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GPS: 38.97563, -77.20694
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Hunter R on Aug 12, 2019 · Updates
Admins: Frances Fierst, C S

Description Suggest change

Carderock’s downstream end. Beginning at the scramble down and Kindergarten, Spiderwalk and Silver Spot and ending where the river meets the rock at Trudy’s Terror.  At Biceps overhang, shade trees give way to open skies and warm south aspect faces of Hades Heights. Routes continue down with Green Bucket, Nubble Face then turning a corner at Cripple Crack, finishing with Merv’s Nerve, Easy Lieback and Finger Nail. Hades Heights is adjacent the Potomac River offering views up and downstream and across to Vaso Island. Generations of climbing has rendered the base of the wall bare ground and some of the holds polished. A 15 m length of anchor rope protects the top roping with tree and block anchors.  

Getting There Suggest change

Saunter from the the car past the toilets, south along a boardwalk and path to the le junction of the Billy Goat Trail and either hike downstream on the cliff too to set up a top rope anchor, or descent polished shist of the normal walk down gulley to recon the bottom of the routes, over historic, compacted soils among the Sycamore trees at the Potomac flood line.  The sector ends at Trudy’s Terror where the river meets the rock. 

66 Total Climbs

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Location: Hades Heights Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Hades Heights

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 45
The Crack
Trad, TR
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 74
Easy Layback
Trad, TR
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 48
Nubbin (Nubble) Face
TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 52
Trudie's Terror
Trad, TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 29
Spider Walk
TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 32
Friction Layback
TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 29
Bulging Crack
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 44
Triple A
TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 27
Golden Staircase
TR
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 32
Flutterby
TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 45
Butterfly
TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 26
Green Bucket
TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 37
Fingernail
TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 24
The Bulge
TR
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 24
Zig Zag
TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Crack
 45
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad, TR
Easy Layback
 74
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad, TR
Nubbin (Nubble) Face
 48
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a TR
Trudie's Terror
 52
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, TR
Spider Walk
 29
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR
Friction Layback
 32
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR
Bulging Crack
 29
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
Triple A
 44
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR
Golden Staircase
 27
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR
Flutterby
 32
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR
Butterfly
 45
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a TR
Green Bucket
 26
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a TR
Fingernail
 37
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b TR
The Bulge
 24
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b TR
Zig Zag
 24
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b TR
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