Three O’Clock Rock

Three O’Clock Rock is the easiest to reach of over a dozen climbing destinations in the area known as “Darrington.” This area features granite domes in a heavily wooded mountain setting. The climbing style is predominantly slab, with routes on Three O’Clock Rock ranging from one to eight pitches long.

Eightmile Creek Trail

This Forest Service trail climbs from the trailhead at 1600 feet to Squire Creek Pass at 4100 feet. The trail reaches the base of Three O’Clock Rock at about 2600 feet after about a mile through a forest that includes several large trees up to ten feet in diameter as you approach the crag.

The trail was not constructed well in the first place and a lack of maintenance has resulted in several areas being prone to erosion. The exciting climbing area and the great beauty to be found up at the pass make it worthy of our attention.

Trail Improvements

This project was mostly about maintenance rather than improving the trail but the first few steps from the road and the last segment approaching the main climbing destination on the South Buttress of Three O’Clock saw some improvement. In-between we worked on maintaining drainage structures that help divert water which would otherwise flow down the trailbed, causing deep erosion. We also cut a large log almost 3′ in diameter which lay across the trail just inside the wilderness boundary (this meant that we had to use a hand-saw rather than a chain saw, because mechanized equipment is not allowed in Wilderness areas).

Thanks to All

The WCC thanks the stalwart volunteers who donated a day when they could have been climbing to this effort.

We also thank our partners from the Access Fund who helped coordinate the project and supplied tools and supervision of the work effort. Read more about the Access Fund Conservation Team through the link at right.

In addition, we thank the Mountaineers and the U.S. Forest Service, Darrington District. We are excited to be able to foster this kind of collaboration between climbers and land managers and the project was a win for those who enjoy climbing and hiking in Clear Creek.

We had a good time and sincerely appreciate this opportunity to help take care of this special place.