Nelson Rocks

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Nelson Rocks
Location Pendleton County, West Virginia
Nearest city Circleville, West Virginia
Range Allegheny Mountains
Coordinates 38°41′46.92″N 79°27′52.41″W / 38.6963667°N 79.4645583°W / 38.6963667; -79.4645583Coordinates: 38°41′46.92″N 79°27′52.41″W / 38.6963667°N 79.4645583°W / 38.6963667; -79.4645583
Climbing Type traditional and Sport climbing crag
Height 120 feet
Pitches mostly single pitch with some 2-3 pitch climbs
Ratings moderate and expert
Rock type Tuscarora quartzite
Quantity of rock weeks worth (over 100 routes)
Development partially developed
Cliff aspect East and West facing
Season Spring to fall
Elevation 3120
Ownership private
Access closed to unguided climbing[1][2]
Camping no camping
Classic climbs

Crescendo (5.10)
Stone Gallows (5.10)
Merlin (5.11a)
Written in Stone (5.11+)

Porcelain Pumphouse (5.11c)
Stars
Via Ferrata at Nelson

Nelson Rocks is a large privately owned crag located in the North Fork Valley of Pendleton County, West Virginia. The area is operated under the name of Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center (NROC), and was previously known as Nelson Rocks Preserve (NRP). The mountainous 145 acre site[3] features two parallel rock fins made of tuscarora sandstone, a Via Ferrata connecting both fins and a canopy tour equipped with zip-lines. Nelson Rocks is at the southern end of the River Knobs, which contain several other similar "razorback" ridges or "fins" such as Champe Rocks, Seneca Rocks and Judy Gap, all on the western flank of North Fork Mountain.

Rock climbing at Nelson Rocks dates back about as far as at nearby Seneca Rocks[4]; however, for most of that time, this privately owned area was not officially open to the public. In 1943 and '44, as part of the West Virginia Maneuver Area, 10th Mountain Division[4] of the U.S. Army used Seneca, Nelson and Champe Rocks to train mountain troops in assault climbing in preparation for action in the Apennines of Italy. They left behind an estimated 75 thousands soft iron pitons, some of which can still be found on the rocks.[4]

In 1998[4] the area was purchased by Stuart Hammett[5] who operated it under the name Nelson Rocks Preserve for about a decade, after which it was purchased by Camp Horizons. After creation of NRP, the area was officially open to rock climbing, and the climbing scene flourished. During the 1998-2001 seasons, the number of routes doubled reaching about 100 routes. Currently the area is closed to unguided climbing.[1][2]

Guidebooks

  • Hörst, Eric J. (2001). Rock climbing Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland (1st ed. ed.). Guilford, Conn.: FalconGuides. ISBN 1560448121. 
  • Online guidebooks

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Pricing at Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center". Retrieved 8 November 2012. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Access Fund. "What's Happening in Your Backyard". Retrieved 9 November 2012. 
  3. ↑ Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center. Home of the Via Ferrata and the North Fork Valley Canopy Tour.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Hörst, Eric J. (2001). Rock climbing Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland (1st ed. ed.). Guilford, Conn.: FalconGuides. ISBN 1560448121. 
  5. ↑ Dolges, Daniele (August 18, 1999). "Rock of Ages". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 November 2012. 

External links

  • Mountain Project. "Nelson Rocks". Retrieved 9 November 2012. 
  • Allegheny & Blue Ridge Trip at Nelson Rocks - The Via Ferrata. (Photoessay.) Daniel Woodrum, 2008.
  • High Adventure for Beginners. West Virginia Department of Commerce. August 2011.
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