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House and Barn boulders in Westford, MA?

jake 356 · · worcester · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 0

From what I remember access in the rock house reservation is fine climbing being more of a grey area some of land managers are ok some not so much. Low profile is propably the way to go. When I get home I'll see if I have any pics or old written descriptions of what else is around.

jake 356 · · worcester · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 0

That vid was cool always looked at that when I was little thought it would be cool to climb. There's a lot more in that area though I can't find any pics or any of our written descriptions of what we found but I can point any one that happens to be in the area to some other cool stuff.

If you park in the rock house parking lot and look accross rt9 there's a jumble of boulders on the other side. if you trend left from those boulders out into the woods the first you will come to is a 8-10 foot tall slightly overhanging boulder with big solution pockets across the under side of the overhang.

The second is a tenish foot erratic with a v-0/v-1 flakey face climb

The third is the biggest of the erratics we found while hunting over there is a 15 foot tall boulder with a twin trunk pine on top one side has a couple easier problems the other side much harder stuff but all looked like it would go.

The last place is a couple hundred yards down rt9 after the rock house parking lot on the right where the guard rail starts again there is a small cliff that kind of resembles monsters of id at rumney. Just slightly up hill and right of that is a cool 3-5 inch roof crack boulder problem that climbs out of a porkey pine/ bobcat den for about 10-15 feet maby a little less it's been a long time.

I'm thinking some point this winter headin up devils peak off of rt 67 in warren to check out the cliffs you can see from the rd. we used to four wheel and hunt up there and I remember seeing clifs and drops but no memory other than they are there and looked climb able just a bit more of a walk than I could get any one to go on to possibly find nothing. Sorry for the long post but grew up in the area and once I started thinking about it I remembered how much awesome stuff we found out there!

Sean Kurnas · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 297

Definitely don't apologize Jake! Thanks for the info.

Lanky · · Tired · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 255

I've never climbed at Rock House, but I did hike the loop trail and there are boulders spread around it. All the rock is pretty crystally and sharp if memory serves.

Jonathan Haggerty · · West Acton, MA · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 195
youtu.be/VPQXP4HC59g

Going for the repeat on Black Ops at H&B boulders.

Anyone in the area looking to continue development? I've been working the ~v11 arete near the parking area (weekday attempts are best to avoid neighbors). I think these boulders are going to clean up nicely.
BCavanaugh · · boston,ma · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 155
Jonathan Haggerty wrote:https://youtu.be/VPQXP4HC59g Going for the repeat on Black Ops at H&B boulders. Anyone in the area looking to continue development? I've been working the ~v11 arete near the parking area (weekday attempts are best to avoid neighbors). I think these boulders are going to clean up nicely.
Thought u gave up on developing climbs around here? ;)

Let me know I'd be up for it.
Jonathan Haggerty · · West Acton, MA · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 195

It's a sad day when exploration turns into expansion of choss-ery

Jonathan Haggerty · · West Acton, MA · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 195

I have a hard time believing sawmill has the only erratics in westford. Anyone out there looking???

Tim McGivern · · Medford, ma · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 12,579

bump. I decided to start a new thread instead of reviving this one. If you'd like to reply, please go to the following thread:

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/114160230/southeast-new-england-climbers-coalition-help-us-preserve-climbing-areas

Jonathan Haggerty · · West Acton, MA · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 195

I’ve heard rumors of boulders in Chelmsford the same quality as westford.  Anyone out there have details???

Jonathan Haggerty · · West Acton, MA · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 195
Evan Vassil wrote: I know a little spot in westford, went there one time after work with a small pad and one brush. Nice 15ft highball with Veasy - V4 on that one face. Few more workable small boulders and traverses on what looks like old weathered cut rock. Its behind a community called Summer Village and runs right on a trail. Not too sure of the trail name, sorry. I can upload a pic later.

