This route has access issues. Please read the note available on the Laurel Knob page.
Description
Though not quite as well-known as routes like Fathom and Groover, Seconds is an excellent moderate with good protection and runouts maybe a little more generously bolted than you might expect of a typical North Carolina slab route. For most of its seven-pitch length, Seconds follows water grooves that steadily cut deeper into the face until you find yourself in what's practically a chimney near the top.
Some words to the wise:
Lead on doubles or trail a second rope.
If you're going to do the direct start, watch your step. Several climbers have suffered sprained ankles, cracked ribs or a dislocated knee on this tricky start.
Finding the start for Seconds can be difficult, due to the untamed Laurel Knob cliffline, but the direct start is marked by a small clearing below an overhang. The original start can be reached from here by going up a short steep section of trail to the left and then clawing your way through the rhododendron to the slabby face. Move up and out on this slab, traversing right to a bolted belay above the overhang. (NOTE: Don't get suckered into following the line of bolts going straight up; that's Central Pillar.)
For the direct start, friction climb from the clearing up to the overhang (protectable); pull the overhang and move up to the belay.
Pitches two and three follow a shallow water groove with the occasional bolt up to a sizeable buttress. P4 continues up past the buttress on the left. Climb through a series of ever-deepening water grooves up and right for three more pitches.
Location
Starts toward the right end of the cliffline, between Central Pillar and Canyons of Laurel. Rap on double ropes.
Protection
Standard rack (good range of cams, tricams and nuts); bolts protect the most runout sections; belays and anchors are bolted.
What signifies the start on this route? This is one of the next moderates on my list for LK.
By saxfiend Administrator From: Atlanta, GA Jun 14, 2007
Kind of hard to describe (other than what I've got in the route description above). From the time you reach the end of the trail switchbacks at the right end of the cliffline, I don't think it's more than about five minutes hike on down the trail to get to the clearing at the base of Seconds. From this clearing, you'll see the overhang above you, and above that, I believe you can see the bolts for the P1 belay.
Once you've located this, the trail goes up kind of steeply for a short distance; about where it levels off, you bushwhack through the undergrowth and pick a spot to belay from. At this point, you'll be above and left of the overhang. Move up and right along a faint dike to the belay.
Of course if you're going to do the direct start, you don't leave the clearing. I've heard some people compare the moves and difficulty level to U Slot at Stone Mountain; but I've also been told by friends who've led it that the rock is fairly exfoliating on this slab. So be real careful if that's the option you take.
Laurel Knob
RSS Feed
