Hey! I'm hoping on heading up to Rumbling Bald for Labor Day weekend, I read a lot about the poison ivy and insects being pretty bad but I was wondering, if it would still be bad bouldering conditions?
it's definitely a bad idea if you plan on climbing harder problems but it's still doable if you're just looking to climb the clean boulders that dont have poison ivy and just have fun. good bouldering season at the bald doesn't really start until late October or November when the temps drop and the humidity goes away for the winter.
Climbing at the Bald requires high amounts of friction. Ideal conditions are sub-50F. Very rarely do you see problems with overhanging jugs. This is often the nature of gneiss. For cooler temps, check out the Boone area. The insects and vegetation will still be a problem, but temps will be better. The bouldering season in the south is short. I would rather continue to train in the gym or on a rope than deal with the oppressive conditions. Go check it out for first hand experience. At least you will get to feed the insects or get some cool snake pictures. Like this one I took in the boulderfield a few summers back when I too was crazy.
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