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The Traxx Bouldering Area is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania in the heart of Northeast PA. Most climbers visit this area because of its 10-minute approach and Gunks-like boulders. Others who visit this area are immediately impressed with the overhangs and giant blocks that litter the sides of an old line of railroad tracks, hence the name tracks–but Traxx just sounds cooler, kinda like Powerlinez (a nearby NY area with similar rock) sounds better I suppose.   It was great to get back to the Traxx after a several-year hiatus. I developed a lot of the boulder problems here in the late 90s with Nick Morell, Tom Kneiss, and Ryan Lukas as well as with Jess Holzman. Being away so long I completely forgot two things. One: how much bigger this area is than I remember, I absentmindedly forgot to add about 70 problems in a mini-guide I did several years ago to the place which is why I decided to do a free Traxx Guidebook. and Two: how amazing the quality of the rock and problems here is.

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The Problems


My favorite problem, hands down, is Melinium Traverse. It was named that because it was established on New Year’s day of the year 2000, or the change of the millennium. I like to think it was the first boulder problem established in the new millennium but I realize that is just a delusion of grandeur but at the least its a really cool little thing to be a part of. Other nearby problems into the V9 range exist including some spectacular roofs and tech highballs.

The Trenches


Even more amazing of a bouldering area is the nearby Trenches, a superb area unlike any other bouldering spot in the Northeast. Massive Gunks-like cubes and rectangular blocks the size of double-wide trailers can be found hidden in the nearby hillside. The area is quite tricky to find but once you are there it is easy to get consumed by the literal maze of rock passages you need to navigate to get to problems that are everywhere you walk. This area is like The Library, a sport climbing area in Mocanaqua, but with more walls, passages, and only boulder height problems; although many are 20 feet tall.

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Other Traxx Problems


There is about a half mile of boulders back to back at The Traxx. Once you hit the main area just keep walking for 20 minutes and you will hit boulder after boulder. Some of the better problems are the highball cracks and faces as well as the big freestanding boulders. If these boulders were at the Gunks, they would easily be considered some of the best problems there. IF you are checking out this area in fall, winter, or spring the trail is easy to locate; summer gets a bit overgrown but with a little more travel this area will become cleaner and cleaner.  

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The Guidebook

The Trenches and Traxx are awesome areas to check out if you live anywhere in the Mid Atlantic. Honestly, the bouldering in this part of Scranton is more concentrated and larger than all the bouldering at Peterskill; and it’s the same type of rock! If you are looking for all the beta, descriptions and detailed maps and directions download the Traxx app.


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