Navy member looking for a leader for stone mountain, NC

Whats up guys, after 7 months of deployment and 16 months from being home the time has finally come! i was hoping to do the great arch at stone mountain.. my two options were this, buy the cams brush up on the skills when i get back and hit the rock with a friend, or number two: find a competant friendly climber that would be willing to lead this route and show me "the ropes". Ive been top roping for two years and sport climbing for about 1. ive never placed protection or had to transfer at a belay station, the only thing i have been doing for the past 7 months is reading and watching youtube when allowed and learning as much as i can. i realize this is a shot in the dark but i figured before i shelled out the money for an actual guide or winged it buying my own gear i would see if anyone would be willing to climb with me in return for a case of beer.

Hi Ty,

I would take you out if I lived in NC. And not for the beer. Thank you for your service! If you are ever in the Boulder area, PM me and I will climb with you. I have all the gear, so all you would need is your personal gear. Good luck!

Instead of buying cams why don't you hire a guide?

Ty,

If you will pm your info to me. I can fwd some contacts to you, if you have not already heard from someone. That route is by no means hard. With your experience, the climbing will be easy. The gear placements are straight forward and it offers a lot of opportunities to learn/manage logistics.

If you do take Sean's advice on hiring a guide, call Fox and ask specifically for Ron Funderburke. He would be the guide for you, on multiple levels.

Better hurry. Stone no place to be once the weather gets warm. I usually hit it up a couple of times in the fall and winter. No plans to get back up there this season, sorry.

I'd happily go to stone mountain any time after May 7. Feel free to shoot me a line.

Thanks everyone! Not sure how to reply to individual comments but the dates will be anytime between APR 25 and MAY 1st.

wyomingsean wrote:Instead of buying cams why don't you hire a guide?