Type: | Trad, 500 ft (152 m), 3 pitches |
FA: | J. Jacobs, S. Stegg, T. Morgan. spring/summer 2012 |
Page Views: | 5,568 total · 36/month |
Shared By: | Jody Jacobs on Nov 17, 2012 · Updates |
Admins: | Ky Bishop, Steve Lineberry, Aaron Parlier |
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The CCC has created the list linked below of accessible and inaccessible climbing areas with some caveats. If you decide to head out for a day of climbing, please do not attempt to go to those marked ‘inaccessible’. Please note that all areas in WNC will have extensive tree damage and if you head out, use extra caution for all the trees above, especially on a windy day. Rock fall potential is also highest after a big weather event. Please use extra caution while climbing and prepare to self rescue if injured. Injury response time will be greatly limited for any injury currently, especially for a remote injury. Cell service is limited in all areas. Parking at accessible crags in the WNC/ Upstate SC region will likely be challenging. If the parking lot is full, go to a different area and do not park illegally or in a road. Make a plan B before leaving your house. Expect road detours on the way to the crag. NCdrive.gov updates road closures. Once you get to the crag, expect many trees blocking access trails and of course, come volunteer with the CCC to help us bring our climbing areas back!
carolinaclimbers.org/conten…
carolinaclimbers.org/conten…
Laurel Knob Jan 15- Aug 14: All routes in the Dillard Canyon are closed to climbing during this period.
carolinaclimbers.org/conten…
carolinaclimbers.org/conten…
Description
This route offers varied climbing and follows some neat features. As the rating suggests, it's more casual than your typical LK route.
P1 - Start near a large white pine tree at the base of the Girdle Traverse. To the right of P1 of the girdle is a left facing flake above a sloping ledge. Make a few funky moves off the sloping ledge and onto the flake. Climb the flake to it's end, then slab up past two bolts and move slightly left into a long, dry, tan colored groove. Follow this easy groove past another bolt to a double bolt belay on a moss pad ledge. 5.7 60m
P2 - Continue up the obvious groove to some pockets under a moss pad and a bolt. Move left around the moss pad, then back right until you're directly above it. Climb the steeper face on cool pockets (gear) to a good stance with a bolt. Climb up and slightly right into the shallow corner and up the obvious right facing flake. Where the flake ends continue up the face/slab, finishing up a shallow groove to a belay ledge with double bolts. 5.7, 45m
P3 - Directly above the P2 belay is a vegetated groove that's often wet, we didn't climb it and it doesn't look all that great. To the right of this is an obvious clean groove with a short steepish section. This is one variation of P3. I don't recommend climbing this groove unless it's almost completely dry. There's one bolt in it above the bulge and then a bit of a run out on easier ground to where it joins the right most variation. 5.7, 60m
I like the right most variation the best and suggest it as the normal finish. This variation is just right of the groove described above. Start as for the above described groove. Move right just before the start of the steeper part of the groove at a gear placement. Climb up a few horizontals to a naturally clean streak. Climb the streak past a single bolt and a bit of a runout to easier ground. Continue up following a series of ramps and horizontals past a small cluster of trees on your left to the top of the wall and a large pine tree. 5.7, 60m
Note: If the P1 flake is wet the P2 one will be also. If you make the hike and Frolictown is wet, one good option is climbing P1 of the Girdle straight up to it's belay (aka Before the Settlers Arrive) and linking up with the route Biopsy. Info on Biopsy is available on the forums on the CCC website.
P1 - Start near a large white pine tree at the base of the Girdle Traverse. To the right of P1 of the girdle is a left facing flake above a sloping ledge. Make a few funky moves off the sloping ledge and onto the flake. Climb the flake to it's end, then slab up past two bolts and move slightly left into a long, dry, tan colored groove. Follow this easy groove past another bolt to a double bolt belay on a moss pad ledge. 5.7 60m
P2 - Continue up the obvious groove to some pockets under a moss pad and a bolt. Move left around the moss pad, then back right until you're directly above it. Climb the steeper face on cool pockets (gear) to a good stance with a bolt. Climb up and slightly right into the shallow corner and up the obvious right facing flake. Where the flake ends continue up the face/slab, finishing up a shallow groove to a belay ledge with double bolts. 5.7, 45m
P3 - Directly above the P2 belay is a vegetated groove that's often wet, we didn't climb it and it doesn't look all that great. To the right of this is an obvious clean groove with a short steepish section. This is one variation of P3. I don't recommend climbing this groove unless it's almost completely dry. There's one bolt in it above the bulge and then a bit of a run out on easier ground to where it joins the right most variation. 5.7, 60m
I like the right most variation the best and suggest it as the normal finish. This variation is just right of the groove described above. Start as for the above described groove. Move right just before the start of the steeper part of the groove at a gear placement. Climb up a few horizontals to a naturally clean streak. Climb the streak past a single bolt and a bit of a runout to easier ground. Continue up following a series of ramps and horizontals past a small cluster of trees on your left to the top of the wall and a large pine tree. 5.7, 60m
Note: If the P1 flake is wet the P2 one will be also. If you make the hike and Frolictown is wet, one good option is climbing P1 of the Girdle straight up to it's belay (aka Before the Settlers Arrive) and linking up with the route Biopsy. Info on Biopsy is available on the forums on the CCC website.
Location
Approach as for the Girdle traverse. This route is at the far right end of the wall. Rap the route to descend.
Protection
A regular cam rack to a 3" piece and the smaller tricams. Doubles in the small/medium cams or a set of singles plus offset cams in that size range is handy but not mandatory.
Fixed ring anchors at the P1 and P2 belays. The P3 belay at the large pine was equipped with new webbing and two old rope slings, a ring, two locking biners as of October 2019.
Fixed ring anchors at the P1 and P2 belays. The P3 belay at the large pine was equipped with new webbing and two old rope slings, a ring, two locking biners as of October 2019.
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