Well I’m still in Charlotte. My sister and boss always talk about me moving down here, so I can’t help but think about it. I went to the local outdoor shop (REI) and saw the two isles of climbing equipment (mostly stuff for indoors). I asked a clerk a question about headlamps and received an answer about “workin’ under the hood”.
I went to the local climbing gym, Inner Peaks, with my brother-in-law, Zack. We had a good time. The gym was nice overall, the staff and regulars had beta for the local (2-3 hours away) crags. The route settings wasn’t that good- like old holds that aren’t as ergonomic, and inconsistent and inaccurate ratings. This was a hassle because I needed to find easy routes for Zack. The wall was a little short, much of the area was devoted to slabs with untaped jugs, the bouldering and lead areas looked nice. Being a “real” climber, I felt like the minority. I wasn’t in a kids birthday party or a family outing.
Mountain Project says North Carolina may contain the best climbing in the South. I haven’t checked out the crags, but I can say the “scene” feels entirely different. The local destinations in the South seem like any other crag in Colorado, and they’re further away. Being a “real” climber would be hard here, and probably a little lonely.
Talk