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Gum Run

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About Gum Run:

Sometime back in the 80s, a group of local Valley hardmen, including Kris Kline, Eddie Begoon, and Mike Artz, began to explore and develop the amazing wealth of toproping and bouldering that is tucked away in the hollows around Gum Run, former site of a turn-of-the-century health spa and resort, located just outside of the town of Rawley Springs on Rte 33W.

Primary attractions such as the obvious Juliet's Tower (formerly known as the Refrigerator) and Rawley Boulder Wall were first, with classics like Mister Gadget , just hold me, and the fun but highball Refrigerator Crack. Development moved across the river and the Appetizers, Christmas Crack, and Maze soon followed. An exploratory push in the early 90's opened up the current trail to the distant Aretes.

Once a hotbed of new bouldering activity, Rawley has once again settled into the typical Virginia slumber, awaiting a new generation of hardbodies to define and defile the scores of potential new problems still untouched, out there in the green. Problems range in difficulty from 4th class scrambles to brutal boulder problems with less-than-ideal landings.

Nearest town or city: Rawley Springs
Directions: From Harrisonburg/I-81: take Rte 33 (Market Street) west, out of town, and continue through the small town and poultry plants of Hinton, passing through an intersection with Rte 613 to Rawley Springs.

Pass McDornan's store on the left (last chance for food, gas, brews, and phone), and start looking for it. You will pass two more numbered roads at a triangle intersection just past the store, then, a few hundred yards further down the road, a poultry farm will be visible down off the left side of the road. Just beyond the driveway for this farm, turn left on Rte 847 and follow the paved road across the bridge and up the hill to a right fork, where it turns to gravel. Follow that road to its end, and park in the loop. Climbs are up and left, or across the creek and up the ridge. DO NOT use the land development entrance to try and access climbs. Construction and roadwork are ongoing- be alert for changing conditions.

Latitude, Longitude:
Access Issues:
Camping: Free
When to Climb:
Quantity of Climbs: Year

Most Recent Photos (See all 6 photos)

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Forum Discussions (1 posts)

  Subject Author Replies Last Post
With Replies Construction returns to Gum Run- the End of an era? roninthorne 7 Oct 07 2010, 5:42 PM