West Virginia · Rock climbing · Seneca Rocks

Southern Pillar - West Side

Southern Pillar - West Side in West Virginia has 24 climbing routes.

24 routes
5.5 – 5.12a
Trad · Sport · Mixed

Is Southern Pillar - West Side open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Monongahela National Forest. It doesn't name Southern Pillar - West Side, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Monongahela National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Southern Pillar - West Side

Best months: April–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

  1. Jan

    43° / 22°

    8 wet

  2. Feb

    47° / 23°

    7 wet

  3. Mar

    55° / 30°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    67° / 38°

    11 wet

  5. May

    74° / 48°

    12 wet

  6. Jun

    81° / 55°

    10 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 59°

    10 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 58°

    10 wet

  9. Sep

    77° / 51°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    68° / 41°

    7 wet

  11. Nov

    56° / 32°

    8 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 25°

    9 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Franklin 2 Ne, WV, 11.3 mi away at 1,900 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Southern Pillar - West Side is a climbing area in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, within the Potomac Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the West Side sits right next to the East Side of Southern Pillar and the Southeast Corner, all within about a tenth of a mile of each other. The area has 24 routes, most of them trad, with one mixed and one sport. The YDS grades range from 5.5 to 5.12a. Among the routes are The Lemur at 5.5 and Slipstream at 5.10a, and Sweet Release is the hardest at 5.12a. The Lemur was first climbed by Eric Janoscrat, Len Sistek and Jim Lucas. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable seasons. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 74°F and September highs around 77°F. Winter is much colder, with January highs in the low 40s. Nearby, the Pipeline Trail and Seneca Rocks Trail both start about 0.3 miles away. Seneca Shadows campground is 1.3 miles off, and Seneca Creek offers canoeing about 4 miles away.

Routes (24)

DaytripperFA: John Bercaw/J. Gerrahan5.10aJudgement SeatFA: Burns & Webster - 19755.10aSlipstreamFA: Doyle & Rowins5.10aDisco Death March5.10bAmbushFA: 1980. The party was Eric Janoscrat, Howard Doyle, and Marty McLaughlin5.11aPoint ManFA: Howard Doyle, Marty McLaughlin, Eric Janoscrat, 19815.11aUp Yours5.11dSweet ReleaseFA: Mike Artz, Eddie Begoon5.12aThe LemurFA: Eric Janoscrat, Len Sistek, Jim Lucas5.5Roy Gap Chimney'sFA: Tom McCrum & Roger Birch, Apr 19695.6AppendicitisFA: Eric Janoscrat/Len Sistek/Jim Lucas - 19765.7Fear of FlailingFA: Chris Clarke and Troy Philips, 20205.7Rhododendron CornerFA: John Christian/Arnold Wexler5.7Stoney'sFA: Eric Janoscrat/Jim McAtee - 19785.7The VictimFA: Rich Pleiss, Gene Genay5.7Gebhardt-DuftyFA: Bob Gebhardt/Bob Dufty5.7+Block PartyFA: Matt Hale/Ray Snead - 19755.8Rolling RockFA: Eric Janoscrat/Jim McAtee - 19785.8Fear of FlyingFA: Rich Pleiss, Gene Genay, 19755.8-Climbin' PunishmentFA: Herb Laeger, Mike Goft, John Markwell5.8+Quit Dogging the SceneFA: Flam, Collins, McKigney5.8+Bizarre GrandioseFA: Greg Collum, Ron Augustino 19755.9Electric ChairFA: Ed Begoon, Darell Hensley, 19865.9Right TopeFA: Laeger & Uiga5.9

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