First Time Climbing Outside - Routes to Climb - Rumbling Bald

Hey folks,

This March I'll be climbing outside for the first time. I'm hiring an AMGA guide for a full day at the Rumbling Bald and was hoping to do some good beginner trad/sport/mixed single pitch routes. The guide said I could tailor the day to my liking, but since I've only climbed indoors, I don't know where to start.

Any recommendations? I'm psyched, thanks in advance!

Currently Leading 5.10 (indoors though,so probably softer)

Good on you for making the first moves to getting outdoors.

A couple of suggestions for routes for the guide to lead you up:

Flappin' in the Breeze (5.10a) - you can get your multipitch feet wet on this one, all bolted belays, 3 pitches

Drivin' & Cryin' into Gift Certificate (5.10a + 5.8)

Fruit Loops (5.7, 2 pitches)

If you want to lead a bit there aren't too many easy sport lines at Rumbling Bald, but the beginner lines are Bear Cub (5.7) and Family Feud (one 5.8 move and then cruiser ground). The beginner trad lines are at Cereal Wall mainly, but I don't view them as being good for a first-time trad leader.

Have fun!

It doesn't sound like your "guide" is doing much guiding; I would have thought he/she would know the area well enough to make some suggestions.

If I were you, I'd head for the Flakeview area. There's a lot of good moderates there that will keep you occupied for a day. Based on your gym-leading level, you can probably handle stuff like Bear Cub, Gift Certificate, etc. if you're wanting to do some outdoor leading. If you want to up the ante, get your guide to lead Drivin and Cryin; Gunboat Diplomacy is another first-rate 10 as well.

JL

saxfiend wrote:It doesn't sound like your "guide" is doing much guiding; I would have thought he/she would know the area well enough to make some suggestions. If I were you, I'd head for the Flakeview area. There's a lot of good moderates there that will keep you occupied for a day. Based on your gym-leading level, you can probably handle stuff like Bear Cub, Gift Certificate, etc. if you're wanting to do some outdoor leading. If you want to up the ante, get your guide to lead Drivin and Cryin; Gunboat Diplomacy is another first-rate 10 as well. JL

ha, yeah. I'm sure they will set me up well. I'm using Fox Mountain Guides. The customer service so far has been excellent. Really nice people over there. I just wanted to get opinions on good beginner routes. Thx for the advice :D

Edit: I also wanted to add that I haven't actually booked the guide yet, just email and phone correspondence. Going to book this week once my boss approves of my PTO.

Dylan B. wrote:If you want to get out before then, I'd be happy to meet you in Pilot. Pilot is a good beginner crag, and I've taught lots of beginning leaders outdoors. My only guiding fee is a safe belay. PM me.

If I lived in NC I totally would take you up on that! I live in NYC, and I'm visiting family in NC this March. Wanted to get outside for the first time on my 35th birthday. Hoping to learn a good bit so I can get out to the gunks this year.

Joe Virtanen wrote:Good on you for making the first moves to getting outdoors. A couple of suggestions for routes for the guide to lead you up: Flappin' in the Breeze (5.10a) - you can get your multipitch feet wet on this one, all bolted belays, 3 pitches Drivin' & Cryin' into Gift Certificate (5.10a + 5.8) Fruit Loops (5.7, 2 pitches) If you want to lead a bit there aren't too many easy sport lines at Rumbling Bald, but the beginner lines are Bear Cub (5.7) and Family Feud (one 5.8 move and then cruiser ground). The beginner trad lines are at Cereal Wall mainly, but I don't view them as being good for a first-time trad leader. Have fun!

Thanks man! I'm really excited to see how the rubber on my shoes feels on real rock. Silly thing to be excited about, I know.

Bear Cub looks it would be a really fun first climb

Yep. You can't talk smack on Fox - they are some of the best there is. Odd for an admin. to make such a broad spray of a post.

Kevin Shon wrote:Yep. You can't talk smack on Fox - they are some of the best there is. Odd for an admin. to make such a broad spray of a post.

Odd for a non-admin to experience such reading comprehension fail. The OP didn't identify Fox as the guide service in the post I responded to.

As for "talking smack," here's a question for you: if you were a new climber hiring a guide to take you on your first outdoor climbing trip, would you not expect this guide to suggest suitable routes for you rather than have to ask people on the internet for that kind of information?

JL

Best get to working on your slab stepping, a lot of smeary feet on some of those climbs. Flapping in the breeze is one of my all time favorites. I'll second Dryvin and Cryin

saxfiend wrote: Odd for a non-admin to experience such reading comprehension fail. The OP didn't identify Fox as the guide service in the post I responded to. As for "talking smack," here's a question for you: if you were a new climber hiring a guide to take you on your first outdoor climbing trip, would you not expect this guide to suggest suitable routes for you rather than have to ask people on the internet for that kind of information? JL

That is true, I did not mention the guide service name in the original post. As for going on the Internet and asking for your opinion on routes to try, was I not supposed to do this? I understand and expect that the guide will suggest routes, etc, but I figure that since this was a south east climbing forum, it would be the proper place to get info prior to visiting?

Side note: Is this the typical tone of this forum?

Rusty Bridges wrote:That is true, I did not mention the guide service name in the original post. As for going on the Internet and asking for your opinion on routes to try, was I not supposed to do this? I understand and expect that the guide will suggest routes, etc, but I figure that since this was a south east climbing forum, it would be the proper place to get info prior to visiting?

