Raven Rock, NC

With the CCC just negotiating access to Raven Rock outside of Asheville does anyone have any beta on the routes or what’s there? Would love to get up and check it out.

I believe they said route beta would get posted to the CCC site eventually

As Mark said, I hear there will eventually be some sort of Google sheet disseminated to interested CCC member with route info; in the meantime, go check it out and let us know what you can discern! Worst case you get on something a bit above your head and have to bale =D

I checked it out Saturday and it has some great routes. Many are hard 11 and up, but we got on two 5.8s and three 5.10s. The route pictured on the CCC website is a .10, and it is fantastic. There is another .10 that starts as an offwidth/squeeze chimney that is was really fun and much harder than expected.

There is a ton of poison ivy that starts left of that offwidth and is all over down by the slab wall. And the gully going down the the main climbing area is loose and sketchy, I wouldn't bring dogs or little kids until we have a few trail days.

Regarding the comment above about bailing, there is a fresh leaver biner up there on a 12...

Rob, are those your assessments on grades or where did you end up finding the beta? Also, is it all on gear with bolted anchors or are there some mixed route?

Thanks for reporting back!

Andrew Giniatwrote:

Rob, are those your assessments on grades or where did you end up finding the beta? Also, is it all on gear with bolted anchors or are there some mixed route?

Thanks for reporting back!

The routes we did were mainly gear, with one bolt low on a few. All had bolted anchors with double wire gate biners for easy cleaning/lowering (not booty!). I do not know about the routes we didn't do. I could see a lot of bolted anchors from the ground. Some have chains and not double biners.

The guy I climbed with has climbed there for years and had the beta for grades and such. There are bolted lines that do not need gear but they are in the 11+/12 and up range. I think a single rack with alpine and sport draws would probably be enough. But it looked like doubles of a few pieces would have been nice to sew it up more than my partner did. Nuts and tricams useful.

A couple pics of the area... 

Ive finally check it out and climbed an easy ish mixed line right on the middle of the main free-standing formation, felt like 5.9. You climb up a pillar to start which features some very precarious flakes waiting to come off, so be careful if you check it out. Also, would recommend some offset cams/nuts for the upper portion. 

Nothings good out there. Probably best to go to rumbling bald

Matthew Bakerwrote:

Nothings good out there. Probably best to go to rumbling bald

Don't worry, all the gumbies and I won't blow up your spot ; )

...looked like a lot of the routes will improve with some traffic. 

Andrew Giniatwrote:

Don't worry, all the gumbies and I won't blow up your spot ; )

...looked like a lot of the routes will improve with some traffic. 

Go check out the upper tier. Message me and we can chat raven.