The weekend weather for the New River Gorge was not looking good. Clouds, a high percentage of “wintery mix”, and cold. On the other hand, the forecast for Coopers Rock was looking perfect on Sunday. Whenever the weather gets dicey during late Fall or early Spring, a day trip to Coopers is a welcome alternative. It’s only about an hour and 45 minutes from our house, making for an easy…
It was Bridge Day. The typical “Wet Virginia” weather was looming and threatening climbers and BASE jumpers alike. We hit up Rico Suave Area, part of Kaymoor. It was cloudy and cool, but still dry in the morning; perfect Fall climbing weather. As we warmed up, the temperatures seemed to be dropping as the day progressed.
Rico Suave Arete (10a) – One of the best bolted…
By mid week, several days before our recent weekend trip down to the New, my palms were already sweating. Looking at the forecast, it was almost perfect: mid 50’s temps and sun. Once the temperature dips in the Fall, the friction is unreal. The sandstone at the New River Gorge feels like Velcro and projects go down!
We went down Friday night so we would have a full day on Saturday.
Last year, the American Alpine Club brought their Craggin’ Classic event to the New River Gorge. Now that there is an AAC campground at the New, they have the perfect venue to host this event. I was unable to make it last year, but this year, we weren’t going to miss it! Gaelyn and I both volunteered for the event along with the usual band of locals. The Craggin Classic will more or…
At the beginning of the summer, I was asked by Outdoor Research to participate in their #ORInsightLab program. I didn’t know what to expect or what type of gear they would send me. Writing this now, which will be my last post for the program in 2014, I can say it was super fun and the gear is awesome. Before this summer, I never had the chance to try any gear from OR. But now,…
This video review is of the Outdoor Research Jinx Shirt. This shirt is super light weight for those hot summer days. It’s a minimalist shirt with one pocket and not too many details, but it shines when the sun is shining on you! Going on a summer road trip? You may not want to leave home without the Jinx. Watch until the end for a bonus review! This review is part of t…
This is a video review of the Outdoor Research Deadpoint Shorts. These shorts are versatile, comfortable, and very durable. I’ve been wearing them for months and I really like the cotton canvas material that has just a bit of stretch. With all OR clothing, they are super functional but also look good. If you are looking for a great pair of shorts that do it all for your summer road…
This is a video review of the Outdoor Research Handbrake belay gloves. These gloves are extremely well designed with no detail left out. They are all leather with a reinforced palm. The wrist closure is elastic neoprene to ensure a tight fit. The knuckles are formed leather and there are small tabs on the inside of two fingers to aid in removing the gloves. Lastly, there is a ho…
This video review is of the Outdoor Research Growler Shirt. This shirt is made of all synthetic materials so it wicks away sweat and dries super quick. I love the stitching and pattern on this shirt. It’s very versatile so you can feel at home at the crag and in a fancy restaurant. Going on a road trip? This may be the perfect, do-it-all shirt. This review is part of t…
Knowing we were on borrowed time before the summer heat and humidity descended upon the East Coast, we made the trip down to the New to take advantage of what would likely be one of the last trips this Spring. To avoid the heat and sun, we headed to Butcher’s Branch, part of Kaymoor on the South side of the gorge. To our surprise, the crag was empty! The previous weekend, Memoria…
