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The Bubble

  • Grade context: US
  • Ascents: 59

Seasonality

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Access issues inherited from San Francisco Bay Area

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

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Routes

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Grade Route

Far left most route. Two bolt anchor with carabiners. One is a locker.

Climb up and right to the middle of the face. Two bolt anchor with quick links.

Lead Fistful of Hueco to the left and then setup a top rope by scrambling around the tree. Two bolt Anchor

Pocketed slab makes a great warm up for other routes on the Bubble. Crux is a reach around the 2nd bolt.

Top anchor is on one good bolt and two old button heads. There are no rap-rings or chains, so your final descent will be a walk-off.

No top anchor. Small to medium pro suffices.

Reachy, pocketed face climbing to 2-bolt top anchor.

FFA: Chris Summit, 1997

Easier pocketed face climbing leads to crux moves at a hollow-sounding flake atop the arête.

Consider stick-clipping the first bolt. Mind the poison oak.

Above the top anchor, a second higher set of chains is visible. These chains are appropriate for top-roping the west face; however, lead climbing to the higher anchors is poorly protected and less interesting, therefore also not recommended.

FFA: Jordy Morgan, 1997

Cruise up the well-protected overhanging parade of huecos to crux moves on sharp 1- and 2-finger pockets that will make you question the published grade. The rest ledge becomes menacing once you move into tenuous climbing on the upper face.

Popular variations move right or left after the 4th bolt to finish on neighboring routes, avoiding the sharp pockets, crux moves, and potential ledge fall.

Perhaps the funnest route at the Bubble, with massive jug-filled huecos yielding a variety of overhanging no-hands rests.

Bolted April 2012. Chain top anchor.

Overhanging huecos and pockets make this a memorable route. Gets it grade from height-dependent crux below the first bolt.

FFA: Jordie Morgan, 1997

This popular variation avoids the low crux the regular route. Unfortunately, if you're too short for the regular route, you might also be too short to clip the first bolt from the left. Consider a clip stick, or else be careful if you skip that first bolt.

Start right of the 'Bubble Boy' cave with crux moves up the small overhanging arête. Stay right of 'Bubble Boy', pulling over bulges onto pocketed faces. Finish on the pair of cracks before moving left to the top anchor.

Highball start. Pro to 3.5"

Pull the low bulge then move up on pocketed slab to the next bulge and the crux. Unless this route has been rebolted, slab sections are runout.

FFA: Jordy Morgan, 1998

Mixed variation of 'Catchy' that moves right into the chimney instead of over the bulge. Watch for loose rocks in the chimney.

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Selected Guidebooks more Hide

Author(s): Kimbrough Moore, Shannon Joslin, Leo Popovic

Date: 2022

ISBN: 9798218007959

Edgewalker Entertainment:
A comprehensive guide to the greater Bay Area of California, Golden State Bouldering provides readers with info on the outdoor bouldering around San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz.
  • Describes 1,600 boulder problems with hundreds of color photos, maps, GPS coordinates and hand-drawn illustrations

Author(s): Toby Evans

Date: 2021

ISBN: 9781493045464

FalconGuides:
Hiking the State's 15 Peaks Over 14,000 Feet. Developed for every skill level, the FalconGuides Climbing California's Fourteeners lays out plans and logistics for making your climb a positive experience—no matter how many summits you've reached.
  • California's 15 peaks over 14,000 ft. are becoming more popular, and this book provides essential information for taking them on
  • Each mountain is broken down based on the technical skills needed so you know what to expect
  • Details for each climb include a list of recommended equipment, how to prepare for rapidly changing weather and trail conditions, and a general timeframe needed to summit

Accommodations nearby more Hide

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