DISCLAIMER
There are no warranties, whether expressed or implied, that this guide is accurate or that the information contained in it is reliable. Your use of this guide indicates your assumption of the risk that it may contain errors and is an acknowledgment of your own sole responsibility for your climbing safety in what is potentially a life threatening sport.
More About the Guide
There are just over 100 rock outcrops listed in this guide, although 40% really aren’t worth talking about. I chose to include the 40% so you can decide for yourself if they are worth climbing. Perhaps the vegetation just needs to be cleaned off to uncover something grand. There are lots of bouldering spots listed as well.
Click on the balloons in Google Earth to see information and pictures of each crag. All crags will have the height, the direction the rock faces, a clean rating, and the approximate number of routes. The clean rating is on a scale 1 to 5 where Ilchester is a 5 and Friction wall is a 2. Please keep in mind this is a small scale and very subjective. The last rating, approximate number of routes, is based on either having climbed at the crag or a visual inspection of the crag. This rating should give you an idea of how much a crag has to offer. Please note that the green park boundary lines seen here in Google Earth were hand-drawn and are not exact. I often get asked if I have climbed on all of the crags listed here and the answer is no, as some are just plain rotten rock or covered in vines.
Naming of the Crags
The majority of the crags were named by their location to the nearest road. I did take some liberty and gave unique names to some crags even though I may not have been the first person to discover the crag. If you feel you have the right to name a place, I’ll be happy to consider changing the name.
Bolting
Many of the crags listed with in this blog have established routes that are not documented. This being the case, please ask before bolting to make sure a route doesn't already exists. There are several Crags in the area that are desired by many to stay bolt free in order to protect the established routes. The list is, Ilchester, Woodstock, Cascade Falls, Bloede Dam Crag, Alberton, Kelbel’s Karg, Marriottsville Gold-Silver-Bronze, River Rd Half Dome, and The Nest.
Google Earth Down load
The link below has the rock locations for use in Google Earth, however this file dose not include the pictures and information found within this site.
In Google Earth I recommend turning on the Park Boundaries by selecting “Parks/Recreation Areas”, a green pine tree, found in the “More” folder.
MrPatapsco Locations
Other Climbing Links
I grew up on a small farm on the West side of Baltimore and started climbing in the spring of 1988 through CCBC. I began lead climbing the fall of 1988 on nuts and hexes as camming units were not well known about. I’m proud to say that I lead my first two 5.10’s, Castor and Pollux at Seneca, prior to obtaining my first camming unit. I started guiding for Mike Carroll’s CCBC climbing class trips to Seneca in 1989 and it was an honor to guide for him for 17 years. In 1991, I took 2 courses with NC Outward Bound, the Wilderness First Responders and a 10-day Rope Rescue course. After completing these courses, I taught troubled youth to climb at Seneca for 4 summers. The last summer I taught the class, I lived at Seneca and my work-week was only 3 days long! With all this extra time to climb, I began leading 5.11 Seneca trad routes. I have enjoyed the challenge of climbing several routes approx. 1000’ tall, two of which I roped soloed - Moby Grape on Cannon NH, and Left side cracks on Pingora in the Cirque of the towers WY. I have established a route at Seneca “Before the Fall” 5.10b PG with Dan Caston and Maryland’s first grade IV route “Spectacular Spectacle” A3+ 5.8 IV at Maryland Heights with Dominic Albanese.
I will enjoy your comments and hearing about your climbing adventures on the crags listed in this blog.
Note: Google Earth Plug-in is not the same as the Google Earth download. After installing the Plug-in you will need to close and reopen this page.
5 comments:
John: Just saw your site. What a great resource. Thank you for all the hard work that must have gone into making this available to everyone. Cheers, Nathan
This is an awesome site. Moved out here from CO back in '04 and the only thing I've been on is the slab at Morgan Run.
Gonna take the cub scout troop to the beginner slab near Ilchester.
Thanks for this!
Thanks for your comments Nathan and Chris,
Chris, the Beginner slab at Ilchester is ideal for young kids, I have taken two 5 and 6 year old kids climbing there and it was a lot of fun. If your in the need for something slightly more challenging check out the right side of "Bloede Dam Crag" which is just south of Ilchester. For some taller and steeper beginner routes check out the right side of Alberton Rock North west of route 70 and the Patapsco. One more rock that may be comparable to Beginner slab at Ilchester is "South of Morgan Run A" however it would need some cleaning off.
John Kelbel
John -
Thanks. I'll let you know how it works out. My son is in cub scouts so we'll look at an outing this spring once it warms back up.
The Bloede Dam Crag sounds good too.
Peace
Many thanks!!!
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