Crowders Mountain-Need Some Help

Hey Everyone,
I will be heading down to NC to climb at crowders mountain beginning of April. Picked this spot due to the many top rope opportunities. I have never been here before and after reading some of the route descriptions on MP it seems a lot of the routes that are classified as top rope actually have to be sport lead to a common set of shared anchors and then can be top roped from there. Before reading this I was under the assumption that if the route was described as top rope then you could setup a top rope from above (i.e trees/boulders, etc) and not mess with leading. I will not have a lead belay partner during this trip so any input would be much appreciated to let me know if I am mistaken on these top ropes.

Please share any knowledge.

thanks

You can walk along the ridge line to get to the bolts for toproping for Practice Wall, the backside of David's Castle, and Middle Finger. I might be missing an area. Between Practice Wall and David's Castle you should be busy all day.

Red Wall, Rising Sun Wall, Wrestling Wall, probably everything in the Resurgence area, Two Pitch wall all require leading the routes to get to the anchors. I'm pretty sure the park does not allow for anchoring on trees so you won't be able to setup an anchor on a tree to rap down to the anchors on these walls.

Drew is right on. Fortress Wall would be the only other walk up anchors I can think of. Right across from the backside of middle finger. Some of the anchors can be a little tricky to find and the book is not much help. Good chance however you will have company on those walls.

Where are you coming from? Consider Pilot Mtn too. A good number of top ropes. There will be no shortage of people to show you routes and/or potentially lead routes. IMO much better climbing than Crowders. Don't get me wrong, I'd climb at Crowders a ton if I lived within an hour or so, but I'd be pretty disappointed (and have been) if I made a trip to get there. I guess some could say the same about Pilot, but I would consider it a step up in quality. I understand the appeal of a place where top-ropes may be accessible, but depending on where you driving from, I think there might be better options for you. Also consider posting up on the CCC website. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. We will be coming from Michigan to attend a wedding in Greenville SC and crowder's is only an hr away.

So it sounds like this area gets fairly busy and even if i didn't have a lead belay partner, these walls will be already setup with ropes? Most people ok with allowing you to climb on their ropes down there?

thanks

Matt KC wrote:Thanks for the advice. We will be coming from Michigan to attend a wedding in Greenville SC and crowder's is only an hr away. So it sounds like this area gets fairly busy and even if i didn't have a lead belay partner, these walls will be already setup with ropes? Most people ok with allowing you to climb on their ropes down there? thanks

Well in that case, Crowders is a good choice.

Matt KC wrote:Thanks for the advice. We will be coming from Michigan to attend a wedding in Greenville SC and crowder's is only an hr away. So it sounds like this area gets fairly busy and even if i didn't have a lead belay partner, these walls will be already setup with ropes? Most people ok with allowing you to climb on their ropes down there? thanks

I don't know about jumping on someone's rope, but there are certainly plenty of people there on a nice weekend. You might get lucky if there's a big party or party of three, but I know I don't let people just walk up and take a burn on whatever route we're on. Nothing against you, just odd to me to walk up to someone you don't know and ask if you can take a ride. Are you going down there partner-less?

I don't think many people would let you simply jump on their rope. However, I have frequently let people climb my rope/route while I climb theirs. Also, if you're cordial and ask nicely, most folks will put your rope up on the route they're on when they go up to clean.

Sam- I am not going partner-less. Guess I misspoke. To Nathan's point, I have let others use my rope while I use theirs. I am from Michigan and the only place outdoors is grand ledge, which is usually packed. Ropes on every route already setup when you get there. It's common knowledge out there that if a rope is open and no one waiting, climb on! Not saying I would wonder solo throughout climbing walls mooching rope time like smeigel (though that's a funny thought to picture.)

Anyways, thanks for the advice. Sounds like there are plenty of top rope opportunities.