Mount Erie — Springboard
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Springboard is a short (65 ft, 1 pitch) 5.8+ trad crack high on Mount Erie's Main Wall, reached from the upper ledge atop the classic Zig Zag (5.7). Named for a horizontal tree you walk out off the ledge; from the tree's end, a couple of balancy face moves right (small nut) gain a good crack with a fixed pin, followed on exposed moves to a bolted chain anchor. A fun, photogenic, position-driven pitch — the appeal is the airy start + views. Quick in-town crag with full cell coverage.
🚗 Getting there & comms
Trailhead: Mount Erie Main Wall / climbers' parking (Heart Lake Rd)
From I-5 at Burlington take SR-20 W toward Anacortes/Deception Pass; trend right onto Campbell Lake Rd, turn at the Mount Erie Grocery onto Heart Lake Rd; use the base/climbers' parking off Heart Lake Rd. Don't block the white gate or driveways. ~1.5 hr from Seattle.
⛽ Last services: Anacortes (~10 min N): full services. Mount Erie Grocery at the Heart Lake Rd junction is the closest store/gas.
📶 Cell signal: Good cell — within Anacortes city limits, reliable at the crag + parking. A WFH-weekday crag.
🧗 Routes
🥾 Approach · descent · season
Approach: 5–30 min from parking to the Main Wall base. Springboard is NOT climbed from the ground — it starts from the upper ledge atop Zig Zag (5.7). Climb Zig Zag to reach the ledge, then walk out the horizontal springboard tree extending E off the ledge.
⬇️ Descent: Rappel/lower from the bolted chain anchor at the top of the pitch. Almost all Mt. Erie routes descend on a single 60m rope; or scramble the summit gullies and walk off, or rappel the Zig Zag line.
🗓️ Season: March–October best; Olympic rain shadow allows year-round dry windows. Bring layers; the Main/Powerline areas dry fast.
🎒 Gear & food
Rack: Small trad rack to ~2 inches; a small nut for the face moves off the tree. Fixed pin protects the crack entry but may be missing — don't rely on it. Bolted chain anchor on top.
Ropes: Single 60m (covers the pitch + standard Mt. Erie rappels).
✅ Before you leave the trailhead
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🏕️ Land · camp · water · permits
🪧 Land & passes: City of Anacortes — Mount Erie Park / Anacortes Community Forest Lands.
📋 Permits: No climbing permit. ACFL/City of Anacortes day-use; observe parking restrictions. No fee.
⚠️ Hazards · fire · emergency
- Exposed thin start: walking the horizontal tree + face traverse off it (only a small nut) before the crack/fixed pin
- Fixed pin may be missing/unreliable — back it up
- Mossy/lichen or damp rock after rain; diorite holds slick when wet
- Loose blocks/vegetation; helmet (parties on Zig Zag below)
- Multipitch approach via Zig Zag adds 5.7 + route-finding
- Ledge-fall potential on the lower-angle exit moves
🆘 Emergency contacts
- Emergency (Fire/EMS/Police/SAR) 911 — SAR via 911/Sheriff only
- Skagit County Sheriff (SAR dispatch) 360-416-1911 — Initiates Skagit County SAR
- Island Hospital (nearest ER, 24 hr), Anacortes 360-299-1300 — 1211 24th St — ~10 min from Mt. Erie
🌤️ Live conditions
Auto-updated 20h ago · °F · tap a link for the mountain-specific picture ↓
👀 In the field
Tap any for ID, edibility & first-aid.
📍 Nearby & other interest
- Zig Zag (5.7) — the approach pitch directly below
- Powerline Wall (5.7–5.10d)
- Main Wall multipitch classics
- Snag Buttress
💬 Comments
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