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Monkey Face, Oregon, June 1995

June 11, 2021 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

Monkey Face is an often photographed and climbed rock tower at Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon. Linda Topping and I climbed Monkey Face on June 11, 1995, 26 years ago. The climb was an exciting and memorable experience. We fondly remember the climb when we see Monkey Face on our hikes or bike rides in the area. But we have never repeated the climb.

Monkey Face from the southeast in June 1995.
Monkey Face from the southeast in June 1995.

In the view of Monkey Face above, “Bohn Street” is the ledge just above the notch on the left at the base of Monkey Face’s neck. The “bolt ladder” leads up the overhanging neck to the right side of Monkey Face’s mouth. From there we climb out of the left side of the mouth up to the nose, a large rock block with anchors, then scramble up through an eye socket to the top. The overhanging rappel begins at the right side of the nose block.

[Read more…] about Monkey Face, Oregon, June 1995

Filed Under: Climbing, Family Tagged With: Monkey Face, Oregon, Rock Climbing, Smith Rock State Park

Early Rock Climbs with Linda

February 3, 2019 by Paul McClellan 1 Comment

Linda and I started getting to know each other during the summer of 1990. We met through a climbing club, the Chemeketans, in Salem, Oregon. That summer we started climbing together, both on rock crags and mountains. Here are two of many climbs I shared with Linda that summer.

Rock Climbing at Smith Rock State Park

On October 20 Linda and I climbed “Moscow”, a three-pitch 5.6 route on the “Red Wall” at Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon.

The Red Wall at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
The Red Wall at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
[Read more…] about Early Rock Climbs with Linda

Filed Under: Climbing, Family Tagged With: Mount Washington, Oregon Cascades, Rock Climbing, Smith Rock State Park

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