boulder
Smoothed glacial remnant
A boulder is a large rock, typically rounded by erosion or glacial action—big enough that you couldn't easily move it yourself.
Boulders dot landscapes from riverbeds to mountainsides.
In climbing, bouldering is scaling short rock formations without ropes.
We sat on a boulder overlooking the valley. (Capitalized Boulder is a city in Colorado.)
Steep rugged outcrop
- overhangSection projecting beyond support
- problemMatter requiring resolution
- sendCause to arrive elsewhere
- dynoEngine testing device
crux · grip · chalk · crashpad · spotter · highball · mantle · sloper
Igneous rock, quartz-rich
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- sandstoneCemented grain sediment
- gneissFoliated metamorphic rock
- quartziteMetamorphic silica-rich stone
erratic · glacial · moraine · weathering · outcrop · igneous · metamorphic · sedimentary
Obstruction halting movement
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- roadblockObstruction across a road
debris · rubble · rockfall · landslide · scree · talus · deadfall · logjam
Extremely large and heavy
- enormousExtremely large in scale
- toweringOf imposing height
- immenseExtremely large in scope
- monolithicMassive and undifferentiated
colossal · imposing · looming · hulking · formidable · mammoth · giant · substantial
Sloping terrain face
- riverbedFloor beneath flowing water
- streambedRiver's carved floor
- gorgeDeep, narrow valley
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
ravine · gulch · arroyo · wash · mountainside · shoreline · tidepool · desert
Navigation reference location
- markerSomething that signals location
- cairnMemorial stone pile
- navigationDetermining position and course
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
distinctive · prominent · scenic · overlook · viewpoint · petroglyph · sacred
crag
Steep rugged outcrop
- overhangSection projecting beyond support
- problemMatter requiring resolution
- sendCause to arrive elsewhere
dyno · crux · grip · chalk · crashpad · spotter · highball · mantle · sloper · crimp
granite
Igneous rock, quartz-rich
quartzite · erratic · glacial · moraine · weathering · outcrop · igneous · metamorphic · sedimentary · limestone
blockage
Obstruction halting movement
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
roadblock · debris · rubble · rockfall · landslide · scree · talus · deadfall · logjam · impassable
massive
Extremely large and heavy
monolithic · colossal · imposing · looming · hulking · formidable · mammoth · giant · substantial · hefty
hillside
Sloping terrain face
canyon · ravine · gulch · arroyo · wash · mountainside · shoreline · tidepool · desert · alpine
waypoint
Navigation reference location
- markerSomething that signals location
- cairnMemorial stone pile
- navigationDetermining position and course
reference · distinctive · prominent · scenic · overlook · viewpoint · petroglyph · sacred
- granite bouldersLarge igneous rock pieces
- boulder fieldArea covered with large rocks
- boulder holderBrassiere, jokingly named
- bouldering wallArtificial surface for ropeless climbing
boulders, bouldering, bouldered, bouldery, boulderer, boulderers