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Chris Hubbard

@chbard

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Route Highlight-Castle Rock

The Pacific Northwest houses endless mountain adventures and along highway 2, just over 2 hours from Seattle, Castle Rock looms over drivers too focused on the road to peer up and see the 500' summit of the upper and lower tiers of granite. A lot of the rock on the lower tier is mossy, chossy, and a little too vertical for the moderate climber. However right in the center is a weakness where there's solid rock and excellent climbing. Then a break in rock ('loggers ledge') offers respite and a chance to bail if one is not committed to the full adventure. Continuing to the upper tier provides more great climbing with beautiful scenes of the Wenatchee river and Tumwater Canyon. An easy approach and descent makes this an accessible adventure to some classic climbing!

Have you climbed Castle Rock?
What route(s) did you choose?

Scroll for route beta➡️

Legend:
GA - gear anchor
XX - bolted anchor

Gear recommendations: single rack from 0.1" to 3" (doubles of 0.75"-3" is helpful, including offset nuts) 4" and 5" could be placed but not necessary.

Approach: From the pullout off of highway 2 head up the trail and break off to the right once you hit a switchback about level with the base of the lower tier.

Pitch 1 (The Fault) - Climb the chimney up to the bolted anchors which can be used to belay, but opting to pass them and make a gear anchor just below the roof of 'Catapult' makes for a better line of sight of your climber.

Pitch 2 (Pitch 1 of Catapult) - Climb through the roof into a corner and belay on large ledge (save a few 3" and/or 2" cams for belay).

Pitch 3 (Pitch 2 of Catapult) - Continue up blocky climbing until reaching 'loggers ledge.'

Pitch 4 (Pitch 1 of Midway) - Start on the right side of 'Jello Tower' climbing the chimney using small protection to eventually get on top of the giant block to bolted anchors. While most parties seem to belay their second here, it might be advantageous to continue up the step across move and traverse right to a bolted anchor with a better stance.

Pitch 5 (Pitch 2 of Midway) - Two options exist here; climb right through the squeeze into a chimney system or left to a more exposed series

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PNW Climbing

Climbing in the Pacific Northwest, let alone just being here has always been a curious dream of mine. Coniferous forests, rivers running through stunning and intimidating granite filled canyons. Steep hillsides rise over 2000 feet in great relief.

The smell of pine, rivers rushing below sitting about 600 feet above highway 2 we climb to the summit of the amazing Castle Rock. 6 pitches of stunning climbing below and we are just now getting the early afternoon sun (We were shaded up until then). The weather is a warm, high 80's...time to go to the river.

Bouldering in canopy covered forests made it cool enough to stay pleasant, but slowly build up a sweat and body heat, making it unreasonable to not go for a swim. The river is cool and the fish are jumping. Our sore bodies are soothed by the water making it possible to do it all again... tomorrow.

What perfect adventure(s).

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San Diego Climber

What an amazing project to be a part of—Remember Climbing topos of San Diego? Well if you do, then you know this was the main resource for climbing topos in San Diego for years. However after many years of maintaining the website it became too much to manage. The long-awaited compilation of San Diego Topos has now been jam-packed into a book with over 200+ hand drawn topos of different rock formations scattered throughout San Diego County—an atlas for San Diego Climbers, for reference, and a fun look into Chris Hubbard's 40+ year-long hobby, organized in a nearly 500-page book.

There will be a book signing at @mesarim_mv today (March 3rd @ 4pm) show some support and get your book signed today! There will be books for sale, but feel free to bring your own copy.

If you're looking for a copy please visit the link in my bio or visit your local @mesarimclimbing (Mission Valley, Mira Mesa, North County).

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A resin gift for the local legend @chbard

I recently bought his book "San Diego Climber" for my girlfriend as a Christmas gift.

It not only functions as a guide book and an artistic sketchbook of topos, but also a tangible tribute to all the route development and adventures he's accrued over decades of pursuing his passion of climbing.

Thank you for everything you've done for San Diego climbing community 🤙🏻

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San Diego Climber

Remember Climbing topos of San Diego? Well if you do, then you know this was the main resource for climbing topos in San Diego for years. However after many years of maintaining the website it became too much to manage. The long-awaited compilation of San Diego Topos has now been jam-packed into a book with over 200+ topos, nearing almost 500 pages! Chris Hubbard’s drawn topo's illustrate the various formations scattered throughout San Diego County through his lens. If you are interested in getting yourself a copy, shop at the link in my bio!

When I first started climbing in San Diego there were only few sources of knowledge besides Mountain Project. However, if you researched San Diego Climbing on the internet, you’re likely to stumble upon Climbing Topos Of San Diego. An impressive collection of drawn topos and photographs around San Diego. The adventure was there, the info is out, and the work was done…or so I thought. Initially San Diego seemed like a small collection of boulders at Woodson, cliff bands at Mission Trails, and some unreachable cliffs out east. Chris Hubbard's work was the reason I was able to become a climber in the laid-back military beach town. His thorough topos inspired me to seek adventure, to search for rock, to explore the curiosity for obscurity. To be a San Diego Climber.

