Southeastern Sandstone Climbing

Sometimes it is difficult to pry yourself away from southeastern rock climbing because it offers so many stellar styles of climbing. We just finished 8 solid days of climbing in some of the best weather we can remember. Funny enough, when we got home, exhausted and in dire need of several rest days, it began raining hard! Check out some of the pics from the NRG. What's not to love about climbing sandstone at the New River Gorge?

Jay Young & Jessica Hoffmann on Wham Bam Thanks for the Jam - Beauty Mtn

Joe DiSciullo on Return to Power - Lower Meadow

Phil gets into the business on Trojans - Lower Meadow




Climb Globally, Shop Locally
Looking Glass Outfitters
69 Hendersonville Hwy
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
828.884.5854
www.lookingglassoutfitters.com

Rest Day a la Kaymoor Mine

After 3 days at the Red and one day climbing near the Meadow, our forearms were pretty well annihilated. So, despite the ridiculously nice weather, we took a day off from climbing. What is there to do in Fayetteville when resting your forearms? Well, plenty.

We had a wonderfully lazy morning, complete with coffee o'plenty and a little lounging by Laurel Creek, then headed to check out the Kaymoor Mine. I had never been, and the contrast between the ruins of a now defunct mine, built in 1899, and the natural splendor of the gorge in fall was striking. It is one thing to hear about coal mines, yet another thing altogether different to visit a closed mine, and envision the lives, blood, sweat, and natural resources that were once spent around the corner from many of our favorite climbs.

A visit to the mine is also a good way to get a quick cardio burn by scaling the several hundred stairs on your way out. Afterwards, we scarfed down delicacies at the Secret Sandwich Society and made the imperative cruise through Waterstone. Hopefully tomorrow we will be back to sending!


Climb Globally, Shop Locally
Looking Glass Outfitters 69 Hendersonville Hwy
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
828.884.5854
www.lookingglassoutfitters.com

A Little FA Taste

Since we got to the NRG in time to climb on my birthday, our friend Jay gave me a special birthday present. He took us to a bit of a secret crag off the Meadow River and let me have at a climb he had been eying. He dutifully bolted the route, scrubbed off moss and dirt and marked some of the key holds while Phil and I warmed up on other climbs, then allowed me the First Ascent. What a friend! After Phil, Jay and I (finally) sent it, we dubbed it a 5.11a and called it Final Bender, in honor of the crag name. It is super fun and heads up an arete before turning steep for a juggy pumpy finish. Have fun on it, if you can find it!


Climb Globally, Shop Locally
Looking Glass Outfitters
69 Hendersonville Hwy
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
828.884.5854
www.lookingglassoutfitters.com

Red River Climbing

We picked it right when we decided to head to the Red last weekend. The temperatures were fantastic and the leaves were spectacular. We don't make it to the RRG that often, but this was the perfect weekend to head to Kentucky. Despite hosting Roctoberfest the weekend before, Slade was still hopping the next weekend, as evidenced by Miguel's parking lot overflowing up and down the road. Saturday we headed to Funk Rock City with an old friend and 2 new friends, and were thrilled to be the only party at the crag. Yet, this soon changed. Perhaps the RRG crowd had a late Friday night, because climbers arrived in throngs as lunch time arrived.

Despite the crowds, we had a blast on Funk Rock classics like Headstone Surfer, There Goes the Neighborhood and Go Easy Billy Clyde! Sunday we headed to Long Wall and saw very few parties. Routes in the sun were a bit warm, but we still had a blast on Autumn, Rock Wars and Game Boy. We'll have to come back on a cooler day and check out the stellar looking B3, as it was mighty warm when we took a look at it.

By Monday, our forearms were rapidly powering down. So, we headed to the Zoo for a short day, where we never saw another climber. We finished with Phil doing a great job on Hippocrite and called the RRG portion of our trip a wrap.

We camped off of Tunnel Ridge Road, where there is excellent primitive camping, but a permit is required. The campers next to us were fined $75 late one evening for failure to observe the fire ban. So, if you head to the RRG, spring the $5 for a camping pass and obey any current fire restrictions! The dry weather has made for an incredible string of excellent climbing weather, yet the fire danger is currently very high.

On the homefront, Marcus has been doing an excellent shop of manning the shop. Pop in and say hello and admire the new super sweet goodies from Mammut!


Climb Globally, Shop Locally
Looking Glass Outfitters
69 Hendersonville Hwy
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
828.884.5854
www.lookingglassoutfitters.com

Leaf Season on the Parkway

Cooler temps and ample rain in late September should mean Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway will soon be ablaze with amazing fall foliage. We get a lot of questions as to when the leaf season will peak, but at this point, it is too soon to tell. Since the southeast had unusually hot weather in early to mid September, it is unlikely that the leaves will peak early. However, early October has brought lows in the 30's to western North Carolina, meaning leaf season could be short and sweet.

Look for mid to late October to be the perfect time for a cruise on the Blue Ridge Parkway or a few days of camping on the Art Loeb. A few leaves have begun changing in areas like Black Balsam as the end of the blueberry crop vanishes and fall flowers bloom. Enjoy!


Climb Globally, Shop Locally
Looking Glass Outfitters
69 Hendersonville Hwy
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
828.884.5854
www.lookingglassoutfitters.com

Southeast Climbing in Fall

It continues to be fabulous climbing weather just about everywhere in the southeast, so climbers and boulderers alike seem to be all smiles. The weather is in that perfect part of the season where you can comfortably climb at any of the Looking Glass areas. Phil and I are considering doing a bit of an "Assault on Looking Glass" and climbing 1 full length route on the South End, the Sun Wall, the North End, Hidden Wall and maybe Cedar (?) in one day? I will keep you posted when and if that happens.

In the meantime, we spent Saturday at Rock Town since we were in Atlanta for a few nights. We have been feeling like we need some steep bouldering to boost our power and Rock Town certainly fit the bill. Sunday afternoon we dispatched Le Pump at the Sun Wall finally, so the "winter" tick list has already shrunk. I hope the party of 3 or 4 that we saw on Tits and Beer made it down safely, as they were still on the crux pitch as the sun was setting(!)

Happy Climbing!


Climb Globally, Shop Locally
Looking Glass Outfitters
69 Hendersonville Hwy
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
828.884.5854
www.lookingglassoutfitters.com