Last week I woke up early (for once) and headed out to Pilot Mountain, NC to do some rock climbing with a former North Face employee, Jesse. The drive was about two hours and totally worth it. The view from Pilot Mountain is amazing, especially since it is the only mountain around so you can see for miles.
I decided to take along the Angstrom to carry some of our gear, our lunches, and a camera. It worked out great, and I am really glad I brought it. We had to hike into the climbs, so the hip belt was really convenient and made it a lot easier to carry all the weight.
I'm still a beginner, so we stuck to the easier climbs. Luckily Pilot Mountain has a huge variety of climbs and ones for all skill levels. Most of the climbs at Pilot Mountain are top rope, but have bolts and anchors already in the walls so you can fix the anchor at the top or lead the climb and then create a top rope. The first wall we climbed was a little bit too hard for me and I couldn't make it to the top. I did try a second time and made it further than before! The second wall we climbed was more my level. It required someone to lead it first. I volunteered Jesse, because the first bolt was about 15 ft off the ground and looked too scary. That climb ended up being really sweet. We ended up each climbing it a couple times. Pilot Mountain was almost completely empty, except for a few climbers and hikers, because it was a weekday. It was a relaxed and low-key day that we spent the majority of it hanging out and enjoying the beautiful weather outside. I can't wait to get back out there and continue climbing!
TNF Raleigh
Melinda Freeman
Never Stop Exploring
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