The Dark Side  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  41,356. Good page? (2 likes)    Administrators:  saxfiend, Edward Medina, Ryan Williams, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Sean Cobourn on Oct 1, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Temporarily closed. 2013 Closures MORE INFO >>> Big Lost Cove Cliffs are closed to climbing due to the local falcon population This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

part of The Main Wall from the Cougar Crag. Eagle...

Description 

Most southern climbers are familiar with Rumbling Bald, one of the best winter areas around due to its low elevation and south facing aspect. The cliff seems to stretch on for a mile or more when viewed from the tourist meccas of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. However, the other side of the mountain has just as much rock and is climbable in the summer when the south side is a blast furnace. 99% of routes were done in ground up style. Let's keep it that way please.
I like secret places. I am not posting this stuff due to ego. The north face has no publicly documented history. Since most of this rock will be in the newly formed state park I felt it important to finally document areas so we could show the powers that be that there is a long rich history of climbing here and that climbing should be an allowed activity once the management plan is in the works.

Getting There 

Currently there are limited ways to get there. Either know someone who lives in the gated Fairfield golf community at the base of the walls or hike around or over the top from the south side. This situation should change over the coming years as this area will be inside the newly created Hickory Nut Gorge State Park.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Dark Side

Thunderstruck 5.11b/c  NC : Closed : ... : Desperado Wall

The cruxes are isolated and well protected, making this a worthwhile route to try to onsight. Locate the left line of bolts at the very top of the tree ledge. They are nearly invisible due to a tan colored paint. P-1 Climb the short section of patina type edges to a bolt and a difficult mantel. Clip another bolt and make a thin and reachy move to good holds that lead to a good stance. Move right and up to a an obvious large pocket, and clip the 3rd bolt. Make more hard moves past this to t...[more]   Browse More Classics in NC

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Cougar Crag (left) Main Wall (center) Desperado Wa...	Cougar Crag (far left) Main Wall (left) Desperado ...	BETA PHOTO: The Dark Side