The Creature Wall  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  3,246. Good page? (1 like)    Administrators:  Jim Lawyer, Chris Duca, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Chris Duca on Nov 9, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 66° | 32° 72° | 45° 75° | 54° 75° | 54° 79° | 57°

Danny G on Jump Bat Crack. Aug 09

Description 

Nestled in the woods off the east side of Route 73 (across from Chapel Pond) is a great, little crag with several quality routes.

The aptly named Creature Wall hosts a range of climbing from 5.5 to 5.11, and offers several routes referencing Steven King novels, such as "Christine", "Firestarter", "Pet Cemetery", and "Cujo". This cliff has the highest concentration of 5.8s (7 total) in Keene Valley, so if you are looking to test your meddle at said grade, look no further.

The cliff sits among a thick, forested hillside below Washbowl and is oriented toward the west. As a result, it offers shade in the morning and warm afternoons. To compliment this, all the climbs are single pitch, thus offering a nice option for those wanting to take it down a notch and enjoy a "mellow" day at the crag. The climbing is a healthy mixture of thin face and vertical crack climbing (from thin fingers to paw-swallowing handcracks), with the majority of the routes clocking in at around the 5.7 to 5.9 range. This is not a crag to visit when it rains, nor can you expect it to dry out quickly after it does rain.

On nice weekends in the summer and fall, expect to have some neighbors at this cliff. Because of its proximity to the road, and the ease of toproping, it is occasionally the site of guided groups. This cliff is also along the approach trail to the Washbowl Cliffs, so you may also see some traffic from people climbing at the crags above you.

Enjoy the climbing here for its quality of cracks, variety of movement, and beautiful views from the top of the cliff.

Getting There 

Just north of Chapel Pond on Route 73, is a guardrail with a steep bank right behind it. Park at the south end of the guardrail where the shoulder widens up to fit a couple of cars. Walk north along the guardrail until you see a small trail that starts on the other side of the guardrail and goes up the bank and over. Follow this trail for roughly 5 minutes, crossing some marshy areas on downed trees and limbs. The trail will deposit you at the center of the cliff with a nice 5.7 handcrack named "Gob Hoblin" right in front of you.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Creature Wall

Arachnid Traction 5.8  NY : Adirondacks : ... : The Creature Wall

Of all the routes on the Creature Wall, this one sees the most traffic.On the left side of the cliff are two parallel cracks that diagonally split the upper portion of the cliff. Arachnid Traction starts on the face below the cracks in front of a large, nice birch tree and finishes in the right hand crack to the summit. Begin by climbing up the face using the obvious crack system until the first opportunity to step right arises. Step right on some balancy terrain, and jam the right of the two ...[more]   Browse More Classics in NY