Champe Rocks
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| Champe Rocks | |
|---|---|
National Forest (but most direct access is through private land) | |
| Camping | None |
| Classic climbs | Psychotic Reaction (5.9), Fintasia (5.11+), Enchampement (5.11+) |
| Stars |   |
Champe Rocks are a pair of large
Champe Knobs, from which the Rocks emerge, are a northern extension of the
History
Champe Rocks are named for Sergeant Major John Champe (1752–1798), a Revolutionary War soldier who became a double agent in an attempt to capture the American traitor General Benedict Arnold.[3] Commanded by Major Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee and handpicked by George Washington for the mission, Champe "defected" to the British side and came very close to succeeding, but at the last moment, Arnold changed plans and the whole endeavor had to be called off. Champe, who was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, settled near the Rocks after the War.
Access
Although Champe Rocks lie within Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area and are clearly visible from West Virginia Route 28, there is no direct access to the formation from the public road without trespassing through private property. The Rocks are therefore only rarely climbed.[2]
References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Champe Rocks
- ^ ISBN 978-0934641357.
- ^ Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 163.