He recalls his first forays to the area drew less than favorable comment from local climbers. They laughed at us. They wondered why we were wasting our time with volcanic junk. Ten years later, there are 65 routes at Big Chief. Most are bolt-protected and are rated 5.9 to 5.13d.
Holds tend to be large and edgy.
Snow makes the normal access road, the Fiberboard Highway, impossible to pass until July. Wall Located about a quarter mile up the Eagle Lake Trail above Emerald Bay, this cliff is popular year-round. Walk up the trail until it crosses the creek via a bridge. The cliff is on the right. Climbs range in difficulty from 5.7 to easy 5.11.