Last Minute: Intermediate Summersville Climbing

OVERVIEW

Ever dreamt of climbing high cliffs above deep water? Well this weekend I’m running a last-minute trip out to Summersville to do (maybe) just that. Summersville Lake is just one of the many climbing destinations in the widely-renowned adventureland of the New River Gorge. As mentioned, this is one of the few places that deep water soloing (DWS) is possible (in a decently safe manner) on the East Coast*.

For most of this summer a one Benneth Early has had a serious itch to try himself at this daring activity, so we figured we’d set up a quick trip for the last available weekend before school starts up.

I too have been dying to get my hands on some world-class rock, so we’ll be planning on going out pretty early on Friday, and going until late on Saturday or Sunday (2-3 decent days of climbing) depending on schedules. Weather is currently looking pretty amazing, and I’m planning on staying at either the Gauley put-in (near the dam) or at a slightly nicer campground (where NRGE is held).

This will be an intermediate trip with a good bit of sport, and maybe some top roping in the 5.8 to 5.10b/c range, so come if you’re comfortable on lead or can TR in the 5.9+ neighborhood. It is block party this weekend too, so in honor of missing out in the festivities, we’ll have some festivities of our own, and tell some d0p3 campfire stories.

Tl;dr Summersville climbing + this weekend = sweeeeeeeeet

To bring:
-Money for nomz … or … food for nomz
-Water holding devices (WHDs)
-Clothes (might get into 50s at night, pack appro-pro)
– Approx. $15 for lodging
-Harnesses, climbing shoes, ATC/grigri’s, draws/ropes if you have them
-Bathing suit!

*As a caveat: DWS is a dangerous activity, so I won’t actually be leading DWS or a DWS trip. If you want to do it you will be doing it not under my guidance.