BIG WATER BOULDERS
The Big Water Boulders are a Dr. Seuss, lunar landscape of sandstone blocks, that have rolled down from the Straight Cliff formation and come to rest on the battleship gray Tropic Shale below. The Straight Cliffs form the edge of the Kaiparowits Plateau within the Grand Staircase National Monument and were formed during the late Cretaceous period in a marginal marine basin comprised of slow rambling rivers, bogs, swamps and the shoreline of a warm ocean. Flora and Fauna were abundant during the period, the evidence can be seen in the vast amount of fossils scattered in the shale. Keep your eyes out for sharks teeth and dinosaur bones.
Ninety percent of the rock here is complete choss but at least the solid stuff is dusty. One must have a good rock reading nose in order to sniff out the goods. Varnish is the key! Look for orange, brown and black streaks; avoid yellow and white poofy looking rock. Overhangs are rare, with most of the boulders yielding crimpy faces, compression features and pockets that require balance and technical footwork aka slab climbing skills.
Find a detailed guide to the area @ https://www.mountainproject.com/area/112172291/big-water-boulders
Things that set the Big Waters apart from most other areas:
1.There are literally 1000’s of V0 and V1 problems to do. Lowball problems with cushy landings are everywhere for the young and non-committal. My wife and young children don’t have to walk far to find a high quality line to crank on.
2.The landings are the best! Tropic Shale is a pain to dust off of your shoes before each burn but is awesome to crater into when a hold pops.
3.Quiet. In over 15 years of climbing I have only run into a handful of people out there.
4.The photographic brilliance is second to none. It is an absolutely beautiful place.
Buckskin Gulch Sport Climbing Area is a limestone crag not too far down the road from the Big Water Boulders.
