The north face traverse. Original start is left limited by the moss on the short end. Left to right is much harder than right to left since the crux is towards the northwest arete. A majority of the route goes at V2-/V2, but of course there are plenty of ways to make this harder. Portions of the route are usually wet, but, if you want to wait, it takes two-ish days to dry after a storm.

Dreams Killed by COVID-19

Don’t Fret the Areté

Don't Fret Over Lost Dreams

East End Crash

Never Enough Chalk

Social Distancing

Shoulder Shrug

Dreams Killed from Watching Television

Throw Away Your Keys

To the Top

Pandemic Liability

Is A Truth

Raiders of the Lost Bolts

Stale Isolation

Rail Blazzin'

Friction Fun

Stop Watching Television

Rock Hug

Linkup of 'Dreams Killed from COVID-19' to the original line of 'Don't Fret the Arete', starting at the very left (Northeast arete). An attempt to get some distance on these shorties.

After rain, this route is the first route to dry off. Start on the second block from the right and continue the block line to the top. Can clip second bolt of 'Stop Watching Television'.

 Direct line goes at ~10d; if you use the arete, should be easier but a fall might be epic.

Support Column to the pillar; move left, move right, move up, move down, hell try doing a hundred laps around.

Beta intense start. Gets easy but dirty after first bolt. 

  Super high ball boulder problem.

A line that traverses the lower pillar. Much like the traverse on the main pillar , the crux is near the northwest arete. Right to left is easier than left to right.

Shortest of the routes on the north face, which requires some nifty foot work. The easiest path utilizes the arete.

One way to make these short routes longer. This linkup route starts on 'Dreams Killed by COVID-19' (left-to-right start), then traverses directly towards the 1st bolt of 'Stop Watching Television'. Finishes on that line. 

Easy start. The crux comes between the 2nd and 3rd bolt. It is possible to bail to the left into a large crack which runs all the way to the top.

Climb to/from top of the Bridge Pillar; useful for setting up TR anchors. As difficult as East End Crash.

South face of the main pillar with the original send done left to right without use of the platform edge. Once you get to the platform area, you can use it or not. Much like the other traverses, using the platform edge won't change the grade since the meat of the route is towards the start and progressively gets easier towards the right end minus one slippery cruxy move.

 The name of the route comes from the (kinda) second crux near the big step, which can mess your ankles up if you botch the move. It’s often wet and your foot can easily slip off. If you have a crash pad, try to protect that move.

 Fight the barn door on the finish, grabbing the opposing arete with both hands.

Good rails everywhere, just need some strength to power through it.

An old bolt line that appeared to be missing its hangers. If done direct, the route will feel sustained. The crux is low and is difficult to bypass. Can use the arete to ease up the final moves of the route.

An easy boulder problem that has some heights to scare you a bit. Aretes off is a bit harder with the crux move before the top out.

Originally the western face of the lower pillar. This route has morphed into the route that follows the trim on the north face, west arete. The landing is promiscuous.

No hard crux move like the left 5.11. Merely stout thin face climbing the whole way.

Short route two bolts. A top rope anchor should be built using the brackets on top of the pillar. 

  Super high ball boulder problem.

The highest problem on the lower pillar, which will almost feel high ball. Start and end where the angled blocks meet the normal stacked blocks and finish at the top of the last block. If you use the tops of the blocks beneath the top block, this is ~V2. If you do it without, getting the top should be the hardest move.

The bridge pillars used to support a bridge connecting Schenley Park and South Oakland. There are seven bolted routes rating between about 5.9 to 5.11b/c. Many of these routes have been stainless steel bolted/rebolted between 2018-2020. The two pillars offer some opportunity for bouldering. The larger pillar rises ~25ft from the base, so call it what you want if you decide to climb the bolted lines without a rope.The blocks are cut stone about 3' by 6'. Amazingly there are a variety of holds on each route: jams, pinches, slopers, and of course crimps. Any route can easily be made more difficult if your goal of coming here is training. If you live in Pittsburgh its worth a trip.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in The Bridge Pillar