W Seattle. Schurman Rock is at 5200 35th St SW at Camp William G. Long.
Schurman Rock at Camp Long in West Seattle
is considered a regional icon by many northwest climbing enthusiasts. It is
known as the first manmade climbing rock in the nation and is thought to be a
perfect place to teach climbers of all ages. Comprised wholly of natural
materials, it is one of the few outdoor climbing rocks in the state that teaches
the fundamentals of rock climbing on routes accessible to the beginning climber.
When functional, it is available at all times for public use free of charge.
Schurman Rock was designed in the 1930s by
well-known climbing expert, mountaineer, wilderness camp developer, and scout
leader, Clark Schurman. Schurman called it Monitor Rock after its intended
purpose to "warn, remind, advise and instruct." After his death in 1955 the rock
was renamed "Schurman Rock" to honor Clarke Schurman's contribution to Camp
Long. Every potential rock climbing problem was incorporated into its design.
Though a challenge, the rock does not intimidate students because of its variety
of routes, levels of difficulty, ease of instructor visibility, and availability
of secure anchors.
History of Schurman Rock
Located in the heart of a thriving climbing
community, this unique rock has enjoyed a long history of use as a practice rock
for everyone from individual climbers and hikers to local climbing organizations
like the Mountaineers. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and local youth groups have
used it as their practice rock for over fifty years. In addition, the American
Red Cross and Seattle Mountain Rescue have used the rock for practices to
develop the skills which over the years have been utilized in the rescue of
countless people in the state. For the past 70 years, a great breadth of people
have enjoyed the rock as an easily accessible place to practice basic climbing
techniques without having to travel far from home.
In the mid-90s, Schurman Rock began
cracking, possibly as a result of previous settling. In 1999, it was declared
unsafe and a chain-link fence was installed around the rock. While the Seattle
Parks Department values this resource, it was not scheduled for renovation in
the near future because of recent budget cuts and more urgent needs throughout
the park system.
The Seattle Parks Foundation spearheaded an
effort to restore this historically and culturally significant landmark to its
original use for the enjoyment of all citizens. As of March 2003, the Seattle
Parks Foundation successfully raised the $90,000 necessary for complete
restoration of Schurman Rock. Resoration has been completed, and the rock was
dedicated and re-opened in a ceremony in summer of 2003. This exciting
restoration project would not have been possible without the generosity and hard
work of many donors and volunteers.
