Coopers WV

[Andrew]

Sounds good, we would like to go this sunday.

[Bashie]

Yeah, Coopers rock is awesome!!!! The rock is incredible - "gritstone" - its coarse-grained quartz sandstone, well cemented, with really sharp little grains. Here the link to the free topo : http://www.trails-edge.com/index.htm Not the best beta, but enough to get you hiking around in the woods. There are some awesome, memorable high-ball problems. You should definitely check it out.

[rhunt]

not trying to be a smart-ass but I always wonder why everyone calls the rock at coopers "gritstone". It's the same rock found at the New and Seneca and much of WV. It's just weathered differently at coopers.

Either way super cool problems on rock that can be a bit hard on the skin. I have never been able to boulder there for more than one hard day.

[Bashie]

I hate to be a geek, but I can't help it. The rock from Coopers is a little different from the New, and Seneca. I have a piece of it in my lap. It was soo cool I had to take a piece for a paper-weight/ or defense against Horatio when he gets too horny. Cooper's rock sandstone is really coarse grained - you can see big ole grains with your eyes. Probably 2 - 3 mm average grain size. Seneca rocks is much older stone, deposited around 420 million years ago in a marine setting (beach/shoals) You can see brachiopod fossils at Seneca / sea shells. Seneca rocks / (Tuscarora formation) was buried very deeply, and is extremely well cemented. This is why 2 1/2" long x 3/8 inch bolts are bomber there, and you only get 5 holes out of a drill bit. People would freak out if you placed 2 1/2" x 3/8" bolts here at the Red. The rock at the New (Nutall Formation) is much younger (around 300 million years old) and was deposited on land, or in a delta by rivers. Sometimes you can see plant fragments (fossils) (not sea shells) there. You have probably used them as hand and foot holds. Cooper's rock may be the same age as New River rock, but it's coarser-grained.

[Overcammed]

Yeah, the rock at Cooper's is definately different than the rock at Seneca - Seneca is Tuscarora Quarzite, so its metamorphic sandstone. I haven't been to the New, but I have heard its different there too, but in general, "Grit" is defined as extremely high-quality, extremely hard sandstone - the type you'd use to make griding wheels for a mill from (think: abrasive). I don't know the exact type of sandstone that the Cheat River valley is made up of,

My understanding is that Cooper's is the only significant place in the US that has gritstone climbing, which is the same type of climbing they have a lot of over in England (see Hard Grit and other movies).

(Hence the classic English grit climb "Master's Edge" and the classic Cooper's boulder problem "Bastard's Edge".)

Having climbed extensively around the Pittsburgh/WV area, I can tell you even nearby rock is different than Cooper's. I think the only place that was similar is Pioneer, but even the rock there is slightly different.

Anyway, that's why I think Cooper's probably has the best bouldering (as far as rock quality) around these parts.

Here's a good bit of beta:
http://www.climbpa.telerama.com/coopers.htm

-Sam

[Crankmas]

went to Mt Morris 5/28 for the national MX would like to get back to this area this fall, any more links or info on Coopers would be appreciated... Thanks

[Lokl]

I just happended to stumble on this thread so my post is a little old....

according to the authors of the guidebook that will be out shortly there are over 300 problems within the climbable limits of CRSF including the development of a number of problems in the double digit range (allah sprays about coopers as not having anything hard.... he's just a PUSSY!!).

the stone is generally of high quality gritstone variety there are non-climbable limits so I would recommend finding a local or someone who goes frequently or find a local, as most are quite friendly.....


don't hate, it just makes you look like a spraylordlike gym rat