Drop Area (Horseshoe Area) Bouldering
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Elevation: | 3,137 ft |
GPS: |
36.911, -81.45 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 20,189 total · 114/month |
Shared By: | Sheila Rahim on Sep 30, 2009 |
Admins: | Shawn Heath, Aaron Parlier |
Description
The Drop is a horseshoe-shaped band of short sandstone cliff on the southern side of Big Walker Mountain in Atkins VA. Characteristic for its sandstone and slopey top outs, it offers a wide variety of features and problems ranging from highball slabs to long roof problems. Because the rock at The Drop is so highly featured, there are numerous fun variations, link-ups, and contrivances that can be made to the lines described here. No matter what you get on or how hard you climb, you are guaranteed a good time at The Drop.
Be aware: The roof and anything further down the cliff tends to be wet from early spring to late summer due to underground springs. However most of the lines in The Drop stay dry year round.
Be aware: The roof and anything further down the cliff tends to be wet from early spring to late summer due to underground springs. However most of the lines in The Drop stay dry year round.
Getting There
From interstate 81S, take Exit 50 for Atkins. Take a right at the end of the ramp. Come to an immediate intersection and make a left onto Highway 11. Follow the highway to the next right hand turn about a mile up the road called Bear Creek Road (Rt. 622). You will stay on Bear Creek Road the entire way to the boulders (~5.3 mi from the turn).
Drive all the way up the mountain through tight curves and fun switchbacks. Pay attention once you drive through the hairpin turn (~4.2 mi, the road completely doubles back on itself). After passing two road cuts and the Nebo Boulders on your right, look for the steep dirt road on the right. Park either on the side of the main road or on the dirt road. The trail for The Drop starts at the drain pipe across from the dirt road and is marked with green blazes. Follow the trail down the mountain for about three minutes and you will find the first boulder, the Acorn Boulder.
Drive all the way up the mountain through tight curves and fun switchbacks. Pay attention once you drive through the hairpin turn (~4.2 mi, the road completely doubles back on itself). After passing two road cuts and the Nebo Boulders on your right, look for the steep dirt road on the right. Park either on the side of the main road or on the dirt road. The trail for The Drop starts at the drain pipe across from the dirt road and is marked with green blazes. Follow the trail down the mountain for about three minutes and you will find the first boulder, the Acorn Boulder.
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