Rusty, it wasn't my intention to say there's anything wrong with you asking about good routes, so if it came across that way, I'm sorry. My main concern from reading your initial post was that you came here for advice only because your guide wasn't giving you any guidance. That's how it sounded, which is why I commented as I did.

Rusty Bridges wrote:Side note: Is this the typical tone of this forum?

Unfortunately, yes.

JL

saxfiend wrote: Rusty, it wasn't my intention to say there's anything wrong with you asking about good routes, so if it came across that way, I'm sorry. My main concern from reading your initial post was that you came here for advice only because your guide wasn't giving you any guidance. That's how it sounded, which is why I commented as I did. Unfortunately, yes. JL

It's cool. I understand. Thanks for the suggestions! Wish it was March already :D

Seems like, yes, Saxfiend has violated posting Guideline #1 -

Most guide services will have minimal internet contact with you at this level. Most of the figuring out will be done in person on that day. The guiding doesn't happen over the internet - but in person.

And saxfiend - you were spraying even worse than naming the company - you were assuming, based on your own hubris, that the company is doing an inadequate job of providing for their client. This is an inaccurate assumption of the quality of Fox.

There was no reading comprehension fail, sir - to answer your question, I would do both. To empower my client, I would certainly have them do their own research, look through a guide book, hunt forums in the name of climber education. Is the climber's goal to learn more about climbing AND the area?

Asking a beginner climber with only indoor experience to clarify their goals and their expectations of the day is totally reasonable. Seems like you're the one with the comprehension failure: The client (Rusty Bridges) has stated he doesn't know where to start - he never said the guide service was being wishy washy.

Also, without contractual agreement nor payment, why would a guide service offer expert assistance before payment? He is not a client of theirs yet- so there is no guide/client relationship yet established.

At any rate - dude was looking for some self-education so he could have some meaningful conversation/interaction with his guides. I commend him for that.

I am disappointed at your promotion of such negativity on MP, Mr. Admin. Forgive my forwardness, but I do think you were jumping to conclusions about the transfer of services that occurred.

Just do YOUR homework as well in the future, and I'll do mine, but I stand firm that I was not miscomprehending any pieces of information presented in the OP.

Re-read post and get your facts straight - a basic function of any administrator.

With respect,

KMS

Rusty Bridges,

What are your goals associated with the climbing day? Just to try climbing outside? Do you want to rappel? Boulder? Top rope? Take steps towards learning to lead?

Rumbling Bald is an awesome location with lots to offer - So, I would suggest focusing more on the skills you as a climber would like to walk away with at the end of the day, as opposed to the specific area of Rumbling Bald that you might explore - unless that is your primary goal: To further explore Rumbling Bald.

It's really common for first time outdoor climbers to be guided at Cereal Buttress - with routes like Granola (5.6), and some fun 5.8's and 5.9's nearby, it is a quick walk form the parking lot and can provide for a full day of climbing and learning.

The boulders down below this area are also great for an afternoon cool down.

Good luck with getting that PTO, and look forward to hearing more about how your experience turns out/ your goals for the day.

best,

KMS

Kevin, dude, you do understand how forums work correct? The first post was made -

Rusty Bridges wrote:Hey folks, This March I'll be climbing outside for the first time. I'm hiring an AMGA guide for a full day at the Rumbling Bald and was hoping to do some good beginner trad/sport/mixed single pitch routes. The guide said I could tailor the day to my liking, but since I've only climbed indoors, I don't know where to start. Any recommendations? I'm psyched, thanks in advance! Currently Leading 5.10 (indoors though,so probably softer)

Then saxfiend responded -

saxfiend wrote:It doesn't sound like your "guide" is doing much guiding; I would have thought he/she would know the area well enough to make some suggestions.

I was sure thinking the same thing. I'm sure quite a few others were as well.

Then, after saxfiend's post, Rusty provides this additional info -

Rusty Bridges wrote: ha, yeah. I'm sure they will set me up well. I'm using Fox Mountain Guides. The customer service so far has been excellent. Really nice people over there. I just wanted to get opinions on good beginner routes. Thx for the advice :D Edit: I also wanted to add that I haven't actually booked the guide yet, just email and phone correspondence. Going to book this week once my boss approves of my PTO.

It is ok man, just let it go. You don't have to take the internet so seriously.

Thanks, Coffey! Like most people, I'm not a big fan of being accused of saying something I didn't say; especially about the excellent Fox Mountain Guide service. You obviously got the picture clearly, as I'm sure most people did.

JL

Thanks for all the great info guys! I've officially booked the guide at fox. I'm really excited!

Goals for the day:
Learn how to lead outside
Place and clean gear
Rappel
Build anchors

Hopefully after a full day I'll have a good understanding of these things. I'll still go outside to climb with a mentor after that though for a good bit.

Nice, Rusty - no doubt you'll be able to meet those goals on all the terrain in the Rumbling Bald area! Good luck!

Coffey wrote:Kevin, dude, you do understand how forums work correct? The first post was made - Then saxfiend responded - I was sure thinking the same thing. I'm sure quite a few others were as well. Then, after saxfiend's post, Rusty provides this additional info - It is ok man, just let it go. You don't have to take the internet so seriously.

Coffey - I totally understand. Not taking it too seriously. I just didn't jive with an admin's sarcasm - the initial point of the negativity. But - I don't hold on to grudges, and you're so right.... it's just the internet. No need to blow steam over it.

many thanks

less than 1 month out. STOKED!!!!!!!!