Diabase Dreams

Body Snap (V4) Featuring Holly

Last Friday, the weather was perfect, so I decided to revisit Mt. Gretna (Governor Dick Park) after a while. I went bouldering, which involves climbing without ropes on relatively low heights, making ropes unnecessary. We hiked into the woods with foldable foam pads on our backs, often mistaken by hikers for mattresses. These pads cushion our falls, essential because the terrain is uneven. Spotters play a crucial role; they guide rather than catch us, ensuring we land safely on the pads away from rocks or prevent rolling down hills.

Mt. Gretna is one of the few places globally where you can climb on Jurassic Diabase, a rock found only in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and South Africa. It offers excellent texture and is much more pleasant to climb compared to sharper rocks.


The Original Route (V3-4) 22ft

Here's a picture of me on a Highball boulder, taller and riskier to fall from. It's my favorite spot in the park, and I make sure to visit every time. The temperature was around 80°F, quite warm for bouldering. Lower temperatures are better as they reduce hand sweat, and cold weather increases friction with the rock. Highball climbs like this require multiple pads and spotters for safety. With just my friend and two pads, I sent it successfully, though the top was a bit nerve-wracking. There's always that thought of falling, except if you're Alex Honnold.

Me carrying two crashpads and my pack


After the Highball, I ventured to a new section of the park, the Matrix area. It was a bit further than expected, made more challenging by carrying a large crash pad on my back and climbing gear in front. Finding boulders in this maze of rocks, even with a guidebook map, can be tricky on your first visit.

Smiley (V4)


We reached the Upper-Matrix area after a steep uphill hike. After a short rest, we set up the pads, and I tackled the three classic climbs there: Needle to the Vein (V5), Reunion (V5), and Porcelain (V3). Needle to the Vein was particularly enjoyable, featuring a large move where a little jump is needed to grab a good ledge. We had to leave promptly to make it back to Gettysburg by 7 pm for our climbing wall shift.

Triangle (V3)

Overall, it was a fantastic day. I look forward to returning when the weather is favorable again (and after finishing my CIMS paper). There are countless more boulders to explore, and since I'm graduating this year, I plan to spend a lot of time here during finals and senior week. I'm especially excited about returning in December for the park's annual climbing competition, Diabase Double Down, which I participated in last year and thoroughly enjoyed!


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