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A New Challenge for North Carolina!

Original Post
Jon Kulikowski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 260

So my partner Nathan Hitchcock and I decided to try linking a few of the popular moderates in Linville Gorge. We started yesterday morning and climbed Jim Dandy, North Ridge, The Mummy, The Daddy and The Prow in 8h 55m 2s. We're calling this marathon The Linville Classic. This was our first run at it and I had to onsight The Mummy and The Prow, so there is lots of room for improvement. Let's see what you can do!

William Sonoma · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 3,550

Right on for having an eye for freshness. I also appreciate that you're trying to motivate others. What else can YOU do? What's next?

I'm trying to see if I can spice things up by linking routes that you normally couldn't by free climbing or aiding by incorporating the big wall pendulum technique. These crags are no higher than 125ft so its totally odd but awesome! Fun stuff. Enjoy!

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265

Thats a neat idea and great work though half of the routes i wouldn't consider moderate.

The next level would be to link some moderates across the linville crags including the gold coast side: Dopey Duck, Cracker Jack, Lost in Space, Buried Tressure etc...

I know Pat goodman did some sort of killer linkup

todd w · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 0
Jon Kulikowski wrote:We started yesterday morning and climbed Jim Dandy, North Ridge, The Mummy, The Daddy and The Prow in 8h 55m 2s.
Damn, must have been a long day. That's not an easy hike in between those areas...
Steve86 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 10

For reference:

Linkup thread

Jon Kulikowski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 260
todd w wrote: Damn, must have been a long day. That's not an easy hike in between those areas...
To be honest, I thought I was going to puke twice.
Preston Sparks · · Augusta, GA · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 30

Hey how was the weather? I was thinking about going to NC this weekend. Not sure if I wanted to climb at Table Rock or Looking Glass. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether the Nose would be warm enough on saturday?

Preston

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265

if the temperature around noone is 40 and up you'll be toasty warm on the nose...it does stay in the shade until about late morning

Keith Robinson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 10

Now your talking. I am always trying to link as many as possible. Get a little reminder of long alpine routes here in NC!

I have climbed Good Heavens, The Mummy, The Daddy, The Prow, The North Ridge, Hidden Crack and Cracker Jack in about 8 hours. Simuling all routes but Crackerjack. Many of the other OB instructors get out and do these days frequently because of the proximity of the routes to work.

I also soloed all those except crackerjack but including slipping into darkness/helmet/my route finish. All in about 5 hrs.

I am going to do a big TR link up day. I would like to climb as many quality routes 5.9 or less on TR in a link up. I am thinking of linking:

Garbage Disposal, Crackerjack, Hanging High to 2nd Stanza, White Lightning, North Ridge to Rip Van, Hidden Crack, Peek-a-boo(rap off 2nd), Jim Dandy, Slippin'.

I did the first six in a day many years ago. There are some other good routes that could be thrown in maybe.

Rick Carpenter · · Marion, NC · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 1,315

The linville link up has been around quiet awhile, generally something like 20ish miles of hiking and around 30 pitches of climbing involved. Nothing new just usually more moderate routes

burlap submariner · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 170

Awesome, love the motivation. In the northeast we have a number of awesome girdle traverses of all the larger cliffs, up to 22 pitches of downclimbing, ledge walking, and rapelling.

Jon Kulikowski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 260

So, my partner and I revisited The Classic yesterday and clocked a time of 5:33:01. It can definitely be beaten and I would love to see some other teams cut time off of this!

Brad Caldwell · · Deep in the Jocassee Gorges · Joined May 2010 · Points: 1,400

Why dont you shoot for the already established and much better known Linville Link Up instead? Seems like more of a challenge and climbs more challenging routes than what you're doing already...definitely more of a challenge than linking a bunch of 5.boyscout routes.

Jon Kulikowski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 260

I looked for info on that, couldn't find it. I guess I'll have to stay in the Weblos for a bit longer.

Jonathan Dull · · Boone, NC · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 415

You should try the Linville Crusher (some call this the linkup I believe) next; a route at Shortoff, The Amphitheater, Table Rock, Hawksbill, and Sitting Bear.

Mike F · · Arden, NC · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 56

Missing one formation jonathan. The true linkup includes sitting bear, hawksbill, table rock, nc wall, ampitheater, and shortoff. Some folks have done the prow (technically on the NC wall) in lieu of other routes given falcon closures and such. A great adventure for sure! The crux is the hike to shortoff from the ampitheater!

Mike F · · Arden, NC · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 56
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
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