Description:   (under review)

Huge boulders with great concentration and lots of steep featured overhangs. One of the premiere zones in the Kootenays and well worth the longer than typical approach. Discovered and developed in 2022/23 by Andrew Osnach with significant help from Jeremy Childs.

Dozens of hours have gone into landing work in this zone, digging up rocks and stumps. As such most landings are safe and no one should have to carry more than one pad up the hill! Don’t hesitate to help out with landings, they can always be better. You’ll likely find stashed pads and tools in your travels, please put them back where you found them.

Directions / Travel Info:   (under review)

Park at the Syringa trail pullout on the right, a few hundred meters after entering the provincial park. Follow the groomed hiking trail uphill for about ~900m (15min) where you will reach a fork. Head right. Soon it will turn rough and climb a steep, rocky slope which contours around the hill and climbs up the backside. Make some noise on your way up the slope as the rest of the trail seems to be a popular spot for black bears. From the hilltop, take a moment to catch your breath and take in the view before continuing north-west straight across a meadow to the far corner. Here you should find a cairn marking a path into the thicker brush. You should find the rest of the trail reasonably well marked. Please make an effort to stay on the trail and bring a handsaw or pruners to help keep it clear. Soon you will come across the Gossip Stone, the first boulder on the trail. Continue around to the left and you will arrive at the main zone in a few minutes. Total distance is just under 2km and around 220m elevation gain, expect the approach to take 30-45min depending on fitness. Do not add any carins, signs or flagging tape before the trail enters the thicker brush.