Gold Mine
From Sudbury, take the Trans Canada highway west towards Sault Ste. Marie. At about 108 km out of Sudbury, take Hwy 108 north towards Elliot Lake and travel north for 64 km, which will take you through Elliot Lake and the 108 will turn into the 639. After 64 km, the road will end at Hwy 546 - at this point turn left and venture southwest for 7.6 km, where you will find the trail into the crag.
At the 7.6 km mark is a small pull-off on the south side of the road. The trail to Gold Mine is on the opposite side of the road approximately 15-30 feet west of the parking area. The trail zig-zags through the trees and, as of last year, still had downed trees that need to be stepped over. The more the area is frequented, the more obvious the path will become. Follow the trail until you see rocks (3-5 minutes) and the trail will split off left (west) and right (east). Look left and you will notice a slab approximately 40 yards away. This is the Ant boulder. Travelling right (east, 3-5 minutes) the first boulder encountered is the Alexander the Great boulder. Gold Mine is split up between four different areas. (See topo below.)
Camping is located at the 10.7 km mark south from the Hwy 546 turn. Turn left onto the logging road and continue for 300 m and camp along the river bank area.
Sources
Routes
| Name | Grade ↑ | Star rating | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 615 Dollars | V5 | - | Start by climbing the sloper ledges up to meet the crux in the middle of the boulder. Figure out a high left foot or stretch and grab a crimp. Finish up on easier terrain. The first boulder encountered from the trail. Obvious vert wall.
FA: Aaron Bopp |
| Barn Door Baby | V5 | - | To the left of Lost Corner on the Magic Mushroom boulder. Start span from the left arête to a far sloping side pull. Find a good heel and slap up to good holds to top out. Shorter climbers will have to get very creative.
FA: Thomas Piche |
| Creature of the Mine, Low | V5 | - | Start with both hands on the low platform and climb into Creature of the Mine.
FA: Pierre Cusa |
| Eat This Scroll | V5 | - | A dihedral delight. Start standing with your hands wide at the base of the dihedral. Master your way up the open book using any beta or body part available.
FA: Aaron Bopp |
| Flange | V5 | - | TBD |
| John B | V5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Sit start with both hands on the jug and a heel if you're feeling flexible. use one of two very small crimps to make a difficult move right to a gaston and make your way up the face. This is located on a boulder past rogue pogue and off the trail to the left. |
| Knife Fight | V5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Start on a jug, Bust out right and then tackle the amazing knife feature using very odd meathooks. Topout in the middle of the tall but easy slab. |
| Loud and Prowd | V5 | - | A sit start with opposing side pulls, make a hard move up to a pinch and top out the prow. It's a powerful mini compression block. To the left of Sunday School. Obvious Arête. |
| Magic Mushroom | V5 | - | On the Magic Mushroom boulder to the right of Lost Corner. Stand start on the arête and using small face holds. Climb the slab to a very committing move to the top of the roof. Many pads will help.
FA: Thomas Piche |
| Maple Leaf | V5 | - | Are you a crimp master and love small feet? This is for you! Without doubt a cool-looking boulder. The only reason it gets downgraded is because it is slightly an eliminate but such a cool climb on minuscule crimps and tiny, tiny feet. The eliminate part only comes into play during the first couple moves. The start hold is located by the right arête and due to the shape of the boulder you can grab the right "part of the leaf". But as soon as you make a couple moves using the obvious crimps, It's full face climbing!
FA: Aaron Bopp 2019 |
| Nighthawk | V5 | - | Intro to compression. Start on a low vertical rail for the right and incut notch for the left. Slap left to get to the arete and squeeze your way to the top. Hard start.
FA: Charlie Hall |
| Performance Anxiety | V5 | - | Start low on a good jug. Make a big move up and left. Get your heel hooking on to reach a bad crimp. Either be insanely strong and match the crimp or bump your right hand to a sloper dish right below the lip. Figure out your feet and top out.
FA: Chris Myers |
| Put Me In Coach | V5 | - | Start on in-cut edge (left) and right hand on a low crimp by the arête (right). Make a hard first move right hand and work up the arête to reach another edge. Bust to the lip or use a toe hook out left. A difficult mantle top-out awaits you.
FA: Brendan Baars |
| Rogue Pogue | V5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | There is no safe down climb so bring a rope or a ladder which measures 12+ feet. Bring at minimum 2 pads as this problem measures over 22' vertical from the start. Start holds are the undercling and the rail on either side of the arête, then utilize the whole over hanging face and top out in the centre of it. |
| Sarissa Mastery | V5 | - | Start 8 feet right of Open the Iliad.
FA: Aaron Bopp |