While most visiting roped rock climbers seem to stick to the popular, well traveled, main stay routes, Harpers Ferry is seeing talented roped rock climbers get creative, venture out into new vertical terrain, and then share their exploits with the rest of us so we can sample these new lines. If you've been following along then you know that we have also been seeing talented bouldering climbers visit Harpers Ferry.
Just yesterday I placed a call to Maryland climber Dan Montague and we spoke for over an hour on his and Martin Leskas new exploits. It seems that they and others are bringing a combination of strength, trad skill, and head game to climb previously unreported "new" lines, repeat existing climbs, and to attempt to free climb old aid lines... with spicy results at times.
Also in the mix are John Kelbel, Carl Orr, Daniel Langdon and their willing partners. These guys have been teaming up to create some spectacular spectacles on the history immersed cliffs of Maryland Heights. Most of what follows below comes from the ascentionists themselves, so thank these guys for caring and sharing. Martin Leska, Dan Montague, John Kelbel, Carl Orr, and Daniel Langdon. Read on for the full story.