Linville Conditions
|
Planning on road tripping to Linville 3/17-3/19. |
|
A lot of Linville dries quickly with temps above freezing, Shortoff especially. I wouldn't worry too much about the trails. This stuff gets hiked all year. The gate to TR is closed, so that adds 45-60 min of hiking. There are a few adventure climbs at that grade in shortoff as well, maginot, big corner, etc... Just watch for loose holds from the freeze thaw. |
|
At table rock there is alot of variations you can climb around the jim dandy area around that level. My partner when i was there said North Ridge was a really fun climb with good views but we got rained out while on white lightning and never made it to it. |
|
Trails will be muddy. Climb Marginot line on Shortoff, or the Daddy in the Amphitheater. The approach to Shortoff is just under 2 miles, and is uphill. The approach to the amphitheater is about a mile from the parking lot, and is relatively flat or downhill on the way there. I seem to remember the gate closure adding a mile of uphill road walking, but I could be wrong on that. Table rock has some fun lines, but aren't really that great. There's tons of free camping either along the FS roads or within the gorge. Bring water. Have fun. |
|
Lots of good advice here already, one more option I can think of before the gate reopens. The northern side of table rock can be had from Spence Ridge parking area and heading south picking up the mountain to sea trail. |
|
As of 4 days ago, the trails were wet and pretty muddy. It's been raining a lot since then as well. The rock on Table Rock was dry on the south and east faces. The north end still had some ice both on the trail and on the wall. I doubt it's still there now with all the rain and warmish weather. |
|
Thank you ALL for the responses. I am at work so if I missed this I am sorry I appreciate all the responses and I'm wondering besides Falcon closures do I need any other local knowledge or permit for these areas? thank you I look forward to reading through all of these when I get home. |
|
No permits required. It does help to know USFS rules if you plan on camping in the Wilderness. Most people just camp along the road to Table Rock. There are plenty of pull-offs. The High Country Cragger is a nice little guidebook if you are looking for short easy days of single pitch close to the car. There are even some sport routes and cliffs. There is also a Gold Coast guide book for the opposite side of the gorge, but this may not be worth your time since much of it will be spent wandering. |
|
Any idea where someone could find a copy of the gold coast guide? |
|
I got my gold coast book from Mike at misty mountain. Not sure if that is the only place to get it... |
|
Online or local gear shop. I got mine online several years ago. You can get Mike to autograph it! |
|
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE REPLIES! My goodness the support here is fantastic. |
|
Spence ridge won't be in the climbing guide. It's the obvious parking lot with parking on both sides of the road with a sign that says spence ridge. |
|
Thank you. was finally able to search into the forums and found the 2015 closure guide so that helps. Glad we are protecting them birdies! You all have fun and be safe over spring break! |
|
I like the Spence Ridge trail but there is a good chance it will still be very muddy. The ease of hiking up the pavement should make up for its slightly longer length. |
|
If the book you mentioned arriving tomorrow is the gold coast guide, that covers the west side of the gorge, and none of these trails will get there unless you blaze across the river (not easy). That side also doesn't have many established routes in the grades you were looking to climb. The Conley cove/rock jock trail would work best on that side. If this is your first time in the gorge, trails are marked at the trail head, and it can be hard to find intersections at times. Fun place, but it is a wilderness... |
|
If the gate is blocking the road to the Table Rock parking lot, parking there and hiking up is probably the fastest way to get to Table Rock, the Amphitheater, etc. You can also park at the Spence Ridge trail head, and at a junction take a left following a very steep trail that eventually leads to the Mountains to Sea trail and Table Rock. This is probably the hardest way to the climbing areas. There is a third, and IMHO, better alternative. |
|
to much reading blokes. |
|
Gate closes Jan 1, is supposed to open Apr 1. |