Penokean Wall, The

A secluded sandstone crag in a small, wooded Northern Wisconsin valley in the area known as the "Blue Hills."  The main section of the crag has a length of about 100 feet and an average height of about 25 feet.  Up and down the valley where it lies, there are numerous opportunities for bouldering.  The Blue Hills are the remains of an ancient mountain range, called the Penokean Mountains that ran from Niagra Falls through Northern Wisconsin. A couple of sections are currently being cleaned.  The rock around LEAF!! (5.10a) is generally clean and great for climbing.  Golden Days (5.10b), while a shorter route, is an excellent choice to test out your reach on great holds.  Bolts were just added to Happiness Lake (5.8+) and hopefully more will be added soon.  A perfect spring or fall training ground for those in Northern Wisconsin, as summer climbing here is almost impossible with the amount of mosquitoes. If you plan on climbing here regularly, it may be helpful to familiarize yourself with the locations of the other geological landmarks in the area i.e. the Felsenmeer and Devil's Kettle. It is not uncommon for a group of lost hikers to stumble upon the Penokean.*Note: route grades may be in need of adjustment