Underground Railroad Overhang

Maryland

Please tread lightly in this area.

Overhangs are popular with climbers and crash pads and foot traffic will cause erosion. This overhang is on a hill so it can erode easily.

This overhang has the longest and steepest boulder problems in the Harpers Ferry area! The landing curves with the overhang and is mostly soil and grass. There are flat rocks placed in the landing to try and make a hardy landing zone with the hopes of reducing erosion of the soil. The main lines are drawn in and many other variations exist. The grades listed below are approximate. Most of these lines have never been repeated. If you climb the longest 2 problems post your rating on harpersferryclimbing.blogspot.com

The longest line, The Underground Railroad V7/9, climbs the entire length of the overhang and checks in at about 25 ft long. There are two crux sections; one is low near the start and involves a long move on tiny crimps to the first of two nearly identical finger jugs tucked into a corner. The second crux comes in the smooth wall after the angle changes to less vertical. After taking a rest on the last sloping rail jug reach up left to a horizontal crimper wide enough to match both hands side by side. Arrange you’re feet and make a long stab for the next ledge system. Move up and right to the center of the overhang lip and mantle out. The vertical wall to the left of the overhang is OFF for The Underground Railroad!

The second long line that climbs the full length of the overhang is The Tennessee Stud V5/7. This climb starts in the same place as The Underground RR, climbs through the bottom crux, splits right after that crux to jugs that go all the way to the top where you rejoin The Underground RR and mantle out onto the top. The low crux gives this problem its grade.

Caution! You have to learn which of the big holds are good on the upper overhang. Some are super bomber and others have some crumbling rock. The jugs are huge so stay calm and feel around on your first time up (It’s not like you’re pumped ;)

The other lines drawn onto the photos climb out right onto some sloper topouts!

old photo and V grades