Pennsylvania cracks
|
Doug, I had never heard of minister creek. I found a pic on rockclimbing.com of that offwidth and it looks sweet! Nothing on mountain proj. Maybe because of mnt projs awesome app someone who knows minister could add it? |
|
The Stoned Master wrote:Planning climbing trips in Virginia on a PA thread...that's classic PA climbers right there. Spontaneity is healthy: let's have an unofficial old rag climb fest then. Share beta, ropes, food, music, stories possibly even around a camp fire? Some world class routes and new, just as motivated as myself, people sounds good to me. Everyones welcome to come celebrate crack climbing at one of our nations best quality (not quantit) spots with us.This will be fun. Color me psyched. |
|
Minister Creek isn't hard to find. If you go into google maps and search for Miniter Creek Recreation Area it'll pop up. It's on Rt. 666 that runs east/west from over by Sheffield, PA to over by East Hickory, PA. There's a small parking lot along the road (rt. 666) and a pretty nice loop trail that takes you to the overlook. The North Country Trail hooks up with the Minister Creek Trail out past the overlook somewhere so if you walk the whole loop I guess you could pick up the wrong trail, but I've never walked out that far to know from personal experience whether that could be an issue. I don't spend much time out there, it's pretty dirty. But hey, it's February and the plants are sleeping so maybe it'll be ok. Have fun. |
|
Thanks brian. Much appreciated. |
|
The Stoned Master wrote:There's no useful beta I've found for minister besides the closest town. Anyone have beta? I haven't been but want to go (I love obscure places! For me its obscure) just for that offwidth. Any concensus on the difficulty? The name of it?The FA belongs to some guy in the 80's. I can't remember his name or the name of the climb. I saw it in an online version of an older PA guidebook. It looks .11 or greater. The OW goes about 40+ feet slightly overhanging onto some crimpy face climbing, all potentially damp. Your last piece better be bomber because you're getting nothing else in above. There's lots of good climbing on both sides of the valley, but all dirty, with a 20 minute approach. Only fit for an adventure weekend, if that's your thing. |
|
Adventure weekends are my thing. I already showed my wife and told her I'm going to climb that offwidth this season on one of our many adventures this summer seeking PA`s cracks. My level right now is within the 5.10 trad range. Maybe that'll be my first trad 5.11? |
|
The big OW at Minister Creek is "Jonah" and was originally graded 5.12+. Put up early 80's by Eric Guerrien.(sp?) Possibly un-repeated. |
|
My old rag trip was cancelled on me... |
|
Well I'm building an offwidth crack machine and I'm going to climb that 12 offwidth at minister this season. That's my offwidth goal. Thanks for posting that rick, hearing it may be unrepeated motivates me! |
|
I discovered pond banks 2 nicest, (soon to be) cleanest, splitter cracks. 1 hands, 1 fingers. I also discovered a new to climbers 60ft high by 100ft wide wall with a few fine looking cracks (splitters but you'd have to continue into corners or face climbing to top out). This new wall also has a few overhanging sections (one has a thin crack through the clean overhanging section lasting about 12ft then you've topped out so the overhanging sections are up higher!) Also about 10, most are overhanging, boulders that will most likely be in the v grades. Some with shit landings some with nice ones. Some 3-5 moves all the way to 7, 8, 9 who knows moves. some out of caves created by other boulders. |
|
Hey, I'll surely meet up for climbing at Pond Bank or Minister. This thread has me wanting to do some other investigating too. Nice work, man! |
|
Thanks I named the new wall exploration wall and its on mtn proj so you all can add to it also. The left most of the two pillars (pics tomorrow) has a nice splitter, thin, but it appears to allow protection and at least finger tips. There is one left leaning crack in the center that isn't bad looking at all. Could be classics I'm sure, BUT don't know yet. Also I discovered a beautiful finger splitter that goes for like 20ft or so maybe higher but is SUPER dirty. Ill be cleaning it out as it seems to be worth it. |
|
So how about an update on the condition of the crag. Would you say that the Jim's Throne area and Angulation wall are the most impacted with trash and graffiti or are some of the other areas worse off? |
|
The overhanging boulder crack (2 pics below. My pole is 3ft 6in high) looks sick, Ididnt wrap my head around the top out yet. Check out "brown rock boulders" an area i added to mtn proj. Also exploration wall which has the overhanging pillar (2 actually but 1 only has potential for protection) pictured below. 120ft wide wall by avg of 50ft high. Most likely will have some (many probably) 5.3s to moderates giving some more difficult routes but not nearly as many compared to moderates and below). I added 2 pics of overhanging roof Structures above craggy pines north face that look as though v graded bouldering lines exist. Check out pics on mtn proj under the names I've mentioned here. Let's start developing the new area, new eyes, different capabilities (we climb overhanging more these days) |
|
Also I found my project: this crack is parallel often and deep enough for pro. However it is filled and overflowing with dirt and moss. You see 20ft of splitter that may continue, it was hard to tell. I'm going to clean it. I think it could be pond bs premier true splitter. Solid rock its on. Also note: the rock on the north face crack is the same/very similar to the amazingly condusive rock the surf the boogie and angulation wall. Solid. |
|
Wannabe: the new wall has a tree stand on the southern end but is clean (I saw no trash). Even past craggy pines where climbers rarely go there is broken glass and trash. The locals and hunters go/had gone where most climbers didn't. Trail maintainence (chain saw(s)) and trash pick up would do wonders. |
|
I'm blown away this crack right in brown rocks hasn't created a reputation (named, beta passed down or publicly known). Well ill climb it and name it if no one knows its beta (has it even been climbed before, etc?). |
|
If we really want to maximize pond banks potential (I'm uncomfortable saying this but its not my rock to control) there are at least 4 solid routes (one is 5.11+ and solid means rock and route/line) that would take bolts very well. Possibly/probable classics. |
|
Calling for snow this weekend. I'm going to check with my wife but I plan on being at pond b this weekend scouting the pillar and boulder crack and starting to clean out the project crack. regardless of the weather (rains the only deterrent) I'm there. If its nice enough (no wind and coldest being 30deg) some climbing (lead solo, top rope solo or if a balayers there just traditionally lead). Belayer or not I'll be there so anyones welcome. |
|
Really awesome stuff, Stoned Master. Definitely want to hit this up on my "PA Road Trip". |