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Recommendations please - Baltimore -> Seneca -> ?

Original Post
Loren Rothman · · Moab, UT · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

I'm headed out from California to visit some friends in Baltimore, and my wife and I are planning to do a couple days in Seneca. We'd like to do another couple days somewhere else. Any recommendations for other climbing destinations in that general vicinity or something not too far out of the way on the route from Baltimore? We fly back out of Baltimore too, so unfortunately we decided that we don't have enough time to get all the way to NRG and back.

Thanks!

Steve Thomas · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 30

If you're tired of Seneca tradding, ?Franklin Gorge? is right there as well, and while it's no NRG, it's worthwhile for a day.

Glass Tupperware · · Atlanta · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 45

Seneca's probably your best bet. There's plenty there for four days of climbs (especially if you're avoiding weekends). There's also Old Rag in VA if your alright with a 2.5 hour approach, though a lot of the areas there are tough to access until the fall (brush and overgrown trails).

Climbing in MD itself is somewhat limited. Rocks State Park is my favorite area here because of the relatively long climbs on irregular rock, but it's dwarfed by any of the popular out-of-state destinations.

Did you consider the Gunks?

BrianWS · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 790

You have four days? Skip Seneca altogether and just go to the New for three. It's about two hours further, but the amount of climbing you'll get in on higher quality stone and routes will make it worth your while. It's by far the best single pitch sport and trad on the east coast.

Seneca does have multipitch and exposure that the New lacks, but if you're used to climbing out in CA, it won't compare especially in terms of quality.

Loren Rothman · · Moab, UT · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

Will definitely look into Franklin Gorge. I'm into both trad and sport.

We hadn't really considered the Gunks because my impression was that it was quite a bit further away, but it looks like it wouldn't really be that bad to get to. We wanted to see some of the rural areas west of Baltimore and maybe Shenandoah National Park. Is the area around the Gunks comparable in beauty?

Peter Jackson · · Rumney, NH · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 445

I'm from MD originally. I grew up climbing at Seneca and would disagree that the routes aren't as quality as those at the New, but it's all subjective. You've already decided not to go there anyhow.

Though the routes are short and generally are topropes, you may want to hit Great Falls, VA. The scenery there is amazing for being so close to the city. Carderock is another close-by toprope area.

mountainproject.com/v/great…
mountainproject.com/v/carde…

I also enjoyed Sugarloaf quite a bit and it fits the "rural areas west of Baltimore" bill. mountainproject.com/v/sugar…

All of these suggestions come with a caveat: there's a reason I moved from MD to NH. :)

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
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