PRINT: Rock Climb Look Before You Leak, 3. Piedmont Region

Look Before You Leak

5.7, Trad, 60 ft (18 m),

Avg: 1.8 from 13 votes
FA: unknown
N Carolina > 3. Piedmont Region > Pilot Mountain > 13. Ground Up aka Big…

Access Issue: NO TOP ACCESS Details

Absolutely no top access in this area. Do not climb over the fence. Do not top out and walk off. All climbers should access climbs from the ground then lower off or rappel from anchors when cleaning the route. The top of the Ground Up area is inside a fence designed to deny access to the top of the cliff. Park staff allow new route development, but only for routes that do not top out. As new routes are developed in this area the anchors will be located so that they cannot be easily reached from the top of the cliff.

Description

This is a fun 5.7 trad route that begins from a ledge 30 feet above the trail. A well-protected climb through a steep bulge and crack system leading straight up to the anchor shared with Venus Scribner, the sport route on the right. There is a clifftop closure here, so do not top out; lower down or rappel from the anchors.

Location

Starts on the ledge above the trail in briars. One of the last routes in the Ground Up area (next to parking lot area).

Protection

A set of cams works great. Protecting the belay is recommended at either top or bottom. No bolts, except for the bolted anchors at the top. Lower or rappel from anchors. Do not top out or walk off.

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Look Before You Leak

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Benandstuff
Winston-Salem, NC

This route has tons of loose rock on the lower portion. Check all holds before trusting them. It has a butt-ton of briars on the belay ledge. The climb is short and setting up top-rope is literally the longest approach in the park (provided you respect the big gully closure). The only things saving it from a bomb rating is the fact that the climb is actually fairly fun for the rating.

On top-rope, the right side of the wall is a 5.7 climb with a 5.10 move thrown in the middle. Jul 6, 2015

Woody Holliman
Durham, NC

5.7

There are now bolted anchors at the top, which should be used for lowering or rappelling. The clifftop closure prohibits top roping in this area. Feb 7, 2022

Woody Holliman
Durham, NC

5.7

There is now a bolt at the starting ledge for the belayer's safety. And the briars are no longer a problem. Mar 9, 2022