Hey Evan,

Was looking through our old forum here and never saw a follow up to this.  Any other details on this one?   I haven’t been able to find it....   hopefully the expanded development didn’t destroy it.  
Ben Murphy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2017 · Points: 15

Joining (via the interweb) Jon Haggerty in an attempt to bring this forum back to life. From looking through this forum and doing some research online about the House and Barn bouldering area I have found only a few documented climbs in this area. Wondering if there is a more comprehensive assents list, I know of Black Ops and a couple other V8 problems, have people established some other routes on these boulders? I haven't checked it out yet myself (hopefully scope it out this weekend at some point) but would love to know what other people have thrown up here and would like to see if there is more opportunity for development. 

Building off of some other items mentioned in this post, I know a few things have been put up in the last couple of years in the Ayer area. There is definitely some more potential in Ayer, pending on not disrupting porcupine habitat (staying away from those areas for obvious reasons) and doing some careful cleaning / projecting. Again, would love to hear what other people have been up to. Hope to hear from ya'll and as always stay safe!

Dan Knisell · · MA · Joined Jun 2016 · Points: 6,362
Ben Murphy wrote:

Joining (via the interweb) Jon Haggerty in an attempt to bring this forum back to life. From looking through this forum and doing some research online about the House and Barn bouldering area I have found only a few documented climbs in this area. Wondering if there is a more comprehensive assents list, I know of Black Ops and a couple other V8 problems, have people established some other routes on these boulders? I haven't checked it out yet myself (hopefully scope it out this weekend at some point) but would love to know what other people have thrown up here and would like to see if there is more opportunity for development. 

Building off of some other items mentioned in this post, I know a few things have been put up in the last couple of years in the Ayer area. There is definitely some more potential in Ayer, pending on not disrupting porcupine habitat (staying away from those areas for obvious reasons) and doing some careful cleaning / projecting. Again, would love to hear what other people have been up to. Hope to hear from ya'll and as always stay safe!

More potential in Ayer?  When you think things have been tapped out... Still can’t find that v3 crack at rod and gun club Haggerty. More stuff coming to Townsend soon. Weather has haulted any further development but a nice new local area with a concentration of problems.

Joe M · · MA and NH · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 11,725

I seem to remember rumors that this was Justin Hayes' local area. I don't have his contact info but I bet he has info on problems that were done here.

BCavanaugh · · boston,ma · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 155
Dan Knisell wrote:

More potential in Ayer?  When you think things have been tapped out... Still can’t find that v3 crack at rod and gun club Haggerty. More stuff coming to Townsend soon. Weather has haulted any further development but a nice new local area with a concentration of problems.

when looking at google map. Its west of the parking area at the end of dirt road loop. Bushwack 1/4 mile west. with no leaves and some snow it will be easier to find. 

Ben Murphy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2017 · Points: 15

I checked out  the House and Barn boulders today, pretty incredible boulders!! Super psyched to get on them! There is a lot of graffiti on, I'm assuming, the House boulder unfortunately. Does anyone know what the preferred method of removing graffiti is before I Google it? I would like to remove some of the interfering graffiti.

Dan Knisell · · MA · Joined Jun 2016 · Points: 6,362
Ben Murphy wrote:

I checked out  the House and Barn boulders today, pretty incredible boulders!! Super psyched to get on them! There is a lot of graffiti on, I'm assuming, the House boulder unfortunately. Does anyone know what the preferred method of removing graffiti is before I Google it? I would like to remove some of the interfering graffiti.

Elephant snot works but expect a lot of elbow grease and you’ll have to pack in water. 

Brian Carr · · hollis, nh · Joined Aug 2019 · Points: 0

I'd also be down to help remove some of the graffiti. I also grew up in westford, so there's a few spots I know about that might have some ok problems but its mostly lowball, choss, or really questionable access. Not sure if this is the place to spray about those. 

Jonathan Haggerty · · West Acton, MA · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 195

Spray on, Brian!  

Also in for a spray paint demo session on the house and barn.  I go here often, and I’m always surprised how little new spray paint there is.  Perhaps if we remove it, they won’t do it so readily?

losbill · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 130
BCavanaugh wrote:

when looking at google map. Its west of the parking area at the end of dirt road loop. Bushwack 1/4 mile west. with no leaves and some snow it will be easier to find. 

Photo please? So I know it when I find it.  GPS coordinates?   Been over that area very extensively at least twice in the past and have not stumbled upon it.  Need motivation to get off the couch.  Thanks.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northeastern States
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