Harpers Ferry is an extensive and somewhat complex area with different kinds of climbing, multipitch trad and aid, overhanging sport climbs, top rope, and lots of bouldering and sometimes lots of adventure and bush whacking. This specific trip is trad. 

If you are signing up for this trip you will need to come with a partner. I recommend posting in the PATC trad chat for one if you do not have a regular trad partner in mind. 

The main event is the multipitch climbs on Maryland Heights with routes anywhere from 5.2 PG to 5.10C R. Most routes are 2, 3 or 4 pitches depending upon where you belay. Hard Up or Hard Up Direct at 5.8 is the classic route on “The Sign”

Mountain project has a lot of good info, but there are also some really good routes not listed. On the Maryland side of the river are Balcony Rock and Balcony,Jr. About 70- to 80′ of steep top rope or bolt enhanced Trad.  Both cliffs face south and with the black rock and can get very warm during the summer.

High up on Maryland Heights is Skink Rock. A bit of a hike for a 30′ / 40′ cliff, but worth it if only for the memorial Carpet Crack. Carpet Crack and a few of the other lines can be done on lead. Oh, My Eyes has been “retro bolted” so it can be done as lead climb as well as a top rope. Long anchors are necessary to rig most top ropes at Skink Rock.

Parking is either in the Lower Town part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park or at the main Visitor Center entrance off Rt. 340 one mile west of the bridge over the Shenandoah. There is a $20 per car entrance fee for either location, so if you ever climb at Great Falls or Shenandoah, this is a good time to think about purchasing an Annual or Lifetime Pass.

https://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/parking.htm

https://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/fees.htm

We will meet at the Train Station at 8:00.  The lot fills up early on weekends. If you park at the big lot at the Visitors Center the free Shuttle Bus will bring you into Lower Town just a short walk from the Train Station.

Please cancel your registration if you are no longer able to attend – this event will fill up quickly so let someone else have your spot if you can’t make it. 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, at least give the trip leader a courtesy call so that no one is waiting for you in the parking lot.

To cancel your reservation, go back to the event page scroll down to the RSVP portion. Click the red “view your RSVP” text and it will take you to another page where you can change your RSVP from “going” to “not going”. If you cancel your RSVP the day before the trip or the morning of, please text the trip leader and let them know. The website does not notify trip leaders when someone changes their RSVP. Failure to notify the trip leader after cancelling your RSVP last minute will count as a no-show.

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.