound. Mt. Erie features dioritic rock faces laden with mostly moderate sport-climbing routes. Mt. Baker Rock and The Bat Caves also warrant a visit, if you’re in the area. Mt. Baker Rock, a group of meta-volcanic cliffs, hosts sport-climbing routes in the 5.5 – 5.12+ range, and the Bat Caves feature slightly longer, slightly more challenging routes. While climbing in these areas, you might want to wear a helmet, due to the frequency of crumbing rock, the occasional tossing of litter from the top of Mt. Erie (there’s road access for lazy muggles), and of course, the hoards of blood-sucking bats.
Seattle’s weekend warriors frequently head to the close, but challenging areas around the small towns of Index (off Highway 2, just west of Steven’s Pass), and Darrington (on Highway 530, east of the I-5 corridor). Index is one of the most popular climbing areas in Washington, while Darrington is one of the most under-utilized. Index has some of the best granite climbing in the state, with clean rock hosting hundreds of routes for slab, crack, face and friction climbs in degrees of difficulty ranging from 5.6 to 5.13. The town of Darrington is surrounded by picturesque towers of Cascade granite, and most of the climbing involves slabs and cracks ranging in difficulty from 5.6 to 5.11. The rock is quality, but the infrequent usage and dampness of the area lend to moss and dirt on the routes.
When you go to Index, or Leavenworth further along Highway 2 from Seattle, make sure you stop at Dan’s Pizza in Sultan. It’s one of those hole-in-the-wall, easy-to-miss places, but it’s the best dang pizza in the state of Washington, and the tap lines to the kegs of local micro-brews are always perfectly frosty.
No regional guide to the Northwest, especially a climbing guide, would be complete without a discussion of Leavenworth, Washington’s own replica Bavarian village, complete with building facades practically baked in gingerbread molds, nestled in an Alpen-like setting. In the climbing arena centered in Leavenworth, you’ll find a multitude of diverse, challenging routes. With four main climbing areas around the Bavarian-styled town, there’s no shortage of interesting terrain, but the real reason you should visit Leavenworth: the beer and the brats that make spending time in this tiny town feel like you’ve been transported into a souvenir snow globe. Make sure you get back to town early, though, because the main bratwurst grill closes early if it's not the height of tourist season
From Leavenworth, the further east you go, the warmer the rock spots get. Vantage, the town nestled in the bosom of the Columbia River Gorge where it’s transected by I-90; Potholes, a smattering of pock-mark scars in the flat farmland of the Palouse; and the Tieton River Canyon, an extensive gash of andesite jutting across Washington’s wine country, all showcase the fire and ice history of the Northwest. Lava flows of basalt and andesite abound here, but if you’re not up for a history lesson of glacial proportions, just remember this: columns of volcanic rock are a) really really cool looking, and b) really ridiculously fun to climb.
In the eastern reaches of the Northwest, Spokane and Coeur d’Alene host (or at least gas up) most climbing excursions. Around Spokane, you can explore the many sport climbing routes established on the basalt rocks at Minnehaha, Dishman Mica, and Tum Tum. The climbing ranges up to 5.12 in difficulty, and most of the rock here is still basalt, though areas further north and east feature some of the best limestone rock in the region. You can also venture to Chimney Rock in North Idaho, a true destination rock, featuring climbs over 35 climbs up to 5.11+. When you go, do yourself a favor and stop for a huckleberry milkshake at any of the roadside stores offering them along your way back to civilization.
Idaho climbing, though, is dominated by the spectacular City of Rocks, a national park located in south central Idaho. Over 700 routes have been developed here since the first pioneers came through the area, way back in the 19th century. Okay, so maybe they didn’t have time to “waste” climbing the fascinating natural sculptures in this area, but you can bet your bottom dollar they wanted to. You just can’t look at these mammoth granite rocks and not feel the need to climb them. The park is like a jungle gym for grown-ups, with challenging technical climbs up to 600 feet in length and endless bouldering problems.
In the southern reaches of the area typically known as the Northwest, Smith Rock dominates the climbing scene, though Beacon Rock, the second-largest monolith in the world, plopped down alongside the Columbia River on the Washington side, is worth a stop to stretch your legs during a long drive from Portland to points south and east. Smith Rock State Park, in north central Oregon near Bend (home of Deschutes brewery!), is perhaps the gem in the crown of Northwest climbing. With over 1500 routes and some truly world class sport climbing on a 500-foot lump of welded tuff (compressed volcanic ash), Smith Rock is guaranteed not to disappoint.
And hey, we know that when things go bad, you can always blame Canada, right? Well, not so in the climbing world. Canada is home to a great many fantastic climbing venues (especially if you like frozen waterfalls and ice-road truckers), and one of the best is just over the border, about a five hour drive from Seattle: Squamish, the self-proclaimed outdoor recreation capitol of Canada. Funny name, serious rocks. Serious scenery, serious bouldering problems, and serious climbs. Plus, if you get rained out, you can always visit the local mining museum. Yay rocks!
You’ll find what you’re looking for in the Northwest, whether it’s sandstone, limestone, granite or basalt. Steep, round, overhanging, easy, not-so-easy, Canadian, or American, we’ve got it all. ClimbNakedShoes.com welcomes you to join us in our humble, mossy, mountainous home region, and we look forward to exploring your less-mossy regions, as well. See you on the rocks!