part of The Main Wall from the Cougar Crag. Eagle...
Description
Most southern climbers are familiar with Rumbling Bald, one of the best winter areas around due to its low elevation and south facing aspect. The cliff seems to stretch on for a mile or more when viewed from the tourist meccas of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. However, the other side of the mountain has just as much rock and is climbable in the summer when the south side is a blast furnace. 99% of routes were done in ground up style. Let's keep it that way please. I like secret places. I am not posting this stuff due to ego. The north face has no publicly documented history. Since most of this rock will be in the newly formed state park I felt it important to finally document areas so we could show the powers that be that there is a long rich history of climbing here and that climbing should be an allowed activity once the management plan is in the works.
Getting There
Currently there are limited ways to get there. Either know someone who lives in the gated Fairfield golf community at the base of the walls or hike around or over the top from the south side. This situation should change over the coming years as this area will be inside the newly created Hickory Nut Gorge State Park.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for The Dark Side:
"...My fingers grip with fear, what am I doing here? Flash before my eyes, now it's time to die." Okay, this may a bit too intense to be an accurate description of the route, but it is an excerpt from the tune in which the route was named after. Although this line is safe, it does have the potential for some good air time. This route is easily one of the best and most sustained single pitch face routes of this grade at the Bald. It is sli...[more]Browse More Classics in NC
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