Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 42 ft
GPS: 25.1104, 121.9228
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 25,168 total · 148/month
Shared By: BrianWS on Apr 22, 2010
Admins: Nate Ball

Description Suggest change

This is THE CHILL ZONE. It is the tall, wide, tilted platform that juts out into the ocean and is visible from afar. When the mobs congeal and the cheerleading begins, you will see why the name is so appropriate. It is very exposed, and thus balmy in summer and blustery in the winter. This area consists of several different sections, starting from the Whale's Head on the right, passing the pyramidal buttress of the Sky Wall, the raised cave of Recital Hall, to the main point of the Music Hall, and on down to the Broken Faces. A vast majority of the routes here are traditional, although most people come here to climb four routes: the beginner classic Wedding Route, the grade-pusher Fucking Fall, the unorthodox Big Drum, and the style-challenging Fingercrack. If you aren't sucked in by the lackadaisical atmosphere, there are many other stellar climbs to be done.

The Whale's Head is the first area you come to, just after you step down from the Bulletin Board outside of Long Lane. At the lowest point, hop over onto a boulder and belay from atop for routes like Moby Dick. This wall's only bolts are anchors, which allow you to combine the moderate classics with stout testpieces like Sword or topout to a beautiful view via Call Me Ishmael.

The next area, separated by a chunky, vegetated weakness, is the Sky Wall. Goes into the shade early. The easy lower half can be climbed many different ways on trad or bolts (2013) to approach the four short sport routes above. These were rebolted in 2013 and are decent but short.

To the left of this is the obvious cave of Recital Hall. This area is in the shade pretty much all day, all year. There are a couple moderate trad climbs in here, as well as one mega-challenge sport climb rebolted in 2013.

The main face of Music Hall begins at the tall white slab and curves around the corner. The crack up the middle is the start of Wedding Route, which can be continued all the way to the top. At the corner is the challenging Musical Arete, which leads into the three stuper-classics of this area. There are also lots of bouldering options around the bottom of these faces. The next face down is bordered by obvious trad lines, with two bolt lines going up the middle. The rock above here is chossy; no routes continue from these blocky ledges. However, there are several more decent trad and newly-bolted sport lines as you continue on.

Past these bolted lines you will find the multitudinous fractures and fissures of the Broken Faces. Although it looks bad, the lines are mostly clean and present some of the best real jamming at Long Dong. Steal Your Face is an absolute must-do for any trad climber in the area. To the the left, easier trad climbs without anchor bolts create opportunities for bouldery top-ropes.

Beyond is the boulder field run-off from the Grand Auditorium above. Cross this over to the caves or Golden Valley about 20 minutes further.

Getting There Suggest change

From Schoolgate: Hike along the coast for about 20-25 minutes. Scramble over the boulders in the schoolgate area, pass the ponds and fishing holes until you reach the traverse. You can climb over the traverse or take it directly (easy 5th class), but be mindful of the fall -- it's a good six meters or so onto barely submerged rocks or coral.

Once you come out of the traverse, continue past the monobridge (building materials change seasonally) and make one more easy traverse. You should see a large face (Wedding Route) with a cave about 3 meters up. This area and the adjacent wall facing the Pacific is Music Hall.

Rain & Shade

Suggest change
All routes get wet in the rain. Steal Your Face and routes in the Balcony tend to seep after long periods of rain.

The Whale's Head comes into the shade around 12pm. The Balcony is in the shade all day. Wedding Route face comes into the shade around 12pm. All other routes are in the sun until early in the afternoon.

36 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: (4) Music Hall Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Music Hall

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 4
Musical Chimney
Trad
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 18
Wedding Route
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 4
Backdrop
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 12
Moby Dick
Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 5
Nancy's Attempt
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 18
Fucking Fall
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 4
Reluctant
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 7
Big Drum
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 8
Finger Crack
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Musical Chimney
 4
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Wedding Route
 18
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad
Backdrop
 4
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Moby Dick
 12
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Nancy's Attempt
 5
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Fucking Fall
 18
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Reluctant
 4
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Big Drum
 7
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Finger Crack
 8
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Music Hall »

Sun & Shade Suggest change

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

0 Comments