More "Redneck". The start is on the right flake with two little high feet also underneath and on the right. You then must pop upwards into a slot or throw all the way to the left and you're stuck in a vicious iron-cross. Bob opted for the high slot before crossing through to the dingy crimp and straightening out on the high left jug. An awesomely fun climb.  

Never talk back to a "Redneck." Bob doing battle with his new found friend, HP40's infamously fun v7, "Redneck". Unfortunately, after 6 days of bouldering, Bob just didn't have the gas to top it out, but came very close... maybe next year.  

Mark digging deep into the pockets on "Crisifix," our trip's most devious and elusive v5. He's got the right idea, I just think he had a bad day... 

What in the hell is going through Mark's head at this point and time? That's gotta be the biggest lip-biting shot I've ever seen. Even Bob Bradford is backing away... 

Bob Bradford: master of patience and extra-sensory climbing. Here Bob B is leading the 5.9 Sarah so effortlessly and inspiringly led earlier on in our day at Foster Falls.  

Mixin' it up a little at Foster Falls. There was a run-out, if I remember correctly, between the 3rd and 4th bold so I grabbed my cams and started plugging away on this 5.10b. Apparently I was also hearing voices in my head because I was talking to myself quite a lot on this route.  

A great shot of Sarah D leading one of Foster Falls' 5.9s. She sewed this thing up like it was her job! When she arrived at the crux, she slapped it twice so it'd behave real nice. Nice send Sarah, nice send!  

Kelly D ropin' in a mean steer in his urban cowboy attire while Sarah D watches on.  

Foster Falls itself, after a day of hard climbing. Too bad nobody knows how deep the pool is, otherwise it'd make for a good swimming hole and highdive! 

"I just 'kneed' to reach out there!" Bob Bradford ready to toss way out right whilst keeping his knee bar in the optimal position. I just love this climb--such a classic.  

Better bring your lucky charm for "Dumb Luck," LRC's most sand-bagged v6. Alex Uy wasn't that lucky on this fine day in Tennessee; he fell just a 'uy' bit short of the top-out. In March, he returned and sent the climb first try. Way to project man, way to project.... 

Super crossover for Vicky on "Super Mario," LRC's classic v4. A good send early in the December day for Vic.  

A somewhat obscured view of "the Prow," a Linville Gorge 5-pitch favorite that is all too easy at 5.4 but still very intimidating with the wind ripping around you. To give you an idea of the size, that crack above my head can easily swallow a person standing straight up. Here, Brian P, Bob, Alex, and Jeremy are two-teaming "the Daddy," another Gorge favorite and perhaps one of the finest 5.7s in NC. On this day Jeremy nearly bit the dust when he fell and sliced open Alex's rope on the top-out. 

"The North Ridge" seen from above. I think that this is the end of the first pitch IF I'm not mistaken. Though it's nothing tough and frequently hard to hear against the howling wind, this is perhaps a favorite gear route at Table Rock b/c nobody ever goes down this far to climb. With a 60 meter rope, Alex Uy and I linked the 2nd and 3rd pitches together for a run-out to the top leaving all of 10 feet of rope left at the belay. A clever dare on my part. 

Put on a happy face! Brian Peres sulking at an uber-comfy belay station one pitch up "the North Ridge" at Table Rock. "But I wanted to go to Toshi Station and pick up some power converters!?!?" he exclaims.  

This is perhaps my favorite climbing area to date...

Hard to explain really, since there are so many good climbing areas. Yosemite, Devil's Tower, Zion, Grand Tetons, Shawangunks, Colorado, etc., are just a few. But because of the solitude you feel here it simply astounds you. I suppose the feeling would liken to being the only man left on earth. That, and the views are absolutely gorgeous, pardon the pun.
 

Jeremy on the "Cave Route" 5.6 at Table Rock. Kathryn S. belaying while two fellas watch on. Funny enough, Jeremy left the cave of his computerized cubicle to enter this cave the very next day. Ironic indeed...

Jeremy Agee playing a game of "Peek-a-boo" on Table Rock's North End. "The North Ridge" is a great route for its exposure, isolation, and excellent/easy gear placements. On this day, the winds were howling, clouds converged, and we barely dodged a wet and soggy day in the high country. After we finished this route though, all the clouds had been blown far away and we enjoyed one more fine route on Table Rock.

Linville Gorge Wilderness as seen from the atop Table Rock just as the sun sneaks behind late afternoon clouds. The pillar mid-left is called "the Camel" and is a favorite for climbers and peregrine falcons alike. Jeremy Agee and I did our first climbing here back when we were 12 and 11 respectively. It seems like an age ago but little has changed here in NC's wilderness. Just beyond and above the Camel, you can see a slight vertical edge, part of the Shortoff Mountain headwall--the ultimate end to Linville Gorge. Somewhere between the Camel and Shortoff is the North Carolina Wall and the Ampitheatre, home to many a beautiful long traditional routes.

Vicky Arthur cleaning (?) "Mostly Harmless" 5.11d at Franklin, WV. The roof on the climb is daunting, though not impossible, but the real crux seems to be the series of holds immediately after the roof. According to one source, a mantle helps you clear a bunch of crudy holds straight up. We discovered that several holds, including an undercling-layback, on the right help remedy the whole issue. A fun roof climb--bring long draws.  

Alex Uy leading "Mean Jean's" at Franklin, WV. In my opinion, the finest 10 at the crag. Sarah D sent it first try on this very same day.  

Vicky Arthur, a young bouldering gun, caught here on film roping up a tall overhung boulder!  

The miraculous hand-hand-foot match needed to finish out "Brawn". Alex pulls it off at the perfect moment.  

"Get up there!" Alex scrambling to mantle out "Brawn" as fast as he can to bag another HP40 send. The only problem is, where to put his feet? 

"Merlin"! Horse Pens has uncountable boulders and many of them have uncanny likenesses to living things and shapes. This rock bears the name Merlin because of its magic hat quality. It is also a somewhat scary slab climb that stands at about v1.