The Hippo Boulder

The Hippo Boulder is a bouldering area in Maine, about 1.7 miles from the town of Gilead. It sits right next to Tumble Down Dick Mt. and Tumble Down Dick Bouldering, both about 0.1 mile away, and Bear Cub Cliff Gilead ME is about 0.3 mile off. The area is a cluster of boulders with five routes, all rated on the V scale from V0 to V5, so it works well for climbers who want a short session on a single boulder or a longer day with several problems. The most comfortable months for a visit are July and August, when typical highs reach about 79°F and 78°F with lows in the mid-50s, based on averages from a nearby weather station in Bethel. Winters are cold, with January highs around 28°F. The routes here are all bouldering, and the grade range runs from V0 to V5. Northwest Arete and Right Crack are both V0, Left Crack is V1, TDMFP is V3, and The Anvil is V5. The closest hiking is Wheeler Brook, about 0.6 mile away, and Hastings Campground is about 4.3 miles off for an overnight stay.