If you continue going to the left, you will come to the Sun Wall area, home of some of the most vertical routes on this side of the mountain. There are many good one and two pitch climbs in this area. You'll emerge from your hike in the neighborhood of Bloody Crack and Short Man's Sorrow. Slick Rock Falls is located just above the parking area, and can provide a cold shower in hot weather (dangerous - slippery rocks). It is approached via the Slick Rock Falls Trail, a 45 minute hike on a good path from the roadside parking on Forest Road 475B. The most popular area with the easiest climbing at Looking Glass is the South Face. Recent trail work has improved this trail though the last few hundered feet have yet to be groomed. Look for a clearing near the Peregrine Overlook, then follow an old logging grade for a short distance until you see the footpath on the right. The new trail to access the North Face is just up 475B from the Sun Wall trailhead. The old North End trail referenced in Thomas Kelley's guidebook, which leads up from Sliding Rock has been closed due to severe erosion and impact on nesting falcons. The two main trails used are the Slick Rock Falls Trail which leads to the South Face, and The Sun Wall Trail which leads to the Nose and the Sun Wall. The trailhead for the new trail to the North Face is just a minute or two further up the road.Īll of the popular cliffs are accessed via a series of trails leading to the rock from Forest Road 475B. The Sun Wall trialhead is another 5 minutes up FR 475B on the right. There is a staircase leading up to a new large sign on the right side of the road. It is not well marked, but you will identify it as the first place on a sharp turn you can pull a bunch of cars off the road. Follow this winding road 1.2 miles to the Slick Rock Falls parking area. Watch for the quick right uphill turn just after you leave the pavement that will put you on USFS Road #475B. Proceed past the fish hatchery, leaving the paved road onto a graded forest road. USFS #475 goes 1.3 miles to the fish hatchery (if you get to Looking Glass Falls or Sliding Rock, you've missed the turn). Turn left onto Route 276 north and follow it 3.8 miles to USFS Road #475 on the left. The Backcountry Outdoors store will be on the left. At the far end of Brevard, there is a traffic light at Rt. The 3 mile long rock is more or less teardrop shaped, with climbing on the North, South, and Western exposures. Many climbs have a moderate to high degree of slab climbing in them. They are just as likely to be pretty much useless. These inverted crescents in the rock are generally rounded on top, undercut by a crevice that may provide hand/foot holds or a solid gear placement. While some cracks found here are reminiscent of Yosemite, the characteristic feature of Looking Glass rock is the "eyebrow ( link - FAQ) ". There are routes here to challenge everyone from beginner to expert with several faces over 500 feet high. Looking Glass Rock offers routes on premier North Carolina granite domes, slabs, and walls on its miles of climbable faces. It's only a few hours from Atlanta, and less than an hour south of Asheville. It's not far into the state which makes it a popular place for visitors coming up from the south. Looking Glass Rock is located in the Pisgah National Forest, north of the town of Brevard, North Carolina.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |