Future Explorations

We're gaining more time into the summer, and we're planning more explorations and climbing pursuits. Below I am featuring satellite images from Google Earth of various locations which we are planning to visit and explore. Most, if not all of these areas, I beleive, are seldom visited and undeveloped by rock climbers, yet the satellite photos indicate great geographic features. I will begin with an area which is most readily accessible to us, and we will likely visit this place first. The satellite image below from Google Earth is of a ridge top block wall feature at almost 2900 feet elevation on the west facing side of the Laurel Ridge in Fayette County just north of Ohiopyle.The ridge top exists mostly on state gamelands. Below is a closer up image of the large blocks on the north end of the ridge top wall.

The next, and most intriguing locations occur along the ridge tops above the west and east banks of the Allegheny River north of Tidouette, PA and south of Warren, PA. The rock features appear very distinct in the satellite photos provided by Google Earth. The first image is of a rock city within the state gamelands above the western bank of the Allegheny.
The following image reveals some more great rock exposures above the western bank. All of these locations occur between 1650 and 1800 feet elevation.
Look at all this great rock! I don't think we'll be able to fit all these locations into one long weekend of exploration, and these images don't even constitute half of the rock that exists within the northern neck of the woods!
An apparent cliff feature appears looming over the northern rim of the Casselman river gorge just southeast of Somerset, PA. There are also some distinct boulders in the area.
The next location looks very promising. There is jeep trail access to the top of Big Savage mountain in Bedford County leading to this beautiful rock exposure.

1st Time at Beartown Rocks

I've heard reports of these boulders for years, and finally my brother and I had a few extra hours to explore Beartown Rocks one afternoon in early May. After completing our tasks during that road-trip we scooted only 25 minutes north of Brookville, Pennsylvania off of PA route 36. We then took PA route 949 for a few minutes east going down into Clear Creek State Park. From the state park entrance the drive is only 10 minutes on gravel roads to the parking area which is adjacent to the top of the boulders. Unfortunately the area doesn't show up well on Google Earth, but Beartown Rocks sits on the crest of a gentle hilltop to the SSE of the state park and above the Clear Creek. It would be a great place to visit in early June when the mountain laurels are blooming. We were also foraging for morels in early may, however, we were not prepared to climb that afternoon. We scouted these rocks and came up with some great pictures which are all together below. I've heard that the Pennsylvania Climbers Alliance (PAC) was attempting to develop Beartown Rocks for climbers, however, I didn't see much evidence of visits by rock climbers. I believe that camping is permitted at Beartown Rocks since it sits in Clear Creek State Forest just outside of the state park. Enjoy the photos and expect future reports of climbing and fly fishing excursions to this location!