Spending the day in a Hawaii forest is a wonderful escape.
Even if you get stabbed by these every once in a while.
On this day we’re at another spot rock climbers in Hawaii have been bouldering. There are free standing boulders all over the place in this valley.
Many first ascents were had on this day.
This Hawaii bouldering spot is called Jagger Valley.
We hiked up to the valley a few weeks ago to check it out.
When I arrived a bunch of the guys were already climbing.
Crash pads were layered under the boulder.
Men held hands.
It was overcast and rain sprinkled on us throughout the day.
The guys were projecting a difficult boulder problem.
The route starts low and traverses the bottom park of the rock.
The holds are tiny and slopey.
There were many falls trying to make this reach.
Notice how small the left and right hand holds are.
Once you get your feet over to the other side, you’ll have to figure out a way to climb up the arete.
It is not easy. No one completed the problem on this day.
After many attempts, it was time to take a break and move on.
We also worked on a route that started low and went straight up the face of the boulder.
The start is easy, but the lip of the boulder had very tough slopey holds.
Up above the lip there’s a small rail you can grip on to.
It’s much more difficult than it looks and careful spotting is required.
The route is completed by topping out.
After we had grown tired of the first boulder we walked up the valley to look for more.
This river rock seems to get plenty of water.
Then there was this boulder.
This side of the rock is probably more for keiki.
Dogs ran through the forest.
Endless energy in this one.
We inspected another boulder with potential for some good climbing.
The guys brushed off moss to reveal potential climbing holds.
Matt climbed to the top to have a look at the view.
At the top, he gazed about in wonderment.
Phil got to the hard to reach places.
It took some teamwork.
With everyone pitching in the boulder was clean in no time.
Justin stretched out.
This problem starts low on the rock and goes up the arete.
The hill slopes down sharply so a fall here could send you tumbling down the hill.
As they climbed, the guys struggled to figure out which cracks and bumps in the rock could be used as holds.
One by one they figured it out.
And eventually the problem was completed.
There was another problem on the other side of the boulder.
This one takes you up the face of this boulder. While it’s not that tall, the problem is difficult. A fall here would put you on a pile of sharp smaller boulders.
Jagger Valley is tucked away in a remote part of the island.
The forest is lush.
And it’s full of life. Watch where you sit though. I almost sat on this sleeping lizard.
To learn more about bouldering in Hawaii, talk to the folks at Volcanic Rock Gym.
See also:
- More Unreal Hawaii stories about rock climbing in Hawaii.
