the adventures of LGO: 2012

11/15/12

New post on the LGO Ice Report Blog. Enjoy!.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4537460821913837703#editor/target=post;postID=5633238664837092739

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

9/27/12

Fall in Pisgah

It's finally fall again! The evenings are getting cooler, leaves are starting to change, and friction is incredible. We hope you have been getting outdoors, whether hitting the trails in Pisgah, trailrunning in Dupont, or climbing North Carolina's finest granite.

It's also our favorite time of year because we get incredible goodies from Montbell. Come check out the new insulated pieces. They'll have you drooling for the season's first frost.

Montbell Frost Smoke Parka - Ultra light down jacket with a sweet hood!
Women's Highland Jacket- A flattering down jacket at a ridiculously good price? Can it be true?!
Montbell Thermawrap Parka - This synthetic goodie is a perennial LGO favorite!

We hope to see you Saturday at the Fall Climbing Party at the Brevard Rock Gym. It's going to be a rockin' good time....

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

9/4/12

Brevard Waterfalls- Moore Cove Falls

Sometimes a rainy day forces us to slow down and do things we don't normally do. This past weekend featured a good bit of rain, which nicely thwarted our climbing plans. But, in a brief break in the clouds, we grabbed our rain jackets and headed to check out the popular Moore Cove Trail.

From Looking Glass Outfitters, head into Pisgah National Forest on 276. You'll pass Looking Glass Falls on the right and continue a total of 6.6 miles to a parking area on the right just before a lovely stone bridge. The hike to Moore Cove Falls is easy and family-friendly, with very little elevation change.

The trail has clearly benefited from recent maintenance and is in excellent condition. Pass through a delightful oak canopy with incredibly straight and tall trees before the Moore Cove trail dead ends in 1.2 miles at the falls. Thanks to recent rains, the falls were gushing down an overhanging rock formation. We'll definitely keep this trail in mind for travelers asking for a low-key hike for the family with good scenery. Sometimes a rainy day helps you see the gem in your backyard. Happy trails!

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

8/29/12

Big Sale for Labor Day!!

Temps have been nothing short of amazing lately. We hope you have been getting out in Pisgah National Forest and beyond, because fall is here! Check out these deals in the shop for Labor Day (August 27th - Sept 4th):

15-50% OFF

Black Diamond Cams

Prana

The North Face

Mountain Hardwear

LaSportiva

Montrail

Salomon

Climb Globally, Shop Locally

Looking Glass Outfitters

69 Hendersonville Hwy

Pisgah Forest, NC 28768

828.884.5854

www.lookingglassoutfitters.com

6/4/12

Firsts

Sometimes people ask us if it gets old living in a small, mountain town or if we enjoy the mountains less since they are in our backyard. That's an easy question, because the answer is a resounding 'no.' Although there are a lot of hikes and climbs we have done again and again, we are always excited to get outside in Brevard's backyard.

It is also a blast whenever something happens for the first time. The first year we lived in Brevard, I managed to encounter several black bears both in Pisgah and Dupont. Lately, I seem to be on a black bear dry spell. Last year, I saw my first Rattlesnake while hiking to Twin Falls. This year, I was delighted to see a Scarlet Tanager while hiking up to the Looking Glass Overlook Trail. This striking bird can be tough to spot, as it prefers the deepest parts of the forest.

So, as spring turns to summer, we are again enjoying all the forest has to offer, whether it is seeing something for the first time or the twenty-seventh. Stop in the shop on your way to the forest. We've got some great products that are new to us, like the Prana Quinn Dress and the canvas 5.10 Guide Tennie. Have fun out there!

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

4/24/12

This spring brought many changes to the wonderful mountains of Western North Carolina, some personal and some recreational. One of the best things to happen here was a month long visit to the area from the Access Fund Conservation Team. Jeff and Dave drove the Jeep Compass with tools trailer in tow from Boulder, CO straight to NC to sample some of our excellent rock and help the CCC with their never ending quest for stewardship to our climbing areas. These guys worked at Laurel Knob with local hardman Nathan Brown for three rainy days and then with the ASU outdoor programs group at Rumbling Bald for a huge revamping of the West Side, climber owned, boulder field. Check out the recap video! LGO's very own Phil Hoffmann makes a cameo.

http://www.opengate.org/access-fund-blog/2012/03/conservation-team-reports-from-rumbling-bald.html

Man, are we pumped about Spring! If you are planning a trip to the area CALL US and let us help you prepare. We have all the goods you need for climbing, hiking, exploring and camping in Pisgah! Why shop any where else? We're the pros!

Here are a few events going on in our area.

Visit the brand new Brevard Brewery. Now Open!

AMGA SPI Course with Appalachian Mountain Institute. March 21st
http://appalachianmountaininstitute.com/category/upcoming_climbing_courses/

La Sportiva Shoe Demos:
May 8th: Brevard Rock Gym
http://brevardrockgym.com/
May 10th; Climb @ Blueridge, Taylor SC

Looking forward to seeing you this Summer!

Thanks!
Looking Glass Outfitters

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

2/29/12

Spring 2012 in WNC

Where does the time go?? It definitely feels like Old Man Winter is on his way out around Brevard and in Pisgah National Forest. Daffodils are blooming and buds are stirring. It has been a pretty mild winter around here, much to the chagrin of ice climbers. But, the spring conditions have already been rewarding climbers in Looking Glass and boulderers at Rumbling Bald with crisp days full of friction.

Speaking of Rumbling Bald, check out the Carolina Climbers Coalition for information on this week's inaugural meeting of the Friends of Chimney Rock State Park. If you don't have time to attend, at least make sure you are a member of the CCC and a diligent climber when it comes to public access, climber impact and parking. These are sensitive issues around the country and particularly in North Carolina. Nobody wants to jeopardize access to some of the south's best climbing!

In the meantime, have fun getting outside in these spring conditions. Come check out what is new at Looking Glass Outfitters, and we hope to see you at the Banff Mountain Film Festival!

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

1/18/12

Celebrating Transylvania Accomplishments

As a responsible member of the outdoor community I feel compelled to brag about what a great place that we are fortunate to live in. The hardworking cycling community has done it again in promoting our resources that we value so highly and love to share. The month of October 2011 was Bike Magazine here in Transylvania county! The highly respected Bike Magazine "The Bible of Bike Tests" was compiled and complete and just hit news stands nationally. Click here to read it.

In celebration of this event...I did the impossible...for me anyway. I rode the Green Machine in Dupont. Check out the photographic evidence and we applaud our bicycling brethren!