Cranking Area

Cranking Area is a bouldering area in Pennsylvania, set within the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and managed by the National Park Service. It sits among several other climbing areas, including Vulture View Area and Whiskey Springs, each about 0.1 mile away, and Entrance Area, so it works well as a cluster of crags to explore in one outing. The area has six bouldering routes, all rated on the V scale from V0 to V10. The easiest is White Blaze Slab at V0, and the hardest is Ten High at V10. Bob Dylan Did Drugs is a V5, and Divine Order is a V7. The Cranking, a V9, was first climbed by Tony Disanto. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Carlisle run from highs around 73°F in May to 77°F in September, with July peaking near 85°F. That station sits about 650 feet lower than the crag, so temperatures here run cooler. Other climbing is close by at Main Wall, about 2.4 miles away, and White Rock Acres, about 3.4 miles away. Yellow Breeches Creek offers fishing about 3.5 miles off, and the Maxon-Dixon Trail is roughly 8.7 miles away.