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Hermit's Basement

V-easy, Boulder, 16 ft (5 m),  Avg: 2 from 2 votes
FA: unknown
Massachusetts > Eastern, MA > Hammond Pond > Temple Area > Hermit's Cave Area > Hermit's Cave

Description

More of a cave than a boulder problem. The cave corridor is about 10 feet long (horizontally) with a head-high (6 foot) exit that you have to climb through. My 7 year-old moved through it easily and said it was tons of fun. My much heavier and more portly self crawled through the exit move with alarm and uncertainty - but also thought it was tons of fun. Note: like many "squeeze hole" caves, not everyone can fit through this cave. There is an actual upper size limit for doing this route. The author is 5' 8" and 190 lbs. and could barely squeeze through the exit on this route. Your results may vary. Fun adventure route.

Location

The exit is right in front of a tree, 25 feet due west from the top of the corridor, if you go through the Hermit's Crack corridor and past Graffiti Scrambled. See the photos. You can "downclimb" through the exit, but why go through that needless self-abuse?! The entrance cave is on the west-facing hillside (shown in the photos). Heading up the short hillside, with Hermit's Hideout just to the left, go to the right before the trail gets to the top of the slope. You will pass through some rocks with an overhang. Moving laterally about 20 feet, you will see the cave entrance, which is 5-6 feet high.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

A former climber having fun doing some extreme gardening.
[Hide Photo] A former climber having fun doing some extreme gardening.
The cave exit with a partial view through the cave.
[Hide Photo] The cave exit with a partial view through the cave.
Looking out through the entrance - this shows size of the cave.
[Hide Photo] Looking out through the entrance - this shows size of the cave.
The cave entrance shown at top of the hill, middle-right. This is from the trail from Pusherman Wall, and the view is due east.
[Hide Photo] The cave entrance shown at top of the hill, middle-right. This is from the trail from Pusherman Wall, and the view is due east.