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Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks)
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Angulation Wall 
Arête Wall aka The Rock One Area, The 
Binocular Rocks Area 
Brown Rocks 
Brown Rocks Bouldering 
Calvin's Slabs 
Coroner's Area 
Craggy Pines Area 
Exploration Wall 
Glen's Roof Wall 
Hard Scramble Corner 
Hidden Delights  
Jim's Wall 
Pillar 2 
Pulpit, The 
Way of the Alpine Buddha Boulder 
Zorro Was Here Area 

Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks) 


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Administrators: Justin Johnsen, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: Jeff O'Farrell on Jun 12, 2011

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White Rocks as seen from the Cumberland Valley

Description 

White Rocks is a beautiful outcrop of white quartzite (Antietam Formation, Early Cambrian age) on the west face of the Rocky Mountain facing west into the Cumberland valley, in Franklin County Pennsylvania.

Climbs at White Rocks are predominately single pitches, and as high as 125 feet on the major Pillars. There are several sport routes, but the bulk of the climbs are traditionally (Trad) protected.


Getting There 

From the north: From US 30, turn south onto PA 997 to Pond Bank (approx. 2.2 miles).

From the south: From PA 16, square in Waynesboro, PA, turn north onto PA 997 towards Mont Alto. Follow PA 997 to Pond Bank.

At the intersection of PA 997 and White Rock Road turn right (from the south) or left (from the north) towards the mountain. Go straight toward the mountain entering Michaux State Forest. Park in the lower parking lot at the water towers access gate (approx. 1.9 miles).


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks):
Chimney   5.2     Trad, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Brown Rocks
The Saddle aka Fists And Fingers   5.3     Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Hard Scramble Corner
Classic Corner    5.3     Trad, 1 pitch, 120 feet   Jim's Wall
The Great Chimney   5.3     Trad, 1 pitch, 95 feet   Jim's Wall
Jim's Throne   5.4     Trad, 1 pitch, 120 feet   Jim's Wall
MeatHead   5.5     Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Zorro Was Here Area
Mister Gut Wrench   5.7     Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 35 feet   Pillar 2
Thin Crack   5.7     Trad, 1 pitch, 120 feet   Jim's Wall
Born to be Wild   5.7     Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Brown Rocks
Super Crack aka Wise Crack   5.7     Trad, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Angulation Wall
Five Star Crack   5.8 V-easy     Trad, TR, Boulder, 1 pitch, 25 feet   Brown Rocks
Big Mama   5.8+     Trad, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Brown Rocks
Pigs in Space   5.9     Trad, 1 pitch, 30 feet   Coroner's Area
Eves Rib   5.10a     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 35 feet   Glen's Roof Wall
Angulation   5.10a     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Angulation Wall
Glen’s Roof aka Linda Screams   5.10a     Trad, 1 pitch, 35 feet   Glen's Roof Wall
Southern Comforts   5.10a     Trad, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Brown Rocks
Surf The Boogie   5.10+     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Angulation Wall
The North Face Left   5.10+     Trad, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Brown Rocks
Arettissima   5.11+     Trad, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Brown Rocks
Browse More Classics in Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks)

Featured Route For Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks)
Beta photo.

Five Star Crack 5.8 V-easy  PA : Pondbank (White Rocks and B... : Brown Rocks
One move up to a horizontal crack, traverse around the corner bumping your hands until you arrive at the amazing vertical hands crack. Land sweet, sweet, jams all the way to the top. Last couple of feet the crack narrows to perfect hands/off finger. I found the crux to be at the chockstone, smaller hands can get a fist jam or two at this section. This can be lead or bouldered (route is 25ft but the boulders top is 18ft off the ground). ...[more]   Browse More Classics in PA


Photos of Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks) Slideshow Add Photo
Mister Gut Wrench follows the offwidth to the top.

Mister Gut Wrench follows the offwidth to the top.

Jim's Throne on the left, Sign Of Zorro on the right.

Jim's Throne on the left, Sign Of Zorro on the rig...

The view from Wise Crack.

The view from Wise Crack.

Pond Bank has a handfull of awesome cracks like this one Wise Crack. Check out Mr. Gut Wrench, Pigs in Space, Glens Roof and Cohens Crack (very short but sweet) also if you want to jam a little.

Pond Bank has a handfull of awesome cracks like th...

A beautiful offwidth overlooking a beautiful valley.

