It would be nice to have some areas that were closer… and they’ll get more important as the price of gasoline creeps higher and higher (projected to be over per liter by next summer).

Are you talking about the Giant Boulders in the Lynn Loop?

I did find some boulders in north van that are definitely closer than the Giant Boulders.  They’re about a 10 - 15 minute walk in, but pretty flat.  But they’re on the shady side of a valley - could be buggy some times of the year, but cool when it’s hot out.  COuld be a good quick summer area, an alternative to Cypress (with real boulders not bluffs, so definitely some harder lines).  Maybe 50 problems?  I can’t really give directions yet because they’re not really close to any landmarks.  But I’ll get back to you when I do.

And there’s Boot Hill in the (closed) Capilano watershed, but there’s only about 10 problems…

… I always hoped one day Vancouver would retro fit all the unsightly bridge pillings on burrard (west side) with holds, bolts and anchors.

Did anyone mention the boulder across from Riley(sp) Park? sweet!! but I guess that isn’t north van….

I drove by the Orchard the other day but it was too hot to stop and boulder.

There is legal climbing in Capilano Canyon but it’s word of mouth only.

Nelson Creek has a bolted 10c on a short free-standing tower near the parking lot. There’s also a big blasted wall of loose rock behind the bridge. The highway bridge itself would be a fine place for an LA-style climb with artificial holds bolted to the concrete - it’s dry 365 days a year, for one thing, and 30m high.

Coquitlam is not very geologically blessed - too much Quaternary sediment, not enough bedrock. The Anmore/Belcarra areas are the best bet for finding crags.

Out in the Maple Ridge area there are a couple of develped boulders in one of the woodlots - either Blue Mountain or BCIT - just of Dewedney Trunk, but that’s nearly at the Mission border.

There’s some very soft and not that featured overhanging sandstone in Kanaka Creek too, below the falls.

Nelson Creek also has rock outcrops in the woods on the west side of the canyon between the old highway bridge and where the trail crosses the creek. I only went by there once and saw a few things that looked exciting from a distance but up close the problems weren’t the good kind. At least no one would be likely to bother you there.

http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/510/medium/Nelson_Creek.jpg

There are boulder problem possibilities below the Headlands Point new houses in Caulfeild on the south side. And a problem or 2 in the landscaping of the development.

In fact there are boulders scattered here and there in the woods of the North Shore. We could do a new kind of circuit with running shoes and a GPS device. The Elbow-Knackering North Shore Pebble Run.