Whenever one thinks of rock climbing in US, the names that come to our mind are California, Nevada and Colorado, but do you know that New River Gorge is the nation’s premiere climbing destination?
Deep in the heart of West Virginia, carved from the diamond-hard sandstone by one of the oldest rivers in North America, offering breathtaking landscape and echoes of a vanishing past, New River Gorge is a real gold mine for hikers, bikers, rafters and climbers.
Ranging from 30 to 120 feet in height, the cliffs are made up of very hard sandstone and are considered among the finest quality climbing rock anywhere. No doubt, an abundance of crack and face routes that usually run 5.9 or harder (with most sport routes range from 5.10 to 5.13), still there is more than a little climbing for the novice. Most of the routes in the gorge favor the advanced and expert climber.
For the complete novice climber who requires training, there are many schools that offer climbing lessons and guided trips to a variety of routes in the New River, Summersville Lake and Seneca Rocks areas.
Climbing Season:
The climbing season at New River Gorge extends from April through November. The best months are usually late April to mid-June and mid-September to late October.
Adventure junkies, hold your breath tight and start your climb, there’s too much adrenaline, too much focus on finding a firm foothold or handhold. Don’t loose your grip and be confident!
Source: USA Today
