Cleft Rock @ Devils Lake?

Found this photo on the Wisconsin State Historical web site. Called "Cleft Rock" located on the East Bluff. Taken by legendary landscape photographer H.H. Bennett.

Question? Has anyone ever seen this? I have not and I have combed much of the lake over the years. Judging from the photo it sat fairly high up. Can anyone confirm its present existance? The climber in the photo does look a little like Eric Zschiesche though!

Found another photo of Cleft Rock. It did/does indeed sit on the rim of the East Bluff. In the background one can view the West Bluff Rampart. I'm on a QUEST!

This looks pretty high up on the bluff to have been blasted away by the RR. I bet this thing fell over on its own and doesn't exsist in this position any more i.e. now lies in the boulderfield as talus. I bet if one were to wander around up on the top of East Bluff with a copy of this photograph one could find this base rock that the jumbled blocks are sitting on here.

From the looks of it it seems like it'd be around the Horse Rampart or even higher up... that's just my guess though. But definitely above the railroad tracks area.

Very cool! Does look like it's above the Birthday Rocks or somewhere in that area. That lower chunk in second picture looks like it could have collapsed and let it all fall over. Remember that due to 20th Century fire prevention methods and rapid growth of trees, an open area like this might now be totally tree hidden these days. Even the new guidebooks still use old photos when whole bluffs could be seen through the limited trees back then.

Pete, amazing! It could be in the wooded area above railroad which we used to boulder at, I think we called it the neckoil wall/area. Its wooded and in an overlooked portion of the park. Get after it! I vote for Peter Arndt to become the official DLSP Climbing ambassador!!

Thanx Eric. Love the Lake. It is interesting to note that people/"climbers" were scrambling and exploring this place in the late 1800's. It was an exciting place and woundn't we all like to get in that time machine and go back to check it out and grab some 1st ascents.

This photo of climber atop Cleo's really intrigues me. If it is not "doctored" it is pretty bold. H.H. Bennett took these shots probably before 1900. First Ascent Solo perhaps?

Cool old photos, looks like it could the top of the Balanced Rock trail area, agree with Burt, looks to high to be blasted by RR, maybe the DNR blasted it or it collapsed on its own,

Peter you need to add the photo of Cleopatra's Needle, Cleopatra's Needle MP page,

I agree that it looks like it was above Balanced Rock. I would head up there and look for the rock that makes up the base of the formation. That rock looks pretty stable and kind of unique with the texture and the angle jutting out.

Coach, we need to see an "after" photo.

Jay:

The first photo (with the climber) of Cleft Rock indicates that it is further north than Balance Rock. I think it was above the old quarry, north of Birthday Rocks. I think it is plausible if not probable that it was blasted away as it would be a hazard to the quarrymen below. In any case one can bet that nothing "natural" brought this thing down.

That's a great theory about it being possibly blasting in the old quarry below that took out Cleft Rock. These pictures are from close to around 1900 or so? so it couldn't have been the Great Madrid earthquake of 1812. After shocks from that were felt in bedrock as much as 1000 miles away from the epicenter but of course the time line is grossly wrong. Just wanted to pontificate although that quake is fact and the mysterious location and subsequent disappearance concerning Cleft Rock certainly warrant some discussion and opinion. .

I'm gonna go with aliens...think about it.

Peter Arndt wrote:Jay: The first photo (with the climber) of Cleft Rock indicates that it is further north than Balance Rock. I think it was above the old quarry, north of Birthday Rocks. I think it is plausible if not probable that it was blasted away as it would be a hazard to the quarrymen below. In any case one can bet that nothing "natural" brought this thing down.