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Looking for climbing partner(s) near Erie, PA

Original Post
Lauren Smith · · Missoula, Montana · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 0

I'm moving to Erie PA next week, and I'm looking for people to climb with. My regular partner lives in Boulder CO, and trying to convince someone who lives 15 min from Eldo to visit PA is difficult.

Also, are there any gyms near Erie? I'm new to the area, and I have no idea what's there.

Thanks!
Lauren

heather1983 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2012 · Points: 0

Hi Lauren,

Did you have any luck? I'm going to be moving to Erie end of August. Living in the Baltimore/DC area right now. From looking online there doesn't seem to be any gyms within an hour of Erie.

--Heather

Lauren Smith · · Missoula, Montana · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 0

Sorry, but I'm not actually in PA anymore. Currently I'm in South Carolina (and still looking for climbing partners!)

However, when I was in PA I met some guys named Doug Stoltz and Andrew Heidt, I'm pretty sure they're both on MP (and they're both on FB). Doug is a great guy and he'd probably be more than happy to climb with you. We'd go down to McConnell's Mills on the weekends sometimes, which was a bit of a drive but the closest outdoor climbing that I knew of.

Hope this helps!

Doug S · · W Pa · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 55

Hey!

Feel like driving up to NRG?

Timothy C · · Chicago · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 0

Hi All,
Hope to run into some of you in the future. I'm also going to be moving to Erie this August and looking to keep climbing. Got friends out in western MA but the Gunks and other routes out there are a bit far.
I scouted out Erie a few months ago and the only thing I could find within 1 hour was a _small_ room at a college 30 min. south where people can apparently boulder and do very short toproping. Good luck searching out gyms/drives!

Timothy C · · Chicago · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 0

Hi All,
Edinboro University has a tiny climbing/bouldering room that I am going to check out tomorrow. In a few weeks I'll be driving to Pittsburgh to go to one of the gyms there. If anyone has a recommendation on a good gym there or would like to come with let me know.

Victor Manuel · · Erie, PA · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 0

I know it's been a while since someone last posted on this topic but, has anyone had positive results for finding climbing areas near Erie? I moved out to Erie this past summer for school and would like to get some climbing in before going back home for the holidays.

I've been tempted to check out Edinboro U but the drive has been a deterrent, especially now that it's snowing. If people are down to car pool, it may just make this a worthwhile venture. Any takers?

Timothy C · · Chicago · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 0

Hi Victor,
I also moved to Erie this August and this was one of the only forums where I found people discussing climbing opportunities. I've been to Edinboro a few times; it's cheap ($30 for a semester pass) but it's also really small - a converted racquetball court.
I've heard McConnell's Mills is the place to go in warmer weather, but I missed my chance this season. I've been to a gym in Pittsburgh but I have friends down there and made a weekend of it. I'm also installing a hangboard in my apt to stay in shape.

Send me a PM with contact info if you are interested in coordinating something.
Tim

Randy Aristotle · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 239

I haven't been to McConnell's, but I would recommend the ANF as an underrated bouldering mecca with adequate top roping opportunities. Apart from the 'known' areas -- Rimrock, Jake's Rocks, Minister Creek -- there are probably a dozen or more other areas that aren't labeled on a map or brochure: Fool's Creek, South Slater, Hedgehog, Gardner's to name just a few. If you visit those places, you're likely to be the only one(s) out.

Brian - This will be my first season on ice, but I would be interested in climbing this winter. The only ice I was aware of is near Kinzua Dam. Do you know if there are other more remote climbs in the ANF?

AThomas · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 25
Victor Manuel · · Erie, PA · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 0

Thanks for the input everyone. Randy and Brian, would you happen to know where I could find a climbing guide for ANF?

AThomas · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 25
BrianKostelnik57 wrote:http://bluebiner.com/ That's supposedly the comprehensive guide to PA rock climbing. I don't own a copy, and I have only glanced through it. I can't speak for the quantity of ANF rock contained in there.
ANF 8 pages = 1 pg intro + 4 pgs Rim Rock (w/routes) + 1 pg Minister Creek (directions, no routes) + 1 pg Kelly Pines (directions, no routes) + 1 pg Ice Cubes (directions, no routes)
Brian.P · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 0

Here's some ANF climbing beta.

For anyone not living in or near the forest Rim Rock is probably the best option. It's very easy to find and requires no approach. The boulders are right in front of you. Also, the climbing is very good. One more thing, this late in the season the gate may be closed which would necessitate a short approach. You can walk up the gated road (easy walking but long) or you can walk up the easy trail from Kinzua beach to below the overlook. You'll probably have to park outside the gate at Kinzua Beach and walk to the trailhead, maybe 5-10min, but the trail itself is only a 25-30min hike.

Jake's is ok. Again it's easy to get to, but the climbing is less concentrated and the boulders tend to be grimier and of less quality. What's climbable is good, it just takes longer to ferret it out.

Minister... I wouldn't bother with Minister. It's pretty green and if you're driving into the forest, unless you're down for alot of cleaning, you have better options.

There are other areas around. Hedgehog and south slater were both mentioned. These are good areas. Hedgehog in particular. But both are not really easy to find if you're not sure of where you're going and again, the bouldering at Rim Rock is really just as good (maybe not quite as good as Heghehog but alot easier to get to). Honestly you're looking at 45min to an hour walking to Heghehog after the drive and maybe 20 for slater if you hit the trail right. If you don't it's easy to get kind of lost back there.

Conclusion... Check out Rim Rock if you're lacking on time or if you just want to climb on some good boulders without worrying about finding them. If you've got a weekend and feel like poking around at some other areas grab a map and go for it.

Randy Aristotle · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 239

Thanks for the clarification Brian.

It sounds like a trip to Hedgehog is on the docket for me. How do the TR routes compare with Rimrock (height / difficulty)? Flyingnutmuncher mentioned there would be a lot of potential there. Also - do you have any general pictures of the Hedgehog area? I can see it in Google Satellite view but it's difficult to get a sense of the scale of those boulders.

Speaking of satellite view, there are a TON of boulders visible within the ANF using historical imagery (Google Earth) - the greatest concentration seems to be around Minister / Slater / Hedgehog.

Brian.P · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 0

Hedgehog is pretty cool. There's quite a bit of rock scattered over several hillsides down the trail. Some of those hills have bigger rocks (think like the tall points at Rim Rock or a bit shorter) and some of them have mostly boulders. There isn't really a right hillside but of the couple I've been on I definitely have a favorite. Difficulty is whatever you want to make it. Rim and Hedgehog both have climbs near either end of the spectrum. I will say that it may be quite a bit harder to access the tops at Hedgehog to set up a TR than at Rim depending what you want to climb. My advice would be to throw your TR set up in a crash pad and grab a few other people with big crash pads and go out and get on some of the bigger boulders, which is where Hedghog really shines.

Like I said, in Minister itself I haven't seen anything worth climbing on. The hillsides around that area have more climbable boulders but they're scattered. The hills down near Slater are alright bouldering locales.

Definitely alot of boulders around. Have fun

shooperstar · · YNP California · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 0

How do you get to Slater/hedgehog?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northeastern States
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