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Elizabeth Furnace

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About Elizabeth Furnace:

Elizabeth Furnace offers two sets of crags- a face of exposed stratified quartzite sandstone featuring several fun overhangs and small roofs, and a knife edge ridge reminiscent of the "fins" of NRP and Seneca in West Virginia. The first area, Roadside Crag, is roughly 1.5 miles south of route 55 and on your right as you travel south from 55. There are several bolted routes including the classic "Fortis," (Latin for "strength,") named after the son of the route's developer, the bodacious "I Love Big Jugs", the casual "Continuance", a short roof named "Fat Bastard" and the large roof, "Big Balls", which speaks for itself. (see route descriptions below) There are several other toprope climbs available, the most noteworthy being an obvious overhang to the right of Fortis and around the corner, just past the Ascent Gully, called "Foops", 30' to the right of this roof is another roof, "Great White". Look for obvious chalk marks, and a line leading just to the right of the ledge above Foops. On both routes, continue cranking the overhanging rock to the top, over a final roof. Peeling off = a major swing, so be prepared! The other area, Buzzard Rocks, is visible on the opposite ridge and offers several long moderate bolted and trad slab climbs. (See Buzzard Rocks section)
Nearest town or city: Strasburg/ Front Royal
Directions: Get on the 10 mile stretch of Route 55 between Strasburg and Front Royal. The road to Elizabeth Furnace is on the right (south side of 55) coming from Strasburg about 5 miles out of town, almost exactly halfway between Front Royal and Strasburg. Identify the road by the cemetery on it's right and the small country store on its left. Travel up the road approximately 1.6 miles, past the Fish Hatchery road on the left and the George Washington National Forest sign on the right. Park at the smallish paved parking area on the right.
Latitude, Longitude: 38.94180, -78.30040
Access Issues:
Camping: Pay
When to Climb:
Quantity of Climbs: Day

Topo Images

No route specified No route specified Fat Bastard
Leading Should Feel This Way
Ascent Gully

Forum Discussions (3 posts)

  Subject Author Replies Last Post
No Replies Rakkup Guidebook now available fracing1 0 Apr 27 2017, 12:57 PM
With Replies Camping PatHines 2 Jul 25 2007, 4:12 PM
With Replies Buzzard Rocks/Elizabeth Furnace mischief8 10 Nov 21 2006, 2:06 PM