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the Lower Gorge

The Chimney Approach to the Gorge Gets a Major Upgrade

The Chimney Approach to the Gorge Gets a Major Upgrade

In the early 1980s at Smith Rock, the only access down to the west side of the Crooked River to do the climbs in the Lower Gorge from the rim above was a chimney ladder put there by climbers. Over the years it was vandalized and rebuilt once or twice, but the steps were actually too far apart and so climbers sought another option. Now it’s been totally revamped.

What Will be the Future of the Lower Gorge?

What Will be the Future of the Lower Gorge?

We took a stroll out to the Lower Gorge with John Rich, a long-time climbing aficionado of the Gorge Area, aka “Mayor of the Gorge.” We wanted to get his take on the proposed Oregon State Parks & Rec (OPRD) acquisition of 38 undeveloped acres to expand Smith Rock State Park there on both sides of the Crooked River.