Bouldering/ Toproping near Seneca?

Is there any close Bouldering/ Easy approachable Top roping near Seneca? Bringing someone who has 2 pitches of 5.5/4 under there belt and don't want her to be miserable.

Also recommendations on Camping/cheap accommodations? Was looking at the TeePees at Yokus(SP)

I was there over Thanksgiving, we stayed at the campground right across the street from the parking area, you can see the cliffs from the campsite. It was nice enough, place to put your tent, bathrooms with hot showers.

I don't know anything about other climbing that might be nearby, but Seneca Rocks itself is definitely trad, maybe a bit on the adventurous side for a complete beginner, in terms of loose rock, scrambly bits, and slightly confusing route finding until you get the hang of the place. (though take that with a grain of salt, I tend to be easily confused in the route finding arena). There are plenty of routes on the easier side (5.6 and below) including some really fun ones with spectacular views. So if technical climbing ability is your concern, I think a beginner climber could have a lot of fun here, with a competent leader and the right attitude. That said, I doubt I'd plan a trip here with anyone who wasn't at least experienced and competent at following trad.

Hope that helps, and have a great trip!

Oh sorry, I misread. If she climbed 5.54 her first time out, she'll be fine. That's about 42 grades harder than anything I saw at Seneca.

There is good but limited bouldering at the summit of Spruce Knob. It's a beautiful place and a great place to hang out and watch the sunset. From the summit parking area, follow the nature trail around until you see the boulders in a meadow below you.

It could be totally inaccessible due to snow this time of year and will be a lot colder than Seneca but maybe not since the winter has been so mild.

You can set up various top ropes at the Lower Slabs at Seneca without too much problem. Also, the East Face of North Peak has a bunch of easy routes which you can top rope. It might be easier for your partner to take the tourist trail and then drop over to the East Face rather than hike the East Face trail.

Take her up Gunsight to South Peak. Do it. It's 5.3 and cool as cool can be. Exposed, exciting, and easy, she'll be hooked on Seneca for life.

dave, where are you coming from? there are much more toproping and bouldering friendly areas near harrisonburg VA than seneca...

+1 for what Seth said. Way cool position to be in!

Seth Derr wrote:Take her up Gunsight to South Peak. Do it. It's 5.3 and cool as cool can be. Exposed, exciting, and easy, she'll be hooked on Seneca for life.

Good beta! Seneca is an awesome spot to take someone up an easy multi-pitch. Old Man's Route and Old Lady's Route are alternative easy options.

If a multi-pitch outing, however easy it may be, is more to bite off than you would like, the Humphrey's Head has some easy routes on a little pinnacle in a nice setting; it is on the south end of the Seneca ridge.

Gunsight to South Peak is a great easy route. But something that exposed might not be the best choice for a true beginner depending on how gung-ho they are about the whole climbing thing. It won't be the easiest route for you to set up a belay from which you can watch her and explain what to do if she gets freaked out.

Your friend will either love climbing forever or maybe never really trust you again after doing it. So which one do you think it would be? Are you dealing with someone who will get a thrill out of the exposure or someone who needs to work up to it?

I have no worry about getting up anything at her level with her as a belayer. She wants to learn to climb/follow trad. But hates the idea of a gym. I figured Seneca with the 5.2's Old Mans/Old Womans and the other moderate classics. would be a good intro to trad around here.