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charley
Sep 15, 2003, 7:18 AM
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Just how far,long, and hard is the walk in to the amphitheatre? Also how do the ratings here and table rock compare to seneca rocks,wv. While I'm at it how is the weather in early oct. Where can you camp with showers nearby, like 25 miles. Thanks for any help.
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bumblie
Sep 15, 2003, 7:32 AM
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The walk in is easy. The walk out kicks your tail.
It's about forty-five min. to an hour. There is a nice place to camp above The Prow. It's a bit over used. From the top of the Amphitheater, it's another 30 min. to the base of the mummy buttress.
The ratings are softer than Seneca (up to 5.8). I've never done anything abovet 5.8 at Seneca.
If you want specific beta, shoot me a PM.
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cragmasterp
Sep 15, 2003, 7:33 AM
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Are you asking about Moores Wall, NC?
If so, the walk in is minimal, although to get to the parking area you will need a vehicle with good clearance.
I would compare the ratings at Moores with those at Seneca; the more moderate grades tend to be slightly sandbagged.
Weather in early October is usually the best that it gets, as long as there isn't a huricane passing through.
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norskagent
Sep 15, 2003, 7:33 AM
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I'm sure others can answer your questions better but...it takes about 15-20 minutes of easy flat walking to get to the rim of the amphitheater, then allow for another 30 minutes to scramble down to the base of the climbs...not sure about the ratings but I imagine they are comparable. I did the mummy around 1980 (5.6) one of my first leads, no worries - good pro, nice belay ledges, etc. I would climb an easy route out at the end of the day with all your stuff instead of slogging back up the amphitheater gully...you can camp at Linville Falls along the parkway but no showers, Grandfather Mtn. campground on hwy. 105 has them though, about 30 min. away. There is primitive camping nearbye also. Weather in early oct. should be gniess but the grandfather mtn. campground will be full the first weekend due to the houndears comp. and full late in the month due to the looky-looks there for the foliage. good luck.
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charley
Sep 15, 2003, 1:19 PM
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I was talking about the amphitheatre in linville gorge. I am planning on going there in a cpl. wks. We are going to table rock first and I guess that will tell us a bit about the ratings and we may also go to the amphitheatre and I have heard it's a horrendous walk and wanted to check this out. A couple of the places I climb( like seneca) have 45 min. uphill walks to get there. Thanks for the info. I lead seneca 5.4's any thoughts on routes that I should do? I would like to try some 5.5's maybe 5.6
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afiveonbelay
Sep 15, 2003, 2:47 PM
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Head down (south) on the hiking trail that goes from the parking lot past the large camping area. Pass through the chimneys (you'll know when you get there). Skip the first right hand branching trail (this goes to NC wall and the Bumblebee buttress (yummystuff)). There will be a white blaze on a small pine (now dead?) on your left, take the trail that branches to your right. Continue another 15 minutes down this trail (slopes down hill) Keep your eyes open for a dim trail that breaks off left (there is a large boulder that you will have to scramble over so you know that is the correct trail). If you are going to do any climbs on the Mummy buttress follow this trail. Other climbs like the Prow or on the Head wall keep going forward. You will come out ontop of the Prow with the vista of the whole Ampitheater. (If you are climbing the Mummy/Daddy you should check it out as it's a great view and you can scout your Mummy buttress climbs). Descent trails down the middle of the ampitheater are obvious and eroded.
To get to the Mummy buttress go back to that dim trail and follow it around. At several points it skirts right along the edge of the north wall (the fires 2 years ago really scorched the area the soil was beginning to erode). Keep working your way down, passing a trail breaking off for the Reggae wall. At some point the ground on your right will break away significantly. This is your descent gully in which you will have one short rap to get to the bottom of the scree field (see pg182 of Kelley's book, the dark slot between the north wall and the Mummy buttress is how you get down. Brings slings and rings for the chockstone in this gully (good chance this time of year that good slings are present)).
Stash your packs a little past this gully in a pretty little patch of rock and pine that is the top of the Mummy buttress. This is a bivy spot different from the one bumblie mentions. Rap down this gully (real alpine like). Keep working your way down keeping the butttress on your left. Right before a sub-buttress and a downed tree is the start of the Daddy.
Approach in: 2 hours from car to racking up (esp. if it's your first time.
Approach out: 1 hour (don't ask why, it's a paradox)
Climb time on the Daddy: 1.5-5 hours depending on your experience and skill.
Check out the southeast climber coalition website, Wayne has a nice drawing of this approach trail. You won't get lost but you can get bewildered.
Second there being no showers, camping at table rock is an exercise in water management. The dirt road from the north takes 30 minutes out to pavement, the south road 40 minutes. (one time I made it in 20 but I was driving the company truck).
Second technical ratings being kinda soft but it can be a true wilderness experience that belays an easy rating. Be careful.
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