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Tree Keys

5.6, Sport, 60 ft (18 m),  Avg: 2.1 from 54 votes
FA: Judy Perez, Joe Perez, George Hurley
New Hampshire > WM: N Conway > 02. Humphrey's… > 1. The Geriatric Walls

Description

Find the tree close to the cliff with a key embedded in the trunk near eye level, on the cliffside of the tree. The keyring has broken off of the key (and it is sometimes replaced) so you may need to look hard for it.

The route ascends a dark brown slab starting from the tree. Climb the lower slab to the blocky 4th class ledge, then climb the outside corner hanging overhead. The route touches both faces of the outside corner. A routefinding extravaganza!

See comment on 5th bolt

Location

Find the 12+ inch diameter oak tree about 4 ft from the cliff with the key in it. About 60-70 yards from where the path splits going down to Geriatric and up to Cake Walk, this climb begins just beyond where the path rises to reach the big elevated dirty ledge where Gaggle of Geese, Old Crow and High Steppin' start.

Protection

Can be done with only bolts. If 5.7 is your limit, bring a couple cams for the slightly runout section midway up the climb (it's not that runout, but some will want an extra piece of pro)

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Tree Key's
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Brett leading.
[Hide Photo] Brett leading.
Tree Keys
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Tree Keys
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Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

E thatcher
Plymouth/ North Conway (NH)
[Hide Comment] Ouch on the Rumney Climbers comment man... May 15, 2011
Jay Knower
Plymouth, NH; Lander, WY
[Hide Comment] I know a lot of Rumney climbers who would be able to handle that runout. May 15, 2011
Peter Jackson
Rumney, NH
  5.6
[Hide Comment] Edited. Sorry: didn't mean to be offensive! Was supposed to be amusing. Dec 6, 2011
Edge
Boulder, CO
  5.5
[Hide Comment] This route is no harder than 5.5. Oct 13, 2012
[Hide Comment] I thought this route was actually pretty fun especially for a warm up. Watch out for the loose stuff on the big ledge. Apr 1, 2013
Peter Jackson
Rumney, NH
  5.6
[Hide Comment] Edited the grade to reflect the new guidebook rating and the consensus rating. My original post used the grade from NEClimbs.

Be careful when starting up the face above the blocky, broken ledge. Some loose stuff has pulled off of there recently. Oct 28, 2013
David Lottmann
Conway, NH
[Hide Comment] Climbed yesterday, 2nd to last “protection” bolt is right next to an excellent .3 or .4 BD cam placement. Other than that a well designed route with fun moves. The anchor has been extended with chains so it is visible from the ground (and much better for rapping off). Apr 30, 2014
Jon Booth
  5.7
[Hide Comment] It appears much of the loose rock has recently been cleaned from this route, probably in the last week or so. Sep 8, 2014
Joe L
Maine
[Hide Comment] Beware the big patch of poison ivy half way up! Jul 7, 2019
Robert Hall
North Conway, NH
  5.7
[Hide Comment] 5th bolt seems a bit out of place, but I guess there’s a variant that climbs directly over it…(?) Apr 14, 2023
Lee Cullivan
Maine
  5.6
[Hide Comment] My partner (I was belaying) grabbed a hold near the top and a soda-can sized chunk of rock broke off. I doubt it changes the grade but the top may not be as straightforward as it was. Edit: Went back to Tree Keys a couple weeks later and investigated that last hold/just/flakeish thing just left of the anchor. THe one you'd want to be holding as you finish the climb. It's not long for this world. It's big so be careful. Wear your helmets (especially belayers). Jul 9, 2023