Intermediate and Learning to Lead rock climbing courses:

Seneca Rocks, WV - Oct 2006

I meet Justin, my guide and the other course participants and we head up the east side of Seneca Rocks on the Worrell's Thicket and A Christian Delight before rappelling back down to the ground.

As a foursome we ascend the first two pitches of Old Man's route, then Justin has me climb Neck Press. We ascend Front C and the Critter Crack to the South Summit of Seneca Rocks.

My new guide, JJ, and I put in a full day climbing such routes as: Lower Skyline Direct, Dirty Old Man, Frosted Flake and Monkey See Monkey Do.

Undeterred by rain, we hole up in the cave to practice placing pieces of protection into cracks, then I get to mock-lead and practice building anchors. We finish the day with an ascent up the first pitch of Candy Corner and hike out by headlamp.

On my last day we climb the exposed Ecstasy route, then I mock-lead the first pitch a few times. We finish the day with a climb of the first pitch of Totem and practice another belay-escape.