New Cliff

So I was poking around the internet looking for new places to possibly climb in CT and stumbled across a cliff posted on the AMC website. The site lists an unnamed cliff in Burlington CT on the Tunxis trail that goes over the "mile of ledges" and is on the way to Tory's den. After work I was so excited to check it out that I hiked out there and after 30 min I came up to a 60-70 foot cliff that had a huge 20-30 roof section on the right side. It was practically dark when I got there so I only poked around for a minute before hiking out in the dark, but am excited to check out a new cliff that I have never seen before with no information about it.

I was hoping someone has some information about this cliff as the AMC website offers no name and I havn't been able to find anything online about the cliff. I have not checked Ken Nicol's book yet but I'm currious as to what the name of the cliff is and possibly any previous development if it is out there. Does anyone have any information about this cliff? (name, topos, anything?)

Post some pics.

ditto!

Will do. I have to wait for the weekend because after work I would run into the same situation where I would arrive at night fall. I just want to make sure I don't come off pretending this is a huge find or a lost diamond. This is no Ragged or anything, and I would be happy to find 4-10 good lines on the cliff. I'm just excited that it's new to me and needs developing (re-developing), not to mention it is 10 min from my new house. Makes it feel more like an adventure

Stupid work.... always gets in the way of my climbing

I would check with Al Rubin or Ward Smith.

Assuming we're talking about the same cliffs, I don't really know that they've been 'developed' so to speak. Some partners and I have dry-tooled there a bit during the fall and spring since it's off the beaten path and out of other climbers' way. I've also done a fair amount of spring/summer hiking in the vicinity and have never seen any other climbers at that time either.

Here's some photos -

FA Heelhook wrote:Assuming we're talking about the same cliffs, I don't really know that they've been 'developed' so to speak. Some partners and I have dry-tooled there a bit during the fall and spring since it's off the beaten path and out of other climbers' way. I've also done a fair amount of spring/summer hiking in the vicinity and have never seen any other climbers at that time either. Here's some photos -

This is the one, and like I promised it is no gem, but still a nice remote area to hike out to and attempt a few TR lines and spend the day away from noisy roads and lawnmowers. I did not see any vertical cracks to lead, not to mention that it looks to have a decent amount of loose stuff. A couple of the aretes looked like they could be fun once cleaned and I was hoping I might be able to find a line through the roof to the right. I still can't wait to head back out there with some ropes and a brush to clean off a few lines and chalk up a few FA's, or at least not climbed in a long time. I just like the feeling of exploring a new area.

Last year a buddy showed me a more impressive, undeveloped, 10 degree overhanging cliff east of Colchester. After a few days of cleaning and playing around on it, we discovered a sequence that went up a seemingly blank face. It had only 1 jug to rest on half way, with cool side pulls and underclings and some very tricky footwork. I would peg it as a 5.12 (CT 5.11) that got progessivly more overhung and harder and ended with an eight move boulder problem on 1/4 to 1/2 pad crimps to slopers at the edge of a cave on top. To date I would call that my favorite climb in CT, strictly because of the joys I had in discovering, cleaning and then piecing together the moves.

FA heelhook, do you know if the Brulington cliff was ever even named or not?

Not that I'm aware of.

I know the cliff you are taking about, those are not the picks.
me and my girl friend scoped it some time last spring and fall.last time we went there was some stinky dead animal at the base of the cliff so we decided not to climb because it made me want to puke,but my dog seemed to like it. I also asked on the ragged mtn. website but got no replies.
shoot me a message next time you guys are gonna go and ill be glad to meet up with any of you I live in bristol so its pretty close.

wait maybe i dont know the one. but I know a bigger one then I guess out there its above a boulder field. most of the routes look hard 5.10 5.12 its definitely taller than those pics easy 50FT. high.
the cliff im talkin about has big trees on top that you can use for top ropeing and it has vert cracks. maybe I should just shut up and keep it to myself...joking any how shoot me a mail if interested

^ You have me a bit confused.

The OP specifically was referencing the cliffs referred to on the AMC website. Those cliffs are part of the "Mile of Ledges" located on Bristol Water company land (a part of the Burlington Land Trust) and are accessed by starting on the Tunxis trailhead located on Greer Road (0.2 miles west of West Chippen Hill Rd and part of the Brower Property - another constituent of the larger Burlington Land Trust).

You follow the Tunxis Trail (Blue) as it wraps Southwest around the pond. You'll continue across Garnet brook and arrive at the Mile of Ledges (apx. 3/4-1 mile from the trailhead). My pictures are far from comprehensive and depict only a small portion of a large band of cliffs ranging from 15' - 45' high. Some of the climbs are indeed overhanging & provide quite difficult climbing, which is why it's proven to be an excellent spot for dry tooling.

If you were to continue on the Blue trail you'd eventually come to a junction with the Yellow and White dot trails. The Yellow dot will bring you to the southern gated entrance on Marsh Road, while the White Dot will bring you to Tory's den, also located amongst a band of similarly composed, albeit smaller cliffs.

FA, you're spot on as to which cliff I was referring to, and if the roofs can go on tools, I bet I can find a line up it with time. If I find a few good lines out there, I'll post em.

Icy, I just moved to Bristol and would def be down to check out this or the other cliff you mentioned, or anywhere else for that matter. I'll shoot you a PM.

let me ask you guys questions what can you see from the top of the cliff? is it hard to hike up like a muddy 5.2. does your dog need help? climbin up. the first time I was there I noticed a rock placed just perfectly for a seat against a tree as a chair for a belayer. so some other old fart knows whats what. gosh im uptight ...just wondering if theres more or if im just dumb and its all the same. I have been there a bunch of times and I have seen a few cliffs or I should say boulders.....like maybe 7 or 8 outcrops.. it sucks being dazed and confused.

I never hiked to the top but it looked like the blue trail went up that way right before the cliff line started. It was almost dark when I got there so who knows. Still waiting for the weather to get nice enough to head out there on a weekend and rap a few potential lines with a brush. I'll hit you up when my schedule and the wheather's schedule work together for once.

I know what you are talking about icemonster, the memory fades quickly. Either way there is rock back there, and where there is rock, there is a climb to be found.

Have you all done any climbs here, since the posts? looks like it could be fun?