When asked to help scan, assemble, and edit this book; I was very excited and motivated to collaborate with Chris. We work particularly well together and have many commonalities. Tackling this goliath task took a lot of patience, teamwork, and tedium. It was very similar to the routes and areas I helped him develop; Straight to business, but the fun is amongst that journey. I am proud of the work we did and look forward to our future projects ahead.

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Some fun pictures from a while ago from the San Diego developer legend Chris Hubbard on a day of bushwhacking, soloing, and exploration in the forests of Mount Woodson.

This boulder, along with hundreds more can be found on the Kaya Mount Woodson guide from me and Aden Parker!
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#bouldering #climbing #rockclimbing #sandiegoclimbing #climbingguidebook

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Adventure partners

Been grateful of all the people who have been there to push boundaries and explore different terrain. There are definitely more people that I owe credit for, but here are just some of them from last year. Love you all.

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Orion Rising’s geometry is something else. In this shot by Brian Spiewak, I’m climbing out of the belay spot we call “Owl Cove,” heading up pitch 8, into the 5.12 finger crack roof before tackling the squeeze chimney known as “Randy’s Slot.” Diego Aldrete and Chris Hubbard are holding down the belay below. One of our all-time best projects. Happy Earth Day! #earthday #bajacalifornia #maximropes

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Climbing Randy’s Slot (pitch 8/10) on Orion Rising (5.12c) in Baja. Diego had already scabbed up his knees from a previous trip, so this was a meat grinder. Marveling at his determination, we were encouraging him from above. I posted this video before, but the audio got cut. Aquí está otra vez!

#BajaAdventures #FirstAscents #OrionRising #RandyLeavitt #maximropes #OffwidthClimbing

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“Randy’s Slot” – A pivotal moment awaits on Pitch 8/10 of Orion Rising (5.12c), where you transition from left-side-in to right-side-in. Like all classic offwidth and chimney climbs, this subtle shift can make or break your progress. Falling out? Unlikely. Making upward progress? Equally challenging. Expect bloody knees, bruised egos, and a full-value battle. While the lower section clocks in at 5.12, this cruxy stretch is only 5.10+—a true test of technique and grit. As one climber joked about this photo, “Look, he’s been in that chimney so long, his hair turned gray!” First ascended in the remote splendor of Cañon Tajo, Baja California, Mexico 🇲🇽, this mega-classic line is as rewarding as it is humbling. 📸: Brian Spiewak

#RockClimbing #Climbing #FirstAscent #ClimbingHistory
#TradClimbing #TradisRad #BigWallClimbing #Mountaineering #FreeClimbing
#OffwidthClimbing #Leavittation #RandyLeavitt
#BajaClimbing #ClimbingBaja #RockClimbingMexico #BajaAdventure
#CañonTajo #OrionRising

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Perfect granite, green lichen, finger cracks, roofs, bombay chimney slots, remote as hell: what is not to love? Randy Leavitt (that’s me) doing some first ascent free climbing on Orion Rising (5.12c) in the Cañon Tajo area of Baja California, Mexico 🇲🇽. Imagine the famous Harding Slot, but with a 5.12 finger crack roof entrance. This lead is called Randy’s Slot. The 10-pitch Orion Rising epitomizes the raw beauty and adventure of first ascent climbing. Photo by Brian Spiewak (circa 2015)

#RockClimbing #Climbing #Bouldering
#Adventure #Hiking #Nature
#Outdoors #Climb #Mountains
#ClimbingLife #SportClimbing #TradClimbing #Climbers #TradClimbing #FirstAscent #climbinghistory
#DynamicRope #MaximRopes #Teufelberger

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Rock climbing adventure calls! 🧗‍♂️ During the first ascent (2015), Randy Leavitt (that’s me), Chris Hubbard, and Diego Aldrete explore the epic Orion Rising, a stunning 10-pitch route rated 5.12c at Gran Trono Blanco in Baja California. The climb’s landscape blends the amazing rock quality and bright green lichen of the Needles, Yosemite’s grandeur, and Joshua Tree’s unique terrain - creating a breathtaking climbing canvas. Randy’s Slot (visible 3 pitches up this foreshortened final 5-pitch section) features a 5.12 finger crack out a roof into this 5.10+ “Harding Slot like” offwidth/chimney. It is a wild position with 1,000 feet of exposure. Don’t get hurt here. There is zero cell service, no help. It is pure wilderness with a long, difficult approach in this deep Baja location of Mexico! 🇲🇽 Not pictured here is Brian Spiewak, who was the force behind opening up this climb in the first place. I was just recruited for my stemming skills. 😂

#OrionRising #RandyLeavitt #ClimbingHistory #ClimbingBaja #FirstAscent
#RockClimbing #Climbing #Bouldering #ClimbingMexico
#Adventure #Hiking #Nature
#Outdoors #Climb #Mountains
#ClimbingLife #SportClimbing #TradClimbing #Climbers
#DynamicRope #MaximRopes #Teufelberger

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