Thais, pretty steep for "5.6"
Alpine Endeavors hasn’t taken a trip to Seneca in a long time and a visit to climb the steepest moderates in the east was way overdue. Seneca Rocks is a small climbing area in eastern West Virginia composed of Tuscarora Sandstone (quartzite) similar to the rock in the Gunks. At Seneca, however, the layers are vertical not horizontal, making for spectacular steep climbing. This is the only place in the U.S. where you can climb an entire pitch of vertical 5.6. Your body hangs away from the cliff the whole time making the climbing feel demanding and sustained.
Over three days we climbed several really classic routes including Thais, Green Wall, West Pole, Prune and Ecstasy. A visit to this area is well worth the time; the campground is quiet and clean and the local climbers are really friendly. Below are some of the better images from the trip.
