Join PATC-MS Women & Gender Expansive (WGE) group for a day of sport climbing at Buzzard Rocks at the Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area. Route info on Buzzard Rocks is available on Mountain Project: https://www.mountainproject.
Who: This event is open to women, fem-identifying, transgender, gender non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals. WGE events are designed to create a safe space for people who are historically underrepresented. Participants MUST have indoor sport climbing and belaying experience. We encourage anyone to join who hasn’t sport climbed outdoors before as long as they have indoor experience. The grades of the climbs are 5.6+ slab so please know your comfort levels. Many climbs have “runout “ sections (where protection is sparse for a long period of climbing). Trad gear can be used for extra protection, or in some instances, slings around trees are possible. Due to the length of the climbs, 70M dynamic rope is required as well as minimum 12 QuickDraws (which can be shared if needed).
When: Meet at the “Buzzard Rock Parking Area” by 8:00 AM! The lot fills up early on weekends, so plan to arrive early. Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/
Where: We’ll meet at the Buzzard Rock parking area before hiking in towards the climbing area, about 2 miles. Come prepared with enough food and water for the day.
Additional: Please cancel your registration if you are no longer able to attend so someone can have your spot. If you no show once, you will get an email from the Chair. If you no show twice, you will not be allowed to sign up for another event for 3 months. If you continue to no show, your membership will be cancelled and refunded.
If you can’t make it the morning of the event, give the trip leader a courtesy message so that no one is waiting for you in the parking lot.
This trip is set to 8 participants.
Please note that this is not a guided event and none of our trip leaders are professional guides. You will be climbing on ropes set up by members of the club who are hobby climbers and not professionals. Climbing is an inherently dangerous sport and you do so at your own risk. You are responsible for yourself and your own safety at all times.
Leaders McLain Saba mclain.saba at gmail.com and Kat Carlile kathrcarlile at gmail.com
-
April 20, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Venue: Buzzard Rocks
Address:
Description:
Buzzard Rocks is an 80 min drive from Washington DC, followed by a 45 – 60min uphill walk. It is in the Elizabeth Furnace area of the George Washington National Forest in Virginia.
Buzzard Rocks sits on a ridgeline at 1300 ft and faces west. It’s great in the mornings in the summer as the crag is shaded until 2pm. In the winter you’ll want to go there in the afternoon. There is no water available.
There are around 30 routes from 5.3 – 5.11, the majority in the 5.7-5.8 range. The routes are slab climbing, 60 – 120ft in length, with mixed protection, a few bolts plus gear. Take a rack. You need two 60m ropes or a 70m rope to abseil so you may want to take a spare rope to fix for this. You can also walk down. Grades are softish.
Directions and Parking
Take I-66 to exit 6 for US-340/US-522, heading left (South) at the exit. After going over a bridge turn right (West) at the light onto 55 — look for a 7-11 on the left. Drive another 5 miles and turn left (South) at Fort Valley Rd/VA-678. After about a mile turn left on VA-619 at a sign that says “Fish Culture Station”. Drive 1.2 miles past the fish hatchery and look for a sign on the right for the Buzzard Rocks trailhead. Park in the small dirt lot and follow the trail about 2 miles to the top. There is an overflow
The parking lot is small and fills up quickly with hikers. You need to be there early.
If there’s no parking try Talking Head Wall as parking on the road will likely get a ticket.
Guidebooks
Buzzard Rocks is in the Rakkup Guide to the Elizabeth Furnace and is listed in Mountainproject under Shenandoah & NW VA Region Climbing.