Linville Gorge - Shortoff Mountain - January

Anyone have any information regarding climbing and camping at Shortoff Mountain in January? I know you can camp at the top of the mountain, but am unsure about the water situation. Would love to be up there 3 nights. Is the weather usually alright to climb?

Cheers,
Frankie

I've climbed there comfortably in early feb. Like most places, as long as it's sunny you're pretty alright. Ice melts off the top of the cliff in the sun and comes crashing down which can be spooky. Getting down the gully is a trip as it's all ice. Nothing impossible, just takes more time. We car camped at the parking lot, hardest part is getting up there in the fresh snow. I had a rwd van though and I managed up it eventually, worst part is in the first 1/2mi, then it's an easier drive.

Plenty of camping spots at the top of the mountain, and a perennial spring, with a pipe. I have been there in early February; its my favorite time. You just won't know, weather wise, until the week before, whether it is windbreaker or parka weather. The road might hold patches of ice, especially in the morning. 

Do you like camping in sub-freezing temperatures?   Potentially teens, with major wind.   It's the top of a mountain ridge in January.  We aren't near the equator.

Russ dont be a baby, “there is no such thing as too cold, just under prepaired”
Im stoked this person wants to go out there in the winter!
You can skip the descent gully entirely if you rap off the trees on top of dizzy gillespie area just barely with twin 60m or fix a line.  70m is better though.( this could be exceptionally dangerous in snow however...)
Bring ice climbing gear for that chossy mtn up by yonder cavern
Keep close eye/ hang all, every single one of your soft goods, the rats are desparate for good insulative nesting material and an oz your climbing silks are worth 78 pine seeds each!
Wind gets super bad up there sometimes... that beat cave makes for a proper wind block but we are suppose to keep that on the hush
Ice does form in climbing holds out there and people hav fallen b/c of it.
I usually filter the water, lots of people camp/poo up there..

Gets old hearing folks always telling posters it's too hot or too cold to go rock climbing. Their skin might be a thicker and their stoke higher. I second the previous reply. Don't be a baby. Frankie go getchya some sends. Filter your water. It's gonna be rad. 

ive actually climbed in linville gorge right around new years one year......luckily the weather was quite mild, camped in a tent and even remember being shirtless and comfortable. of course thats probably not the norm for a january.....

Haha right, lets blow smoke up his ass!  "yeah bro it's all set, I climb shortoff in January all the time!  And I sleep right up top, it's perfect. You know, cuz north Carolina is like Costa Rica bro! Don't forget your swim trunks!"

cmon man, haha.....i put in the disclaimer    

EFS Yeah, I thought your wording was a fair take.  It's true that conditions can line up, but it's so far from the norm that it's impossible to expect, never mind plan for.  In general overnight temps seem to stick to their predictable average.  And also another thing to consider, when it's clear and crisp and sunny during the day (conducive to climbing), this usually means clear frigid nights. I suppose camping on top of Shortoff mtn is possible especially if there's no wind. But jeez people might be misunderstanding the WNC winter a bit.

Is it january yet? Yesterday was soooooper nice in the gorge.  Talked to a fellow that slept on the spinx, and several hikers in TR camp ground.  TR Gate open til january 6 FYI.  

Frankie Carsonie wrote: Anyone have any information regarding climbing and camping at Shortoff Mountain in January? I know you can camp at the top of the mountain, but am unsure about the water situation. Would love to be up there 3 nights. Is the weather usually alright to climb?

Cheers,
Frankie

-Use Wolf Pit Rd for access

- Bivy in the cave, not on top

- You can get a general forecast to gauge the temps for about a week out, but expect numb fingers.  it's doable

@Frankie - The issue with Shortoff in winter is that it's often VERY windy there. In warmer temps that really just makes communication an issue, but in winter it can make for downright uncomfortable climbing. I've climbed there in middle of winter and had a blast, but I've also climbed there in the middle of winter and barely felt the holds because temps were 50 degrees in Morganton and we went up there to be greeted with 20s factoring wind chill. You can always roll the dice, and at least have a fun story if it's arctic up there!

"It's painfully easy to camp in 0 degree weather with wind"

Sure, ok fair enough, but are you also planning to climb when you wake up?

There has been some unseasonably warm weather this month.   I owe it to this thread to say:  I stand corrected.   

actually its a lot colder down there 600 miles south of me. its gonna be 50 here today, and 40s all week.....unusual. possibly camping at the table rock parking lot would be better than on top of shortoff? i forget when that closes for the season though. and i cant remember but im recalling some kind of cabins there too?

No cabins that I know of, you linked south carolina's table rock.

Walter Edly wrote: No cabins that I know of, you linked south carolina's table rock.

shit, i thought i linked nc table rock which is a few miles from shortoff.  my bad.....

​https://ashevilletrails.com/linville-gorge/camping/

​https://www.rei.com/campgrounds/camp/115209389/table-rock​​​