After a couple years of hearing about the amazing boulders in Sykesville from a few of my friends, I finally got a chance to check some of them out yesterday. This delay in checking them out was due to two mistakes on my part. One was that the approach time would be too long to make them worth visiting on short winter afternoons. This impression was wildly incorrect considering the fact that many of the boulders are visible from the road, and I can reach the parking areas for an after-work session in just a few minutes more than it would take me to reach
Northwest Branch. My other mistake was thinking that I would need someone to show me the way. Again, boulders visible from the road. So yesterday, after taking a look at John Kelbel's incredible
Patapsco climbing map, I decided to drive up and check out the area called The Nest, which looked to be good rock with a simple approach. Taking 32 north (from 70) to West Friendship Road, I turned right on River Road and pulled off in a small lot when I saw the obvious boulders sticking up to the right.
The area had several slabby fins of good quality rock, actually some of the best rock I've seen around here. I played around on a couple of the aretes until Dan came to join me, then we climbed a few of the faces. Or at least he did. With my hamstrings still getting used to my attempt to get back in cardio shape, I can't say it was my best day of climbing ever! There are a few that I can't wait to get back on though.
Eventually we wrapped up at The Nest, and Dan showed me some other stuff nearby that blew me away. Didn't stay there long enough get any decent photos, but will be returning to fix that very soon.
Edit: Click here for video from The Nest
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