April 21, 2007. It was suggested by Eric & Marc last year that we should try mountain climbing in this area. That is, mountain climbing without the bikes. Since Eric & Marc have some experience and equipment, we agreed to give it a try. Climbing with ropes and carabiners was unfamiliar to most of us.
We started the day with pancakes and bacon. After breakfast cleanup, we drove the two vehicles to the same mountain of yesterday's Caney Bottom / Fish Hatchery trail but parked about halfway up to the trailhead of Looking Glass Rock, South Wall. The 45-minute hike to the rock wall would have been a little quicker if not for the many trees down over the trail. Downed trees were quite common because, as we learned from our campground host, the area had extreme winds just days before we arrived. We talked about the explosive noise the larger trees must have made, snapping and crashing to the forest floor.
Some climbers were already on the South Wall; others arrived throughout the day. Marc & Eric carefully climbed to small tree outcropping to secure a rope. After we made a few climbs, 5 ladies from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, showed up to watch the climbing. Marc invited them to join the climbing and most of them accepted. They seemed to have fun and thanked us often for the opportunity.
Even though we were miles from most conveniences, we enjoyed a hot meal right at the climbing wall thanks to JP's Ready-to-Eat (MRE?) meals, Cheese Tortellini. The boxed meals included a packet of salt water that, when added to a flat package of a magnesium-filled substance, boiled the meal piping hot depending on how long it was left on the tray. In my (HP) opinion, a very good meal.
Brian, JP, Tim, & Bob headed back to the camp. Brian, JP, & Bob headed to Black Mountain to tackle the area's highest peak. To say it was accessable by mountain bike was stretching it a little. After the almost 90-minute grind up a gravel road, the Clawhammer trail turned very rugged requiring more bike carrying than bike riding. The sun was already out of view when they turned around before finding the peak. They learned later they were very, very close. When they reached the downward gravel road, their speed approached insanity even as they met a lady with 2 dogs on the trail. Test those brake pads! They arrived back at camp in the dark.
Meanwhile, Tim searched for someone with parts and skills for fixing his hydraulic brake system. He ended up having to drive the pickup to Asheville where the problem was fixed but for a crazy price. Tim was not a happy camper.
Eric, Marc, & Harv continued climbing on Looking Glass Rock after lunch. Near the top of the rock Marc almost stepped on a 4-foot black snake. It remained motionless until we nudged it off the trail. It climbed onto tree branches, allowing us to pass. There was some "careful" discussions on how to get to various points (mainly, the bottom!) of the rock. The challenge was met with good plans and safe procedures and we had a Rocky Mountain high! See the photos!
Foil dinners! They included spicey sausage, potatos, corn, carrots, peas, & onions. We did a good job of making sure our exercise did reduce our weight!
We started the day with pancakes and bacon. After breakfast cleanup, we drove the two vehicles to the same mountain of yesterday's Caney Bottom / Fish Hatchery trail but parked about halfway up to the trailhead of Looking Glass Rock, South Wall. The 45-minute hike to the rock wall would have been a little quicker if not for the many trees down over the trail. Downed trees were quite common because, as we learned from our campground host, the area had extreme winds just days before we arrived. We talked about the explosive noise the larger trees must have made, snapping and crashing to the forest floor.
Some climbers were already on the South Wall; others arrived throughout the day. Marc & Eric carefully climbed to small tree outcropping to secure a rope. After we made a few climbs, 5 ladies from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, showed up to watch the climbing. Marc invited them to join the climbing and most of them accepted. They seemed to have fun and thanked us often for the opportunity.
Even though we were miles from most conveniences, we enjoyed a hot meal right at the climbing wall thanks to JP's Ready-to-Eat (MRE?) meals, Cheese Tortellini. The boxed meals included a packet of salt water that, when added to a flat package of a magnesium-filled substance, boiled the meal piping hot depending on how long it was left on the tray. In my (HP) opinion, a very good meal.
Brian, JP, Tim, & Bob headed back to the camp. Brian, JP, & Bob headed to Black Mountain to tackle the area's highest peak. To say it was accessable by mountain bike was stretching it a little. After the almost 90-minute grind up a gravel road, the Clawhammer trail turned very rugged requiring more bike carrying than bike riding. The sun was already out of view when they turned around before finding the peak. They learned later they were very, very close. When they reached the downward gravel road, their speed approached insanity even as they met a lady with 2 dogs on the trail. Test those brake pads! They arrived back at camp in the dark.
Meanwhile, Tim searched for someone with parts and skills for fixing his hydraulic brake system. He ended up having to drive the pickup to Asheville where the problem was fixed but for a crazy price. Tim was not a happy camper.
Eric, Marc, & Harv continued climbing on Looking Glass Rock after lunch. Near the top of the rock Marc almost stepped on a 4-foot black snake. It remained motionless until we nudged it off the trail. It climbed onto tree branches, allowing us to pass. There was some "careful" discussions on how to get to various points (mainly, the bottom!) of the rock. The challenge was met with good plans and safe procedures and we had a Rocky Mountain high! See the photos!
Foil dinners! They included spicey sausage, potatos, corn, carrots, peas, & onions. We did a good job of making sure our exercise did reduce our weight!
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