Pawtuckaway guidance sought

Hey you seasoned Pawtuckaway frequenters - some questions:

1) Given that it rained last night, is supposed to be nice and windy today, and cold tomorrow - what are the odds that Ride the Lightning will be dry/climbable tomorrow (Saturday, the 17th)?

2) 2 weeks ago I drove in through what I think is generally thought to be the main road and the puddles at the swampy straight were HUGE. I was in a Subaru Forester and was worried about hydro-locking it. If I drive past the gated left (with the signs to "boulder field") and take the next left onto the tower road are the conditions better? Thanks!

3) Anybody want to go bouldering at pawtuckaway with a guy working v4-v6/7 climbs?

RTL will likely be a 50-50 proposition. I've been on it when it's a bit damp, and it's workable in sub-optimal conditions.

If you're worried about the road to Boulder Natural, you could park at the horse farm entrance and walk in to Round Pond. Adds some time to the approach, but it's more reliable.

I would love to join you, but it ain't gonna happen. Have fun!

I've heard of "the horse farm entrance" but I've yet to hear details about where it is? Do you still come in from Reservation road? Could you fill me in on it?

I went through the small pond in a Honda civic three weeks ago and it came up to the windows...insane but we made it through. On the way out we went the tower rd and that was much better and just slightly longer...couple small mud spots and a couple nasty rocks but a forester will handle it fine.

So I've found info on getting to the horse farm from 156, but how do you get to the boulders (and which areas are easily accessible) from the horse farms parking area?

freezeus - good to know! Thanks!

Eric,
RTL has been damp most of this fall although its still climbed. I don't think the wind will be much of a factor drying it out other than the topout. I suspect that the crack weeps from water collected from the top of the boulder.

I've been driving in through the puddles with my 2x truck but after "taking a wave over the bow" a couple weeks ago, I've taken to driving around the mountain. Once in the Park and on Reservation road, go straight instead of making the left through the gate off Reservation Road. Be patient, navigate some rocky terrain here and there and loop around the mountain until your come to the intersection after the puddles where you would normally bear left. You are heading in the other way so bear right down the hill to BN.

I think we're headed in tomorrow a.m. but its likely to be cold. May end up seeking the sun. At least the wind today will dry out the woods so it won't be so damp.

Eric Heiden wrote:So I've found info on getting to the horse farm from 156, but how do you get to the boulders (and which areas are easily accessible) from the horse farms parking area?

From the "horse farm" parking (note: there are no horses there any more), you head down the logging road into the park. It's pretty obvious. This road goes directly in to Round Pond, so that's the first area you'll come to. The boulders are off to your left just before you walk into the actual pond. To get to Boulder Natural from there, you'll take a trail that head off to the right just before the Round Pond trail (there should be a sign, I think). There are some downed trees in the way, but they're easy to get over. Follow the trail past the lower slabs, along the beaver pond and past the Overlooked Area, and you'll end up right in the middle of Boulder Natural, with RTL on your left. It's maybe 10-15 minutes to Round Pond from the parking, and another 10 to Natural.

This is the preferred entrance once there's snow on the ground because the park roads are generally not passable.

JEC wrote:Eric, RTL has been damp most of this fall although its still climbed. I don't think the wind will be much of a factor drying it out other than the topout. I suspect that the crack weeps from water collected from the top of the boulder.

The crack weeps because of water that collects in the crack, which splits the boulder and is full of dirt. Takes a bloody age to fully dry, so it rarely does.

go in from the horse place i.e. Nottingham i.e. Deerfield Parade. Park. Walk for ten minutes till you pass a small cliff on your right with some cool looking cracks. Now you come to the pond (Round Pond). Bang a right following a stream uphill away from the pond. Now you come to another pond/marsh. Walk counter clockwise around it passing the lower slab on your right. 4 minutes: Boulder Natural.

Area 51 is on a south facing slope, so it may be warmer than some of the other spots. The drive is usually clear too. The walk in is a little longer though and you will have to be the type who doesn't mind looking for your own routes, since most of it is not documented.

Eric,

The road into Boulder Natural is fixed and now sits higher then the swamp, was out their two weeks ago.

Wonderful! Thanks for all of the beta. I didn't realize that the road heads straight down to round pond. I know my way around the park from there, so that sounds pretty good. I'll probably try out the tower rd. detour tomorrow since there's no snow on the ground yet.

Christopher Gagne wrote:Eric, The road into Boulder Natural is fixed and now sits higher then the swamp, was out their two weeks ago.

What day were you out there? I was out climbing on Dec. 3rd and it was horrible.

Just an update for anyone who wants to know:

Both the Tower Road and the road direct to Boulder Natural have been repaired. There were almost no puddles on either road on Dec. 17th, 2011. I imagine snow will wreck havoc over the winter season, but for now the drive in from reservation rd. is no problem.

I was out there yesterday and the roads are fine and the rocks were dry. 50 degrees on a January day, Doesnt get much better than that