The Buttermilker

The Buttermilker is a granite boulder problem in the Buttermilks near Bishop, California. The area is known for large glacial granite boulders and demanding highball and technical climbing.

Climbing references commonly list The Buttermilker at V13, approximately 8B in the Fontainebleau scale. Grade opinions can vary because the original sit-start and shorter variations are not identical problems.

The original line uses a low sit-down start, while some climbers use a higher start involving underclings. Starting higher removes part of the opening sequence and can change the difficulty substantially.

Both are named problems in the Buttermilks near Bishop, but they are separate lines with different movement and rock features. The Mandala is a steep, famous prow problem, while The Buttermilker is associated with technical movement on its own granite feature.