Grade: V8
Style: Boulder
FA’er: Nate Woods
Area: Hunter Creek, Hope, British Columbia
Date: April 9, 2011

THE BETA

Among the many popular bouldering areas in the Fraser Valley, one jewel in particular, Hunter Creek, has been the focus of development in recent years, due to its large granite boulders, flat landings, quiet forest setting, and range of good problems from VB to V11. Hunter Creek is located just off Highway 1, a few miles west of Hope, BC, and about 1 hour, 45 minutes east of Vancouver. Though the boulders are on private land, the owner has granted access up to a fence line that runs parallel to Hunter Creek, northeast of the boulders. Please obey the rules.

As you walk up the Hunter Creek/Lorenzetta Forest Service Road (FSR), you’ll become surrounded by boulders on both sides of the road. The Road Rage area will be on your right, and the trailhead into the forest will be directly across the road from this. Up the trail, you’ll run into the Goldfinger Boulders, with classic testpieces such as Ecocide (V10), Shopping for Blood (V8), and Goldfinger (V10). Many classic easier problems are found here as well. Numerous FAs have been reported at Hunter Creek in recent months, but one problem in particular, Gargantuan, has sent ripples through the valley for its exhilarating and bold style of climbing.

Gargantuan is located at the Road Rage area on the largest boulder across from the forest trailhead. At 35 feet long and almost 20 feet high, it’s one of the biggest problems in the Fraser Valley. Start down and right on the easy portion of the arête, using a left diagonaling, sloping rail for the feet. Follow the arête to a series of sloping shelves where the grade changes drastically as you enter the long, steep, and technical endurance crux, which does not let up until you are standing on top.

HOW TO GET THERE

Exit Highway 1 at Hunter Creek (160), and go south on Laidlaw, the frontage road on the southeast side of the highway. After about a half-mile, turn left onto the dirt Hunter Creek/Lorenzetta FSR. You can park at the bottom of the first hill or at one of two pullouts at the top of the hill. Walk about 50 meters up the road, and you will see the Road Rage boulders to your right and the trailhead directly across the road on the left. Straight up the hill is the Gargantuan Boulder.