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Geography and geology
Seneca Rocks is at the northern end of the River Knobs, which contain other similar "razorback" ridges or "fins". They are a prominent and visually striking formation rising nearly 900 feet above the confluence of Seneca Creek with the North Fork South Branch Potomac River. They also overlook the community of Seneca Rocks, traditionally known as "Mouth of Seneca".
Seneca Rocks and nearby Champe Rocks are the most imposing examples in eastern West Virginia of several formations of the white/gray Tuscarora quartzite. The quartzite is approximately 250 feet thick here and is located primarily on exposed ridges as caprock or exposed crags. The rock is composed of fine grains of sand that were laid down approximately 440 million years ago in the Silurian Period, in an extensive sand shoal at the edge of the ancient Iapetus Ocean. Eons of geologic activity followed, as the ocean slowly closed and the underlying rock uplifted and folded. Millions of years of erosion stripped away the overlying rock and left remnants of the arching folds in outcrops such as Seneca Rocks.
History
Evidence suggests that the Native Americans of the Archaic Period may have camped frequently at the mouth of nearby Seneca Creek at the foot of the Rocks. The famous Great Indian Warpath, known locally as the "Seneca Trail", followed the Potomac River, allowing the Algonquin, Tuscarora, and Seneca nations to transit the area for purposes of trade and war. Excavation for the building of the present Seneca Rocks Visitor Center uncovered evidence of two villages, the most recent of which thrived about 600 years ago. About a dozen dwellings were found.
The first European visitors to see the region were surveyors who passed through around 1746. At that time, West Virginia (or western Virginia as it was then) was the edge of the great wilderness. The Rocks were visited and sketched by the well known writer and magazine illustrator David Hunter Strother (known by his pseudonym "Porte Crayon") around 1853. His sketches were reworked and published two decades later as a popular wood engraving in an 1872 issue of Harpers New Monthly Magazine.
It is unknown who the first person was to climb Seneca Rocks. Undoubtedly Native Americans scaled the rocks prior to European settlers reaching the area, but there is no record of their ascents. The historic ascent of Paul Brandt, Don Hubbard, and Sam Moore in 1939 found an inscription of "D.B. September 16, 1908." This has been attributed to a surveyor named Bittenger who was known to be working in the area.citation needed
The documented climbing history of the Rocks begins in 1935 with a roped ascent of the North Peak by Paul Brandt and Florence Perry. In the 1930s and 40's only a few climbers, mostly from the Washington D.C. and Pittsburgh areas, attempted to climb Seneca Rocks.
In 1943 and '44, as part of the West Virginia Maneuver Area, the U.S. Army used the rocks to train mountain troops in assault climbing in preparation for action in the Apennines of Italy. Evidence of this training can still be found on the rocks.
Seneca Rocks was purchased by the federal government in 1969.
On October 22, 1987, the Gendarme, an isolated pinnacle rock at the peak of Seneca Rocks, fell to the ground.
The "Seneca Rock" turnpoint at has been used by glider pilots for gliding competitions and soaring awards because its distinctive appearance in aerial photographs made it suitable for photo documentation of the flight performance.1 This turnpoint was used on many 500 km out-and-return course flights from Ridge Soaring Gliderport in Julian, Pennsylvania, including an October 15, 1995 flight by Canadian pilot Walter Weir that was recognized as a world record at the time.2
Rock climbing
Due to the hardness of the Tuscarora Formation, and the degree of climbing difficulty, Seneca Rocks offers rock climbers an opportunity unique in the east. There are over 375 major mapped climbing routes, varying in degree from the easiest (5.0) to the most difficult (5.12). There are two climbing schools located in the communities of Seneca Rocks and nearby Riverton who train prospective climbers in beginning and advanced rock climbing. The school in Riverton also offers a climbers rescue course.
Seneca Rocks is also a popular rock climbing destination. The North and South Peak offer single and multi-pitch routes up to 300ft in length. Because of the way the rock was uplifted, there are many vertical cracks that offer excellent jamming and good protection. Routes range from 5.2-5.13 nearly all of which require the leader placing protection (traditional climbing). Some routes and their rating in the Yosemite Decimal System are represented in the picture on the left. The South Peak is rumored to be the tallest peak east of Devils Tower, WY that is only accessible by 5th class climbing.
According to the MNF, 15 people have died in falls while climbing Seneca Rocks since 1971 .
Popular legends
A popular romance of the Rocks — "The Betrothal of Snow Bird, Princess of the Seneca Indians" — was written many decades ago by Harry Malcolm Wade. West Virginia writer J. Lawrence Smith provides the following short summary of the story:
"Princess Snow Bird, who had grown to maidenhood in the shadow of the rocks and scaled their heights many times, proposed a contest to her father, [Chief] Bald Eagle. She would climb to the crest of the rocks as prospective suitors followed. The first to take her hand would become her mate. Bald Eagle agreed, and at the end of the climb, of seven suitors, only one remained, the others having turned back from fear or fallen to their deaths. From their lofty perch, Snow Bird and her future mate surveyed the surrounding realm of the Seneca that would be theirs to rule one day."3
In reality, the Seneca homeland was in what is now western New York state, and what Seneca tribesmen passed this way were strictly transients.
References
Citations
- ^ Weir, Walter. "Ridge Soaring Gliderport - Photo Based (Julian, Pennsylvania)". Worldwide Soaring Turnpoint Exchange. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
- ^ Wiese, Ursula (2007). The book of the best. Soaring Association of Canada. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
- ^ Smith, J. Lawrence, “Fact and the Fanciful: Native American History and Legends”, Wonderful West Virginia, November 2007; pp 23-27.
Other sources
- Tony Barnes (2006). Seneca Rocks: The Climber's Guide, 2nd edition. Earthbound Sports. ISBN 978-0964369887.
See also
External links
- Monongahela National Forest (USDA Forest Service site website)
- "The Betrothal of Snow Bird, Princess of the Seneca Indians" at the MNF website
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