Name that Boulder? - The Cover of John Sherman's Book

I came across John Sherman's book the other day and was shocked to see the cover photo. So shocked that I impulsively bought the book without even flipping through the pages...turns out it wasn't a bad decision.

Anyways, I want to know who can identify the "Get A Job" Boulder. And if you win, your prize is that you get to tell me everything else you know about climbing in the area.

Thanks in advance,
Doug.

I *think* he said it was in AZ? We were a couple of brews into the conversation so my memory is a bit fuzzy. John drinks exceptionally good beer with a high alcohol content. It's easy to be face down after a few. For women, face down is John's favorite position. ;)

And the book is hysterically funny, witty and refelcts his incredible intelligence.

Wait a sec, are you the guy my two girlfriends and I rescued off the 3rd this past summer?

Cindy Mitchell wrote:Wait a sec, are you the guy my two girlfriends and I rescued off the 3rd this past summer?

If you and your two girlfriends are rescuing dudes off of the 3rd. I can be stranded in about an hour. Lemme' know...

Hank, you're way past saving.

Sorry I did'nt have a chance to meet you in person when William (Levy from supertopo) was here last spring.

Cindy, thank you for posting. Unfortunately I am not the lucky guy that was rescued by you and your two girlfriends...sounds like I missed out.

As far as the boulder goes.

It is one of the historic Babson Boulders found in the woods of Dogtown, Massachusetts. There are nearly 30 of these boulders, carved during the Great Depression, each with its own inspirational word or saying. You can check them out here:

The Babson Boulders

(I like the looks of 'Spiritual Power' boulder)

Interestingly, Dogtown, MA was first settled around 1693. Now it has become a densely forested maze of unmaintained trails. Without a map it is very easy to get lost in these woods.

The reason for the OP is that I wanted to lure anyone who has climbed in Dogtown (or areas nearby) into posting up what they know about Cape Ann areas. Sherman's boulder is about 5 minutes from where I grew up and since I moved away and started climbing I have always wondered what might be found in Dogtown Woods (there is no mention of it anywhere on the net).

Cindy, if you are friends with John Sherman, I would be grateful if you would ask him what he remembers about climbing in Cape Ann. Any info at all would be greatly appreciated. (don't worry, I'm not about to make a guide or anything, just curious what's there).

Thanks and Happy New Year --woot!--

Wow who'd a thunk it ?

I grew up in M'head mass and started climbing at Stage Fort park and Red Rock in Gloucester Ma.

I have spent many a day hiking and bouldering in Dog Town.

Dog Town has an amazing history !

Trundlebum, you ever get over to Doug's Roof? (Up behind the veterinary hospital near Red Rock).

Also, what would you say is your favorite climb/area from back home? (I am from Rockport).

"Dougs roof" no, don't know it, nor do I know where the vet clinic is. I have seen that storage place they built right across the little water shed coming down from the crag...?

My favorite climbing areas?
Well Back when I was there what was obvious kept us pretty busy so I did not explore all that much. I would have to say that Red Rock is my fav' I guess. The rock quality, the view from the top, everything about it. It is like this little hobbit land dome.

When I was a teen I used to have a fun, warm weather circuit. Bike from M'head to Gloucester, on the way boulder in Beverly, Beverly Farms and then at Stage Fort Park. Then up 133 to Red Rock, climb and blast back down 133 to and past the harbor, past Good Harbor beach, around to Rockport. Swim in the Quarries. Then in the late afternoon back to Gloucester, get some beer and toss it in the 'bugger' for the ride back to M'head.

I love Stage Fort Park. There are some very short but extremely thin problems over by that bath house building, Some scary fall stuff above the little beach and super slab climbing on the plaque rock.

A problem forever chiseled in mind (wether I can still pull it off or not)...
Is called 'Peg Leg' on the right side of the Plaque rock. It is a step up the shallow corner and reach left into a solution pocket on the left soft arete/shoulder.

A promising looking place I have reconned but not put anytime into, is the Aggassiz Boulder/rock area off School street in Manchester on the inland side of 128. Another is the 'Peabody Boulders'. This area looks to have a lot of potential on quality granite and with almost 'bumper belay' approaches.

Lynn Woods has some stuff but I found it to be pretty chincey.

I always thought that the Rockport Quarries would some day have a bunch of routes in them ? NO ?
Sometimes there would be some wicked icicles formed in those quarries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So all in all the short answer:
My favorite area is the combination of Stage Fort Park and Red Rock !

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Re: your comment "not about to make a guide"...
Ever seen this old publication?
I got mine at EMS Boston in the mid 70's?
It has a lot of stuff including some cool buildering in Boston on stone bridge and overpass structures.

Oh yeah..
'N what is that little grranimal ? A ferret or something ?
Sure is cute.

WOW JRay, I thought I was the only one still alive with that guidebook.! Aggasiz Rock sure does have some cool stuff, especially if you fall into the swamp. And ots of cool stuff at RR east too. Did Herb Stillman ever do his Cape Ann guide ?? I saw some stuff but never the finished product.
Like some other areas in Mass, if you wanna learn to cimb sabs, come here.

john

'Eh J. Strand... Aloha and Happy New Year to you and your'n M8.

John I never realized that you got up to the North Shore much. I took you and Callaghan to be pretty much 'Quarry rats'.
Yes Aggassiz does have a wet fall factor for most of the year, but there is some really cool stuff on it.

John I saw a post you made somewhere, yet cannot refind again easily. It was re: Hard slab climbing. The routes used in example were mostly Cathedral Ledge area, such as Western Lady etc.
I would like to revisit that, where was it?
In it I chuckled as you mentioned one of the forays into the realm of unpowered flight by Mr. Callaghan. Did he ever put in for his honorary commercial pilots licence.

Got another question for you...
over @ NEclimbs, is the Admin Al, Al Rubin ?

Ya I think it was under "hard slabs" @ NECLIMBING. All I know is that"laughing Gull" was the hardest 10+ ever. I lost your e-mail so hit me . Did you see the Tom Man back in bean town. Quarry Rats RULE !!!!

john

While recently researching John Sherman's famous patagonia poster (him in flip flops with a beer) I came across his book and noticed the cover was one of the babson boulders in good Ol' Gloucester Ma. I was super pumped as I am a gloucester native, the funny thing is I was already planning a Dogtown hike the next day to scope out new boulders/routes. Happy to find this thread and do some chatting about Dogtown if anyone is still finding this thread or even still on MP

Dfrench dougs roof is fun, aswell as the spiritual power Boulder has a couple fun routes and a good photo opportunity