Ship Rock  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  36.099, -81.7815 Map Page Views:  44,660. Good page?    Administrators:  saxfiend, Edward Medina, Ryan Williams Submitted By:  Nick Stayner on Nov 16, 2006 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon 68° | 52° 66° | 48° 64° | 46° 66° | 52° 70° | 54°

Mike Trew on Special Opps 12a Ship Rock

Description 

Ship Rock is located on the Blue Ridge. It offers an excellent selection of routes at all grades, most of which are very high quality and quite protectable. Its northwestern exposure means that it comes into the sun late in the day, making it an excellent spot for the warmer months. Due to its number of excellent moderates and proximity to Appalachian State University, it's pretty popular. The rock is a bomber metamorphic (quartzite?) scored with numbers of awesome horizontals that make great holds and take excellent gear.
A "standard Shiprock rack" may consist of a set of stoppers, doubles on cams from 00 TCU-.75 camalot, and singles of #1/2 camalots. See individual descriptions for more info.

Getting There 

Ship Rock is approached via the Rough Ridge parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway, located ~2 miles north of the Linn Cove Viaduct. From Rough Ridge, walk south down the parkway for 1/3 of a mile. Cross a bridge, pass a roadcut, and look right. A trail should become apparent immediately after the roadcut.

The Classics

Featured Route For Ship Rock

Special Forces 5.11a R  NC : Ship Rock : Main Tier

This is a serious but great route for those who enjoy thin holds.Move up a short, steep wall, clip the first bolt, and then pull onto small holds on the slab. Several thin slab moves bring you up to a precarious mantle onto a small, sloping ledge (you wouldn't want to fall from here). Stand up, clip the second bolt, then make hard moves into the corner (crux). Superb stemming takes you up the corner - small gear (RPs and offsets) backs up the fixed pin. At the stance below the final headwall...[more]   Browse More Classics in NC

Photos of Ship Rock Slideshow

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A view south from the top of Ship Rock towards Tab...	SS and SF on the Blue Ridge Parkway Oct. 09	BETA PHOTO: This photo was taken from just North of the Linn C...
The ships prow?	Boardwalk