Rock Climbing --- 3/30/2018 - 4/8/2018 --- North Carolina

Spring Break


Drove to North Carolina on Friday. Saturday morning we left our lovely rest area early and went to Moore's Wall where we immediately hopped on Zoo View. It is a very classic route, but not one I'd recommend when the rock is about 35F and shaded. After that experience of screaming barfies we spent the rest of the day in the sun toproping Quaker State (which is a fantastic route!) and climbing Wailing Wall.

The campground was full, so we spent another night at a rest area (not that one, the other one across the street) and went back to Moore's Wall on Sunday. We climbed Raise Hell, Do or Dive, and Nuclear Crayon. Sad to be done with rest areas, we drove to the Pisgah National Forest and Linville Gorge where we found a level spot to park.

Monday was our first day at Shortoff Mountain we found the descent and explored the routes. We climbed Maginot Line which was really fun.

Awake and at it fairly early Tuesday, we had plenty of time to climb Dopey Duck (with the Toxic Shock start) and Paradise Alley. Both were great climbs except for the mediocre second pitch on Paradise Alley.

Wednesday was a quick day trip to Rumbling Bald. We climbed Granola, Whiskey for Breakfast, Frosted Flake, and Fruit Loops. Camille loved the chimney on the second pitch of Fruit Loops. I have no idea why.

Heading back into the Pisgah forest we went to Looking Glass on Thursday where we climbed Second Coming, Gemini Crack, and an unnamed 5.5

Friday will be our final day climbing because it is supposed to rain all night and all day Saturday. At Laurel Knob we enjoy the hike to the base of this spectacular granite dome. We start up Groover and are at the second belay when sleet and rain start teeming down. About 12 hours earlier than we expected based on the forecast. At least I was wearing synthetic pants! We left some gear... I figured better to lose a cam than a Camille. We hiked out in the continuing rain, happy to have climbed seven days in a row for spring break.

Camille on Quaker State (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille on Quaker State    Moore's Wall, NC -- 3/31/2018

Camille coming up Wailing Wall (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Wailing Wall    Moore's Wall, NC -- 3/31/2018

#wtf? #aprilfools? (Category:  Rock Climbing)

#wtf? #aprilfools?    Moore's Wall, NC -- 4/1/2018

Shorts Off (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Shorts Off    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/2/2018

Camille coming up Maginot Line (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Maginot Line    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/2/2018

Camille coming up Maginot Line (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Maginot Line    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/2/2018

Camille coming up Maginot Line (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Maginot Line    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/2/2018

Dopey Duck (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Dopey Duck    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

The Toxic Shock start to Dopey Duck (Category:  Rock Climbing)

The Toxic Shock start to Dopey Duck    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

The Toxic Shock start to Dopey Duck (Category:  Rock Climbing)

The Toxic Shock start to Dopey Duck    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

Camille coming up Dopey Duck (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Dopey Duck    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

Coiling rope at the top of the gorge (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Coiling rope at the top of the gorge    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

The start of Paradise Alley (Category:  Rock Climbing)

The start of Paradise Alley    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

I'm smiling because I can place the #4 right off the ground (Category:  Rock Climbing)

I'm smiling because I can place the #4 right off the ground and not carry it for the rest of the pitch    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

CAMille leading the really cool third pitch of Paradise Alley (Category:  Rock Climbing)

CAMille leading the really cool third pitch of Paradise Alley    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

CAMille leading the really cool third pitch of Paradise Alley (Category:  Rock Climbing)

CAMille leading the really cool third pitch of Paradise Alley    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

Great view (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Great view    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

Great view (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Great view    Linville Gorge, NC -- 4/3/2018

Toproping Whiskey for Breakfast (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Toproping Whiskey for Breakfast    Rumbling Bald, NC -- 4/4/2018

Toproping Whiskey for Breakfast (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Toproping Whiskey for Breakfast    Rumbling Bald, NC -- 4/4/2018

Holy heck that move is hard! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Holy heck that move is hard!    Rumbling Bald, NC -- 4/4/2018

Camille cleaning Frosted Flake (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille cleaning Frosted Flake    Rumbling Bald, NC -- 4/4/2018

Camille cleaning Frosted Flake (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille cleaning Frosted Flake    Rumbling Bald, NC -- 4/4/2018

Camille coming up the first pitch of Fruit Loops (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up the first pitch of Fruit Loops    Rumbling Bald, NC -- 4/4/2018

Camille coming up the first pitch of Fruit Loops (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up the first pitch of Fruit Loops    Rumbling Bald, NC -- 4/4/2018

View from atop Fruit Loops (Category:  Rock Climbing)

View from atop Fruit Loops    Rumbling Bald, NC -- 4/4/2018

Camille coming up Gemini (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Gemini    Looking Glass, NC -- 4/5/2018

Camille coming up Gemini (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Gemini    Looking Glass, NC -- 4/5/2018

Camille coming up Gemini (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Gemini    Looking Glass, NC -- 4/5/2018

Camille coming up Gemini (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Gemini    Looking Glass, NC -- 4/5/2018

Camille coming up Gemini (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille coming up Gemini    Looking Glass, NC -- 4/5/2018

Camille leading Gemini (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Camille leading Gemini    Looking Glass, NC -- 4/5/2018

Cold stream crossing on the hike in (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Cold stream crossing on the hike in    Laurel Knob, NC -- 4/6/2018

Definitely synthetic pants (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Definitely synthetic pants    Laurel Knob, NC -- 4/6/2018

Groover climbs a water groove. Which isn't so groovy in the rain. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Groover climbs a water groove. Which isn't so groovy in the rain.    Laurel Knob, NC -- 4/6/2018

Bail anchor (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Bail anchor (just the .75 and the nut, the rest was our backup before the final rappel)    Laurel Knob, NC -- 4/6/2018

Look at us both in our synthetic pants (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Look at us both in our synthetic pants    Laurel Knob, NC -- 4/6/2018

Might as well just walk through the stream, then put on dry shoes and socks at the car (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Might as well just walk through the stream, then put on dry shoes and socks at the car    Laurel Knob, NC -- 4/6/2018