Mountain Project: Climbing Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks)

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

Comments on Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks)

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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

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Pondbank (White Rocks and Brown Rocks)

Description

Getting There

The Classics