Sport Climbing / Traditional Rock Climbing
Pohnpei provides world-class sport climbing on two basalt rock formations just behind massive Sokehs Rock: The Spire and The Adams Apple. Seven fully bolted routes have been completed so far and two more are in progress. Climbs range from 5.11b to 5.12a. There are also plenty of trad climbing opportunities on Sokehs Rock.
A Short History of Rock Climbing on Pohnpei
In 2005, avid Pacific Northwest climber, Daniel Moor, free soloed the sharp pinnacle southeast of Sokehs Rock and dubbed it The Spire. He placed top-rope bolts at the 125-foot summit and did some exploratory climbing along the prominent crack running up the north face, which he named Infinity Minus 1 Possibilities. Moor did not have time or the equipment, however, to bolt a proper route before he left the island a month later.
For years The Spire went unclimbed—until Matthew Mann and Jonathan White arrived on the scene. Mann and White set out with ambitious plans to develop The Spire. Over a period of roughly two years, they established four complete routes, drilling in more than 60 bolts. Exploring the ridge further to the south, they found another rock wall (which they named The Adam's Apple) and began work on five more routes—three of which were finished as of June 2012. Mann has made first ascents on several of the routes. Pohnpei remains the only location in the Federated States of Micronesia with bolted sport climbs.
Current Bolted Routes Iron Lungs (The Spire) - 5.12a High and Dry (The Spire) - 5.11d Myxo (The Spire) - 5.12b No Surprises (The Spire) - 5.11b Spies (The Adam's Apple) - 5.12b Genesis (The Adam's Apple) - 5.11c
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