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Star Trekin'

5.10b, Trad, 200 ft (61 m), 2 pitches,  Avg: 3.4 from 44 votes
FA: Jim Downs, Tom Howard - 1979
N Carolina > 2. Northern Mou… > Linville Gorge > Hawksbill Mtn > Main Wall
Warning Access Issue: 2023 seasonal raptor closure (January 15th-August 15th) DetailsDrop down

Description

Start the route at a thin white tips crack on a blackish/brown slab. Slab up using slopers, crimps, and the crack. Make some technical moves through a bulge to a great stance below a small overhang. Plug gear and pull the crux at the overhang. Continue up above a block in the crack. Then make moves up and left onto a slopey ledge. Continue up and left to a left-facing corner (R, but easy). The pin protecting this traverse left as described in the NC Selected Guide no longer exists. Pull the corner to a great belay ledge and build a trad anchor.

Directly above the P1 corner is a white face with horizontals. Pull through the 9+ horizontals and get gear when you can. This section is slightly runout until you can pull onto the next large ledge, so be comfortable at the grade. Either belay on the ledge or continue up. The drag is not severe to continue as a single pitch. Several variations exist to exit the final wall. Move left on the ledge to the base of a small finger crack. This crack ends and more big juggy horizontals start. Follow these up to the base of a large roof and pull right around the roof. Belay above the roof and walk off left using a gravely trail. You reach the top after doing two easy moves over small sections of rock.

Most parties climb the P2 of Lost in Space, but it is worth finishing Star Trekkin' at least once.

Location

As you hike to Middle Hawksbill, you come to a clearing on a flat rock. From the flat rock walk directly to the wall and a small ledge which starts the route at the thin white finger crack. This route is a 5-10 min. walk-off, so you may want to rack a pair of shoes. On the way down, look for a faint trail that leads off to the left, this is the fastest way to the base, or continue down the main trail and re-enter the same way originally.

Protection

Single rack to #3 camalot, TCU's, Tri-cams, and ballnutz work very well.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Mary starting P1 of Star Trekkin'
[Hide Photo] Mary starting P1 of Star Trekkin'
The red line is the correct finish. Do not follow the NC Selected climbs
[Hide Photo] The red line is the correct finish. Do not follow the NC Selected climbs
Mary starting the final overhanging section on Star Trekkin', P2 or P3 depending.
[Hide Photo] Mary starting the final overhanging section on Star Trekkin', P2 or P3 depending.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Mike Holley
Boone, NC
 
[Hide Comment] Very Very Fun climb right next to Lost in Space! Both pitches are quality and have super fun climbing through them! The first bit of pitch one is small and techy, takes tiny gear but protects well! Quality climbing up and up with solid holds and time to think out every move it takes the edge off the grade. Second pitch is easy but awkward, somewhat exposed and squishy ( good pitch to be a shortie on) but nonetheless is quality! Protect the second traverse well for your second or if they fall they will be in for a wild ride!

Beam Me up!! Mar 14, 2012
Jill H
Spartanburg, SC
[Hide Comment] I'm 5'1" and at the beginning of P2 I had to do a huge dyno to the second hold off the ledge. I was on toprope but it looked like ledgefall potential for a short leader if you missed the jug. Perhaps there was an intermediate but it was so overhung I didn't bother hanging out to look. Jul 12, 2020
Tom Caldwell
Clemson, S.C.
  5.10b
[Hide Comment] It is ledge fall regardless of height. It is a fairly big lockoff on small crimps. The old guide doesn’t have a safety rating, but there is a spot on p1 and 2 that could result in injury you one were to fall. Jul 13, 2020
Will Hightower
Birmingham, Al
[Hide Comment] Great route. Done in two pitches. Ended up under the roof and neglected to find the mentioned 5.6 exit. I instead opted to punch out of the horizontal roof and mantle out of the fins for a full value experience. Definitely not 5.6.

Very fun exit, although not sure it was the “intended route”. I saw a ramp out right but it did not look very inviting.
Really beautiful wall! Sep 28, 2021
Rob Owens
Columbus, NC
[Hide Comment] I recommend exiting the large vegetated ledge to the left below the triangle shaped roof. Bomber gear and jugs, pretty steep at the end, 5.8ish? Move right at the roof and belay on the ledge. We scrambled to the summit up to the right. Jun 19, 2024