The Sacred Cliffs Climbing

While not awe-inspiring, The Sacred Cliffs comprise numerous sandstone blocks and buttresses that form the North-South ridge line of Green Mountain. The rock climbs a lot like Eldorado or Mickey Mouse. Over the last decade close to 50 routes have been installed, without coming close to tapping the full potential of the area. These span the gamut from full trad to fully bolt protected.

Most routes are short, with the longer ones running 100 feet and many topping out after 40 to 50 feet, however, at least one two pitch route was established, and it is 140 feet overall. Difficulty largely runs into double digits, although some fine routes can be found at 5.9 or easier. Nearly all of the routes face due West and get great sun from noon until sunset. First ascent data is difficult to come by. I was introduced to the area by Joe Desimone more than ten years ago, and he has established many of the better lines on The Sacred Cliffs. Greg Hand and Ray Snead put up some of routes about the time Joe was doing so. Other contributors will be identified as is possible.

Numbering of rocks and routes begins from the North end of the hill with Name Game Rock and route #1, Close to The Edge. The approach via the Green Mountain West Ridge Trail is moderate, gaining only 200 to 300 vertical feet, and takes not longer than 20 minutes from the car.