Fall Climbing Redux

OVERVIEW

(This trip was originally announced for Sat Nov 1st. It is actually on Sun Nov 2nd. Just making sure you know!)

This Sunday’s forecast: 59 degrees, sunshine and patchy clouds. Again, about as perfect as you can get for climbing!

Requirements: Able to tie in, belay a top rope, and scrape/flap/paddle/claw your way up a 5.8. Indoors. I think my cat can do the last one. I know Shadow can!

This trip will start with a very small trip size, 4 people. That’s how many people I can fit in my car including me. I’ll expand it as I get drivers, and drivers get priority to come off the waitlist. Everyone loves good… driving.

Franklin has routes from 5.7 to 5.12b at the main walls, up to 5.13 at the riverbend area. We’ll be at the main walls! There are good quality routes as low as 5.8. Put your indoor climbing to the test! Almost all the routes are sport, so if you can lead sport, bring it on.

Franklin faces south/southwest, so some of the rock will be in the sun but you will not be when you’re sitting at the bottom. Dress appropriately! You’ll want layers so you can take some off when you climb. And even though the forecast says sun, don’t forget rain gear. A headlamp or a flashlight is a good idea too, even though we’re not planning on being out after dark. Also be sure to bring at least 2 liters of water and a lunch. A stop along the way to pick up lunch/coffee at Sheetz is a near certainty. The rock might be cold, so if you’re prone to cold fingers it would be a good idea to go get some of those charcoal hand warmer things (Blue Ridge will have them) to put in your chalk bag. We might stop for dinner on the way back, hence the late end time. There’s a good pizza place in Brandywine, Fox’s. Or, if you’re a connoisseur of pizza, there’s a better (and more expensive and farther and slower) one in Harrisonburg that I forget the name of.

Club provides: Climbing gear, ga$ money.

You provide: Any climbing gear you own (harness, shoes, etc), appropriate clothing, water, pack lunch, sturdy shoes for the approach, camera, $ for dinner, kick ass attitude and a smile.