... the 'Druid Stones' (posted an obscure photo or two of this place recently)... hadn't been up there in probably twenty years...
... but first - encountered many "critter tracks" on the way... 'Wild Turkey'...
... followed these 'cat tracks' the whole way up... at least three miles... they followed all the way up the road and right up to the rocks!... great time of year to be in the woods... saw some large coyote tracks
as well but didn't grab a photo...
... back to the 'Druids'...
... thought that these may interest a few of the young bouldering "bro's" (and "bro'ettes") we been encountering of late... especially the guys who we ran into a few weeks back and were full of questions...
... first stumbled upon this place about thirty years ago, coincidentally, on the exact day of 'Winter Solstice'... while hikin' around came upon this old "ruin" that included what appeared to be an 'Eightfold Sun Wheel' constructed of small boulders and located directly in that opening ya' see in the photo... ???... it's long since disapperaed... was pretty creepy at first - had the feeling that someone was watchin' the whole time there... hikin' out that day (alone) and gettin' dark... every cold breeze "caressing" the back of the neck definitely quickened the pace...
(internet photo)
... Ha! - watched some pretty creepy movie on TV a while back called 'The Village' that reminded me of that day... set in the PA woods as well - didn't see one of these guys, though...
... anyway, always called them the 'Druid Stones' since... not a bad area - had nothin' to use for scale this day (the boys stayed back at the bikes) - but those are all some pretty large blocks... is basically a continuation of the 'Ridge' boulders (see map) but concentrated to a smaller area (sort of like the 'Sandy Flats Boulders')... used to be able to drive to within a hundred feet of the rocks (did it lots of times driving a 1980 Subaru DL Hatchback) - nearest parking is now about 1/2 mile away with an equal distance walk in... would recommend 4WD equipped vehicle or at least some decent ground clearance...
... we did quite a few routes... mentioned the place to a few other guys - don't think that any of 'em went there - never ran into anyone...
... cousin to 'Superman Syrup' over at the 'Ridge' - same size as well...
... this is possibly the other half of the previous block...
... is right next to it...
... a few decent steep faces...
... here's a large block...
... pretty decent tall face on the side of it...
... viewing "full-frontal"...
... more big stuff...
... more stuff on the hillside facing the 'Yough River Gorge'...
... surprised a small 'Black Bear' here once (we surprised each other, actually) - guess he was usin' this small shelter for a den - was standing on the rock ledge above and heard some rustling below - looked down to see the bear lookin' back up - he beat it fast down thru the woods... (cautiously) poked my head in today for a look - nuthin' there...
... is a decent size wall up there as well - you can lead on good gear left to right across the long horizontal crack mid-height - rig a 'hanging belay' at the flake - switch leads and climb up and follow the upper crack below the roof back left to step off onto a small ledge - about 100ft of climbing in all - not bad and good practice... never tried anything else with regard to the roof...
... posted this photo a while back - archive shot of 'Rob Goodman' leadin' back below the roof back in the day - gives a good idea of the scale of the wall as well...
... large sloping and pocketed face to the left if facing the wall - pretty easy but a little interesting un-roped...
... most of the stones have good landings...
... adjacent face of the previous...
... opposite side of the previous - those numerous pockets are pretty typical of area rock...
... didn't spend a whole lotta' time there, but not a bad little area - pretty easy access if ya' don't mind a short walk thru' the woods... you can definitely stay busy for an entire day... you can't miss the rocks to the right when walking in along the old 'skid road'...
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