A beautiful offwidth overlooking a beautiful valle...

Way of the Alpine Buddha Boulder.

Way of the Alpine Buddha Boulder.

Brown Rocks Bouldering.

Brown Rocks Bouldering.

Brown Rocks offers couple of racks that are a pleasure to jam. This is `Born to be Wild` also check out `Five Star Crack.`

Brown Rocks offers couple of racks that are a plea...

Exploration Wall has a lot of potential. As of 2/13/2013 no routes exist, totally virgin rock. There is more to this wall than the appealing overhanging left most block. Some fine, fun, classic low 5th class to moderates can exist with the occasional harder route. Everyone/anyone is welcome to a first ascent for now.

Exploration Wall has a lot of potential. As of 2/1...

Exploration Wall`s "Pur-plex-ploration". The small roof is just out of the picture below.  Exploration Wall is still very dirty but with potential for more routes. The climber with an eye for detail will find another quality route or two for sure. Many more, less than ideal (still appreciative) routes exist also.

Exploration Wall`s "Pur-plex-ploration". The small...

Patriot Act, 5.4, Calvins Slabs

Patriot Act, 5.4, Calvins Slabs

Northern Pillar, 5.8, Coroners Area. If you just use the crack for hands and do not use the main wall (to the left and just out of picture) its harder than 5.8. Overhanging and solid with a small roof pull to finish.

Northern Pillar, 5.8, Coroners Area. If you just u...


Comments on Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks) Add Comment
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By The Stoned Master
From: Millerstown, PA
Jan 29, 2013

This place has at least a couple of solid, worthy routes in each grade all the way up to 5.10 (where my experience ends for now...). Cracks and face climbing mixed with features (roofs, corners, aretes, chimneys, etc) brings a healthy amount of variety.

Short Pennsylvania crags not enough adventure for you? This area is an excellent "training ground" for the multi-pitch/alpine routes of the world.

By The Stoned Master
From: Millerstown, PA
Jan 31, 2013

Pond Bank is as frustrating at first to navigate (locate areas/routes) as the Shawangunks, New York. Locate landmarks in the photos, photos are your friend here for navigating due to so many (similar) features. Hopefully this helps:

Areas starting from closest to the parking lot (starting far south for white rocks and heading North):

Rock one (closest to forest road)
Indian rocks
Hidden delights
Lonely slabs
Last of the summer wine
Hard scramble corner
Zorro was here
Coroners south (just coroners on mtn proj)
Coroners north (just coroners on mtn proj)
Calvin`s slab
Pillar #2
Jim`s throne
Angulation wall
Glen`s roof area
Craggy Pines
Binocular rocks
Pulpit area
Way of the alpine buddha boulder (no trail to it as of yet)

By The Stoned Master
From: Millerstown, PA
Feb 1, 2013

ANCHORS: only the `angulation` wall has bolted top anchors. There is a rappel chain inbetween `Jim`s Throne` and `Pillar 2`. If your rope gets stuck (not the best overall setup) there is a cave in the area that you can climb up/through.

You'll have to build your own anchors on top for most climbs and walk off or walk on the cliffs top to the rappel chain. There are enough options for anchor placements that most people have no problem building safe/strong anchors.

There are plenty of trees, rock horns or boulders on top a lot of areas that easily/safely (for the trees) allow you to leave webbing (or whatever you use to rappel). Please DO NOT wrap your rope around a tree to rappel, it has been proven time and time again to hurt the trees. BRING WEBBING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WALK OFF and be mindful how and where you leave it.

This area is top rope only accessible (no leading required). Be mindful that not all
areas tops are easy to get to without leading, some will require effort to find a route of least resistence.

By The Stoned Master
From: Millerstown, PA
Feb 11, 2013

The area layout/description above (previous comment) is for White Rocks or North of the road (when driving in, facing the ridge, on the left of the road). Here is for South of the road or Brown Rocks:

Take the 4x4 trail across from the `Rock One Area`, cross over the creek (right near the road) and at the first chance to veer/take a left do so. Follow this up (you'll see an old very small quarry like area) and keep right and follow the foot path to Brown Rocks.

Brown Rocks (closest to road eading South or right when driving in)
Brown Rocks Boulders (in front of/West of Brown Rocks and in between Brown Rocks and Exploration Wall)
Exploration Wall

Then its the State Forest Boundary