Michael LaRoche following lead climbers Dave and George along with Heather, a sweet foursome that took a bit of excellent lead management

At the bottom of this crack you can stem off the back wall a little--I think that makes it easier than the 5.7 is the guide book.

This is my 15-year-old daughter Ashley finishing up Critter Crack, August, 2006.

so a climb called Banana is a natual for her. Anna actually had a little trouble with this climb--thew off-balance crux move near the top seemed a little stiff for a 5.6 when I led it but it's a nice warmup/approach for higher climbs such as Gunsight to South Peak.

This is Ashley and I the first day of our August, 2006, Seneca vacation after finishing Gunsight to South Peak.

The book says Traffic Jam is a popular route, but it's also on the rap route I used every day at Seneca and I never saw anyone climb it. After leading up Critter Crack I ended up very near the top of Traffic Jam so I set up a top rope and gave it a try with my daughter. Nice little climb.

Topo of some easy and moderate routes in the West face of the South Peak of Seneca Rocks, WV, USA.

Unknown climbers on Crack of Dawn July 4 2006. Female lead climber was wearing really loud psychadelic pants. if you can climb like that, you can wear any pants you want!

This is me belaying my daughter Ashley to the top of Humphrey's head. A nice 1-pitch 5.3 climb from the luncheon ledge. Easy climb with great exposure. A great introduction climb to Seneca.

After nearly 7 yrs of climbing, this was the first dayI actually brought a camera up with me.

I guess that if Old Man's Route had a "crux" pitch, this would be it. Can you believe we didn't see a single other climber while we were there? The threat of rain kept things cool, but it also kept people away. I am the climber, and my wife was the photographer.

Superted and I were heading up Pleasant O's, and ran into some trouble and got off-route on some 10b. We were moving slow, and let another party pass us. This is some guy from Boston coming out of the 10b roof, and traversing over to the Pleasent O's belay to join us. This was going to be our first Seneca 5.7. We lead dirty old man first, to boost our confidence, and then we headed over for this climb. We'd both only been leading for a few months, and that offroute bussiness on the 10 left us pretty frazzled. We bailed with plans to finish the job the next weekend.

Our first trip to Seneca, and would you believe it? We were snowed out. Well, superted was having none of my nay-saying. He was heading up anyways. Froze his cajones off before making it to a belay station and rapping off. It wasn't the snow, or the cold so much, he said, but the ice coating on a lot of the rock. Not sure what he actually climbed. We thought it was the 1st pitch of Old Man's at the time. Its somewhere between that and Thaiis, I think

Jeremy Steck climbing Crack of Dawn. Photo taken from Broken Neck belay.

We were resting on the South Peak and this girl was relaxing on one of those huge south-west flakes.

Dan and Lam ran a little late getting down from the south peak and had to descend in the dark. Luckily they both had headlamps. I had enough time to walk to Yokums, grab a 6-pack and photograph them on the way down.

I was surprised that aside from a sunset shot there is not a profile shot from the town area. It is not the best shot as far as clarity, but I hope it can give a better idea of what the place looks like to someone who has never been to Seneca. I shot it with my old manual 35mm.

This is me rapping down from Thais Escape. It was my first big rappel.

Firing up pleasent overhangs following 6 inches of snow and 14 degree temps.

Taken by my partner Joe, Looking South West from the top of South Peak after topping out pn Thais.

Just another dennyg outdoor adventures. after a couple bad experiences with partners...I thought this would be appropriate. Da F u Denny shot.

Bunch of us thinking of you Justin ! hmm need a couple more characters.

In the beginning of the climb, when there was still a lot of gear left on my rack

Labor day weekend. The day after we were involved in a rescue. Five weeks after finishing six months of chemo.

This is Paul reaching the South Peak from Gunsight. DennyG is in black to the right and hopfully the other climbers will add their names in.