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

Fall Fall Fall Fall

This week's temps are delightfully lower than last week, and everybody seems a little slap happy that it feels like fall. Between drooling over the new down jackets and counting down the days until I head to the New River Gorge for a week of sandstone climbing, it feels hard to get much work done. Still, there is much to accomplish on Looking Glass. I have a few goodies on my tic list for cooler weather- so we shall see how it goes....

2nd Pitch of Cornflake Crack- I've never been on the second pitch, but I look at it wistfully every time I pass it. Who doesn't??
Le Pump - I feel like a champ on this route... on toprope. The mix of slopers, balancy moves, and small holds seems to suit me. It is time to give it a go on lead.
Hyperbola- I took a nice whip on this and haven't gotten back on it. Move over copperheads...
The Odyssey- Cold weather prevented us from doing the crux pitch of this route several seasons ago, yet Phil and I think of it whenever we see the duct tape hiding the puncture on his down sweater from the offwidth on the 2nd pitch.



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

Looking Glass Adopt-a-Crag

A big thank you to all who contributed time, sweat, money and products to make Saturday's Adopt-a-Crag a big success! We had wonderful weather and a great crew who came together to support The Access Fund, The Carolina Climbers Coalition and the Southeastern Climbers Coalition.

Groups worked on trail access to The Nose Area, the South End, the North End and Hidden Wall. The pesky log that has been on The North End trail for some months has been dispatched and The Hidden Wall is no longer so "hidden." This climbing area was clearly heavily hit by last winter and appeared to have seen little traffic recently. After we finished our trail work, we enjoyed the fruits of our labor, and climbers hopped on Hidden Wall classics Carbo Man and Hidden Agenda.

The Silent Auction to benefit the CCC was a big success due to generous support from Misty Mountain, LaSportiva, Black Diamond and Mountain Khakis in conjunction with Looking Glass Outfitters and Fox Mountain Guides. Lucky bidders ended up with a rope, a crash pad, climbing shoes, awesome pants and goodies thanks to these brands and the CCC collected some well-deserved funds to continue paying off the Rumbling Bald Boulders.

Thank you for supporting NC climbing!


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

NC Highcountry Climbing

As fall begins to arrive throughout the NC mountains, it is perfect weather to get a few more days of climbing in at Ship Rock before colder weather makes this crag too blustery. Phil and I squeezed in a tasting at Highland Brewery Friday complete with live bluegrass before heading up to camp near Linville. The evening temperatures are nice enough right now to pull out your fleece and even enjoy a campfire again.

Saturday the weather was great at Ship Rock, although by mid afternoon it was pretty sunny and warm. Still, the humidity was much lower than in recent months and the holds were plenty sticky on steep routes like Welcome to Watauga, Revival and the rather humbling Castaway.

Come on in the shop if your fleece selection is looking ragged. We have some Montbell Fleece that won't give you sticker shock and will keep you toasty in the high country.


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

Montbell Jackets are Here!

Back by popular demand, we have expanded our selection of Montbell Jackets this fall. Come check them out!

Both the Thermawrap Jackets and the Down Jackets offer incredible warmth at great prices.


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