Rat Rock (Central Park)
| Rat Rock | |
|---|---|
| Umpire Rock | |
 East side of the rock | |
  Location of Rat Rock  Rat Rock (New York City)  Rat Rock (New York)  Rat Rock (the United States) | |
| Location | Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York |
| Coordinates | 40°46′10″N 73°58′40″W / 40.769361°N 73.977655°W |
Rat Rock, also known as Umpire Rock, is an
Boulderers congregate there, sometimes as many as fifty per day.[1][4] Some are regulars such as Yukihiko Ikumori, a gardener from the West Village who is known as the spiritual godfather of the rock.[1] Others are just passing through, such as tourists and visitors who learn about the climbing spot from the Internet and word of mouth. Experienced climbers such as Ikumori often show neophytes good routes and techniques. More experienced outsiders may be disappointed as the quality of the stone is poor, the setting is gloomy and the climbs present so little challenge that it has been called "one of America's most pathetic boulders".[2]
The park police formerly ticketed climbers who climbed more than a few feet up the rock. The City Climbers Club approached the park authorities and, by working to provide safety features such as wood chips around the base, they were able to legalize climbing there.[2]
References
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-930410-62-9
- ISBN 9781435852983
- New York Times
External links
