It’s only one pitch. Wonder why it’s worth it?

“The guidebook said this was just a 5.6, so how the heck did I get in this position?” I thought 40 feet in the air on the sharp end. I was placing one last hallelujah nut before exiting the intersecting pair of dihedrals from which the climb got its name.

I looked over my left shoulder as my leg started to go up and down like a sewing machine, and took a calming breath as I reached for the positive edge that would help me escape the A-Frame. I carefully back-stepped onto the opposing wall, so I could press myself out of what was an unexpectedly thrilling problem.

20160418_092226After four more moves and one more piece of pro, I topped out to a good belay stance on the respectfully progressive climb known as A-Frame (for reasons now abundantly apparent) at the top of a cliff called Pinnacle in Farmington, CT.

Once Brien, my second, topped out, cursing me in the process for making this his first outdoor ascent and experiencing the shock of transitioning from solid 5.8/5.9-ish indoor climbs to a rather stiff 5.6, we had options: Walk along the top of the cliffs and set a top-rope in one of four or five distinct areas ranging from 30 to 80 feet, or rappel back down and sew another line with trad gear.

As we were setting up for our second route of the day, the venue started to fill with a few characters, mostly other climbers. A guy named Matt, clad in slacks and a Ragged Mountain Foundation member T-shirt, came by to greet us and then proceeded up the five-point-easy-face to our left for a warmup solo. I started to get the distinct impression that this was the status quo for the area: a mix of experienced enthusiasts, novices bringing their friends for a thrill, and local dirtbags looking to get a quick few laps before lunch. It was about the shortest approach you could ask for a climbing venue, and everyone we talked to smiled and was happy to be there.

Although friendly to climbers, Pinnacle Cliffs is on privately owned land that was bought essentially for quarrying rights. The rumor mill is great around this place; some say that before the quarrying, it was a former Nike missile site, while others claim there’s a former insane asylum foundation on the land. Either way, it is a regularly trafficked hot spot for climbers and sightseers. The only unfortunate drawback to its convenience, despite the fact that Ragged Mountain Foundation does a conservation day once a year at the cliff, is that it’s in deep need of further cleanup from those less environmentally conscious climbers.

Still, the best part is that there is a little bit for everyone at this playground, beginner to hardcore, trad, and top-rope inclined alike. To go, rack up with the basics for trad or a long static line to set up your top-rope anchor, and then bring a smile and a friendly attitude, because you are sure to meet someone loving the day the same way as you are.

20160418_092435Editor’s Note: David is highlighting the top locations for the best done-in-a-day adventuring you can do in the East: single-pitch rock climbing. Although we lack the towering granite and the breathtaking (and often remote) monoliths of the Midwest and Western states, the East has a plethora of what we dub “one-pitch wonders”: climbing sites that are diverse and varied, scattered in the nooks and corners of the region. But at just one pitch of climbing, these spots allow for easy accessibility, smaller racks, and low commitment, and are perfect for everyone from the day-tripper and weekend warriors to avid climbers and even students.


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David Godfrey

David worked for EMS from 2007 to 2020 and has been climbing since he was young. He shares his passion for sports, family, and automobiles with everyone around him. He's a native New Englander, a full-time dad, part-time route setter, and explores the country with his wife, son, daughter, three dogs, and two cats.

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