Saturday at Crowders

Steven Lineberry on Rawlhide (5.10)

A happy Cragbaby.

It's crazy how dedicated Columbia, South Carolina climbers have to be. Most of our group met at Stronghold Athletic Club at around 6 am to head to Crowders Mountain State Park.  After a quick breakfast stop, we headed to the mountains.

Once in the parking lot,we gathered our gear as Erica Lineberry and her crew, Steven, Cragbaby, and Patrick, arrived. After our introductions, registration, and pit stops we were off!

Cragmama - Erica Lineberry on Right of Rawlhide (5.11+)

By the look of the parking lot, it was going to be a packed day.  I hoped that because we were heading to the Resurgance Area, we would be avoiding some of the climber traffic.  We climbed most of the day with only my friends from Crowders Mountain Climbing making a short stop at Rawlhide Wall and another party of two passing by.

Ethan Stevens on Unknown 5.8

We were informed, by the party of two, that the rest of the mountain was packed. And after walking from the Resurgance Area to Practice Wall (to locate two of my lost climbers) it was indeed true that the mountain was packed. Every wall I walked by had people on it.

Leading the classic Dewey Used to Love It (5.10)

Robert Keinzle on Dewey Used to Love It (5.10)

It was still a little hot to be at the Resurgance Area  in the morning but we were there mostly to show Erica around.  Erica is currently working on a Piedmont Area Climbing guide which is going to include Crowders Mountain State Park. Check out the the facebook group Carolina Rocks: The Piedmont.

I put Erica's Crew on the area classics - Dewey Used To Love It, Plane Above Your Head, and Rawlhide as well as putting her on less traveled climbs.

I invited people from the Belayed Gratification and Palmetto Pebble Wrestlers club and at first I was worried about keeping everyone occupied. It turned out not to be a problem because we had climbers of all abilities and ages helping each other out.

Matthew Stevens on his first lead.

With so many climbs in a small area it is no surprise that we started and ended our day in the Resurgence Area.  Robert Keinzle and I managed to clear part of a fallen tree that was blocking the prime belay spot for Cro-Magnon and Rawlhide. There are still a few downed trees that are blocking the vague trail from Rawlhide to the Tower Trail.

Lorikay Keinzle on Dewey Used to Love it (5.10)

I had a blast and I hope that I see more people out on the next outdoor climbing trip.  Thanks to all!