I will be staying in a house on the Highlands Golf Course the days of 3/13 to 3/16. I'm spending the weekend with some non-climbers and wanted to find out if there is a good area for me to take them toproping. I am familiar with Whitesides and Granite City(i think that is what they call it). Any info on areas other than those with in 10 or 20 miles for a chill day out would be appreciated. Also, if you are in the area and want to get out, let me know.

Hey, Joey, maybe you could set up a toprope on P1 of the OR at Whitesides; it's only 5.7, right? Heh heh!

Joking aside, I'm don't know what would be good in that area for beginner toproping. Have you tried posting on the CCC message board? Somebody there might be able to help you.

JL

Never has 5.7 meant so much!!

The way the weather is looking I'll be lucky to get in some bouldering. Do you/anyone know of any boulders below Whiteside's face?? I'll probably just check that out and locate the start to the OR. I have a partner now who wants to climb it and lead that first pitch soon. Which works for me, because I don't want to onsight it.

I think your best bet will be to drive to looking glass and set up some topropes on the South Side on the 5.7-5.9 cracks there. You will have to lead the routes though to get to the anchors. It is an hour and half drive from Highlands. The Highlands area is not very toprope friendly, with all of the big domes. There is bouldering around which might be an even better option. Check out ncbouldering.com for more info.

I know of another place around Granite City. It has a very small wall and weird conglomerate rock. If you leave Granite city and travel back down the gravel road to the fork, follow the fork the opposite way. You will travel out a ways (few miles?) before finding a trail head in a curve that leads uphill. If you get down to the good camping fishing areas and waterfall you've gone too far, although you can boulder some of the stuff down there. Follow the trail head up hill and you will find yourself on top of this "cliff". Look around and over the edge. If you follow the road down just another hair you will see a turn off (dead end road) that is directly in front of the wall. I thought about leading some of this stuff last time, but it was only me. I bouldered some of the lower stuff on the wall. I've also seen an area that maybe private property, going down into the valley with Granite city from the town of Highlands. It is on the left in one of the major switchbacks. Some bouldering and an exposed slab.

Thanks Steve I'll check out that site. As far as Looking Glass, I've been there. That is to far to drag all these friends who probably will loose interest in less than 2 hours. (I didn't mention it is 4 couples) We have friends at the Highland hiker too, so I'll pick their brains'.
But unless some one comes through with the key beta, looks like I'll be bouldering, alone (they told me it was boring to watch me climb so close to the ground,ha!!) Also, bolted anchors isn't nessasary, I'm comfortable with setting up topropes on gear if I can walk off. And I'm not ruling out setting up a toprope on a highball just to get them in a harness.

edit: Justin, I'll give you a call to get the specifics (or you could just show me. Are you going to be up there with Paige's family this weekend??)

Those slabs above the Blue Mountain overlook might be what you're looking for. Be prepared to schwack.

Pickens Nose is great, but it's on the other side of 441.

The slabs by the Panthertown parking lot?

Most easy climbing around there doesn't lend itself to toproping because the climbs are on domes without fixed anchors. And there's the private property issue. Maybe you should call up Merrie Woode?

I think Merrie Woods is who owns Bald Rock? maybe?

Rob: Are you talking about Big and Little Green when you say slabs by the parking lot? I didn't see those last time. What's the quality of the Blue Mountain slabs?

Joey: We're going to Blue Ridge, GA.

I contacted Merrie-Wood and the ended up telling me that they would only let camp alumni climb Bald Rock.

I have done some climbing about 5-10 minutes east of Highlands. I don't think it is Black Rock but a smaller cliff before it. Take Main Street east past Highland Hiker and it turns into Horse Cove road. Head downhill and then it turns into Bull Pen road. There will be two pulloffs to your left, take the second one. It runs about 30 feet off the road and ends with 3-4 small boulders. Ahead you will see a short-30 foot chossy cliff. Follow the trail past that for about a half mile and you'll hit the base of the cliff.

The first route there is a slabby, two-pitch 5.6/5.7 with bolted anchors. That would be a good one for toproping. The base of the route has a fallen log.

Continue on the trail and there is a longer 5.8 bolted route. The start is pocketed (good for a tricam) and a high first bolt right of a small arete. I think you need a 70 meter rope to top rope it. My brother and I tried and I was actually anchored in a bit above the start to use a 60 meter rope.

I think this cliff is called Sagee Mtn. Its not in a guide book and I am not sure if Highland Hiker knows much about it. But nevertheless its a pretty area with a short hike in. Sorry if the approach isnt too detailed. It's been a few years.

I don't know why I didn't think of this before -- you could get them on some fun slab climbing at Woody Wall (aka Black Rock). Maybe this is what Rob was referring to as the "slabs by the Panthertown parking lot."

Woody Wall is in the same general area as the big stuff around Cashiers (Laurel Knob, Big Green, etc.) From Panthertown, you hike down the road like you're going to Big Green and Woody Wall is up in the woods on the left. I know that's kind of vague, but I've only been there once and don't remember real well. You'll need two ropes, the routes are taller than they look.

JL

Can anyone make a restaurant recommendation for the Cashiers/Highlands/Sapphire area?

Ben,I'm going to assume you don't mean a fancy sit down. For good sandwiches and soup, try Don Leon's Deli Cafe at 30 Dillard Rd. in Highlands. The owner use too make jewelry for rock n' rollers like ZZ Top, so he is an interesting character (i.e. a dick) and has some cool photo's on the wall. Just don't try and tip for your food, he gets pissy.

If you do want to sit down, go to the Dillard house. You keep eating, it keeps coming. Plus, I have to give them a plug cause I'm related to the Dillards. addy: Us Highway 441 Dillard, GA 30537

Thanks to everyone who offered up info! I think I'll just go check that stuff around granite city again. The times I've been there I didn't see any "cliffs", but I didn't look were Justin and Gabe H suggested. I'll post up with what I find.

Joey - sit down is okay...but casual dress (read: post climb grimey) is key. I am looking for something after a long day at Laurel Knob. Previously, it's been camp food as we have always gotten out late in the day.

There is a decent BBQ place in Cashiers, just past the main intersection, heading towards Highlands on 64. It will be on the left. Maybe a mile or two down. Notice I said decent...not great.

Thanks, Jeff. We'll keep that one in mind - Carolina Smokehouse, maybe? I have taken note of it passing through the area previously. A dead opossum carcass would usually do for the group I'll be with after a hard day of climbing...as long as it is prepared by someone else.

Last time, at said Granite dome, it was butter beans out of a can, with onion, Tabasco, and sliced ham. It was great...just tiresome to heat up.

Seems like there is another place in Cashiers called Micah's (sp?)... Haven't been myself but seems the name has come up before.

Jeff - I'll check into Micah's as well. Thanks for the help.

Joey - We come into Highlands, downtown, on GA246/NC106...We will be staying in the area that evening, so no biggy. Thanks for the help. Sorry to highjack the thread...