The park, located near the small central Oregon town of Terrebonne, attracts rock climbers from all over the world. Hiking, backpacking, mountain biking are also popular.
Back in the day, I was a member of the Portland-based Mazamas mountaineering group. I took their basic class which included rock climbing. It held no appeal for me whatsoever. It takes a lot of training, a lot of equipment, at least one other climber who is at least as skilled as you, and most importantly - a strong death wish. No thanks.
The one thing I did enjoy was rappelling. I'd already trained in that, Jungle Warfare School in Panama. There, we used the bare-rope method instead of carabiners, descenders, etc.
Below, you can see one of the numerous hiking trails.
Why is it called Smith Rock? Not sure. Most historians think it's named after US Cavalry Private Volk Smith. He lost his footing during an Indian battle in 1863 and fell to his death. Cavalry boots are not recommended climbing gear.
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