More than 700 nearby climbing routes will be featured in North Bend’s newest climbing guidebook by local author and climbing guide Kurt Hicks.
Hicks, a guide for Pro Ski and Mountain Service in North Bend, is an experienced climber. Hicks was one of the authors of Pro Ski and Mountain Service’s book “Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: Washington,” which came out in 2014.
His new book, “Snoqualmie Rock,” will detail hundreds of climbing routes in the area. The book is scheduled to be completed around December.
But Dave Guyer is putting on an event for the new book at 5 p.m. July 10 at Pro Ski and Mountain Service. Hicks will talk about what stage he is at with the book and answer questions people may have.
“Climbing is a great way to test your athleticism,” said Guyer, service manager for Pro Ski and Mountain Service. “It’s a really calculated way to test your limits and abilities.”
“Snoqualmie Rock” will showcase all the routes off Interstate 90 exits 32 and 38, which are popular climbing spots.
“These are the closest climbing areas to the city of Seattle,” Guyer said. “A lot of people head up the I-90 corridor and go to these crags, these rock-climbing areas and enjoy sport climbing.”
If you go
‘Snoqualmie Rock’ book event
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Pro Ski and Mountain Service
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108 W. North Bend Way, North Bend
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888-6397
The routes off I-90 aren’t the only climbing areas featured in the book.
“Pretty much everything from North Bend here and our climbing demo wall in Torguson Park all the way up through Snoqualmie Pass,” Guyer said.
“Snoqualmie Rock” will serve as an update to previous climbing guidebooks of the area. Guyer said that the older books are quite popular, but are no longer in print. That’s part of the reason for the new book and the event.
“We get tons of people here in the ski shop asking for these guidebooks, which aren’t in print anymore,” Guyer said. “It’s an opportunity for people to get the information as well as having a little presentation.”
The demand for a new guidebook is clearly strong.
“I probably get several phone calls a day asking for this guidebook,” Guyer said.
The book will serve as another step in a greater plan that Pro Ski and Mountain Service has for climbing in North Bend. Guyer said they are trying to use the terrain of North Bend and the surrounding area to make it a hot spot for climbing and recreation.
“We’re really trying to build the community of North Bend into this kind of mountain, outdoorsy culture,” he said.
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