Whitestone Cliffs

Location: Whitestone Cliffs, Watertown, Connecticut.

Directions can be found at the following location: http://www.ct-amc.org/mountain/directions.htm

Once you get to the face of the hillock, skirt it around the cliff to the left. Probably my first time, but I soon discovered wearing shorts and Tevas to the place was a bad idea. Multiple scratches and some minor gashes to prove it. To get to the cliffs, once you are on the trail as per the directions from the above link, turn left and walk along the cliff perimeter. The approach to climb-worthy section is riddled with class IV rocks or through shrubbery.

We got disoriented on the cliffs, as they terrace down in ledges, and we set up ropes from way higher up than we should have. Wasting much time in the process, we managed one climb per person in about four hours spent from the parking lot back to parking lot.

Learnt a few things though.

One. Never leave anything (including your partner), unclipped or unanchored on the cliffs, gravity's a bitch. Lost an ATC, after my partner left it unclipped next to her.

Lesson number two. Don't share your belay device with anybody unless a real emergency, let them use their own. Certain communal acts are understandable, but left with no belay device, you might have to resort to, alternate methods of rappelling in the dark, or walking off a hairy ledge that slopes down, and covered with slippery pine needles.

Three, always prepare. Headlamp, additional batteries, full length trousers, right shoes, compass, bug spray, all things that could easily be forgotten. Getting out climbing in the outdoors can easily turn from a picnic to a minor emergency. Especially, if you are going to a place that you aren't certain about, and it get's late. Never assume your partner will know it all.

Well, all in all, the cliffs are absolutely beautiful and secluded (atleast yesterday). Climbing is worth all the effort. Though short climbs, they are of good quality. Views from top of the cliffs are nice. Though you could still hear the traffic from route 8.

Apart from that one toproped good quality climb, I solo climbed a couple of easy 5.3-5.4s. Nice rush. It's funny how the mind becomes more alive, once you begin soloing, even on the easy stuff.