Ballikayalar (Honey Crag)  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  40.8373, 29.5159 Map Page Views:  1,551. Good page?    Administrator:  Tom Erickson Submitted By:  maratumba on Oct 29, 2010 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

entering the crux sequence on Percussion

Description 

One hour of driving away from Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey, this area is the first developed sport climbing area in the country. The rock is loose on rarely climbed routes, otherwise solid.
There is a very good guide book (ISBN 975-8293-33-8) of the area written by people who developed the area.
Unfortunately, I don't have it with me so I am writing all the information from my memory. I apologize for any missing information such as first ascencionists etc. I didn't miss anything technical about the routes. I didn't enter anything I wasn't sure about. So you can trust what you read.
If you need a guide for the area, send me a message, I might be able to arrange something.

Good hostel to stay in istanbul:
Rapunzel Guesthouse

Getting There 

From istanbul: Drive on TEM towards Ankara (east) take "Gebze" exit. Continue and pass Gebze. Approximately 10 km. outside Gebze, Make a right towards "tavsanli", keep right on the fork. Go through the village, make a right towards a bridge. After a few curves, you will see the "Ballikayalar Park" sign on your left. Follow the sign until you reach a parking lot.
The officer will want you to pay 15 TL (might change). If you say you are a climber, he might accept less money.

The Classics

Featured Route For Ballikayalar (Honey Crag)

Percussion 5.10a  International : Europe : ... : Left Side

Beautiful, sustained face climb. One of the first climbs in the area. Originally climbed as a trad route, this sport climb is the areas most classic route....[more]   Browse More Classics in International