The rock cliffs are made of
Wissahikon Mica-
schist and range from , with the majority of the climbs about . The rock has form of friction slabs, overhangs, and cracks. Most of the routes are easy and moderate
top-rope routes, with a few harder climbs as well as numerous eliminate routes and
boulder problems.
Traditional climbing is not recommended since protection is often difficult to place and the
schist has a reputation for being friable and breakable if a piece of gear is subjected to a leader fall. The area known for its esoteric
bouldering, often very different in character from other bouldering areas and relying heavily on delicate footwork between
quartz crystal knobs and nubbins imbedded in polished
schist wall.
History Carderock is one of the oldest established climbing areas in the eastern United States, with roots reaching back to 1920s when
Gustave Gambs,
Don Hubbard, and
Paul Bradt began practicing here. The area's first climbing guide,
Rock Climbs Near Washington, was written by
Don Hubbard and published in the
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) Bulletin in July 1943. In 1942,
Herb and Jan Conn began climbing at Carderock. They climbed and named many of the routes at Carderock, including
Herbie’s Horror,
Jan’s Face and
Ronnie’s Leap, which was named after their dog.
Herbie’s Horror, first climbed by Herb Conn, was one of the first 5.9 routes in the eastern United States. ==References==