Type: Trad, TR, 60 ft
FA: Paul Ross
Page Views: 2,798 total · 18/month
Shared By: Ian Harmon on Jun 7, 2006
Admins: Kris Gorny, chris tregge

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Description

I have only ever top roped this route from above, but it is also possible to lead it in 2 pitches. The first pitch is reported to be 5.8 and mediocre. For top roping lower about 60 feet to a tree and climb the dihedral stemming your way to the top. There are several old pins within the thin crack, that are about the only protection I remember towards the top if you were leading it.

Location

Ross's crack is in the first dihedral past (east) of the wooden lookout. It is about 10 feet before (west) of Dance of the Sugar-Plump Faeries.

Protection

Standard rack for lead. Webbing for top roping off trees. There may or may not be large park service bolts atop this route.

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Photos

Burke halfway up Ross's Crack
Burke halfway up Ross's Crack
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Ross's Crack from the base of Shovel Point.
Ross's Crack from the base of Shovel Point.
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Me and Mason belaying on Ross' Crack
Me and Mason belaying on Ross' Crack
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KD climbing what I think was Ross' Crack, June 2004.
KD climbing what I think was Ross' Crack, June…
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7 Comments

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USBRIT Ross
Keswick Cumbria.UK
USBRIT Ross   Keswick Cumbria.UK
Hi Min Climbers at Shovel Point . Just a bit of history on this area of rock . In I think it was 1973/4 I was working for a season at the Outward Bound school in Ely. I was asked to find a climbing area suitable for students on the shores of Lake Superior.I checked out Palisade Head and found this was not suitable for Outward Bound students . When on Baggy I noticed another sea cliff to the east that turned out to be Shovel Point. At that time we had to bush whack to the cliff as there were no paths ,and as with the approach the cliff was completely untouched. Over a period of three weeks with an assistant I spent long days cleaning masses of loose rock from most of the routes along the length of the cliff . This exploration continued between student visits thoughout that summer . Most were established by TR , but when cleaned we led some from the ground up.By the end of the summer we had climbed about 12/14 routes ranging from about 5.5 to 5.10.I remember a very difficult one from the beach area that may have been 5.11? I did leave a detailed topo of the climbs with the OB school , but I expect that is now long gone?.I see by the routes posted on this page ( apart from the one route that is credited to me "Ross's Crack")that Great Yawn ,Dance of the Sugar corner ,White Sheep etc are some of the routes we opened out. Glad to see the crag is still in use .. Paul Ross ....Colorado Jul 26, 2006
Glenn Burns
St. Paul, MN
 
Glenn Burns   St. Paul, MN
 
hey paul

thanks for the small bit of history, i'm glad you posted. if you have time, check out minnesotaclimbing.com... it's the minnesota climbers' online crag :)

ross' crack is on of my all time favorite routes, did you guys actually lead it from top to bottom or just lowered off then lead up?

thanks again!

-=glenn=- Jul 27, 2006
Neil O Cary
Neil O Cary  
As of 10/7/2006, bolts at the top are still not present. The hole does take a brown tri-cam nicely though. Oct 17, 2006
Floridaputz
Oakland Park, Florida
Floridaputz   Oakland Park, Florida
Paul, great to hear the history from a former OB instructor. I climbed there as a student in 1976. I worked there as a rocks tech with groups from VOBS in the earily 80's. That would be MOBS when you were there (Minnesota OB became Voyaguer OB) Aug 6, 2010
FRosst Ross
FRosst Ross  
Anchor bolts on top of Shovel Point have been added in the last few years. Burly enough to anchor a barge through the winter. Jun 19, 2014
Burke Minahan
Minneapolis
  5.10b
Burke Minahan   Minneapolis
  5.10b
Might be able to use the giant bolts the park put in but probably better to use 2 trees about 15-20' from the face. Sep 9, 2018
USBRIT Ross
Keswick Cumbria.UK
USBRIT Ross   Keswick Cumbria.UK
Glen. Ross's Crack. We obviously cleaned it on a rope, but did eventually lead it from the ground up, but as is said the first pitch was not great. In any case, this crag was a great place to WORK! Even tried to swim in the wee lake on VERY hot days.. ...that is cold water.... Oct 31, 2018