New River Gorge, WV

Saturday:

Woke up at 7am on Saturday, drove to Bubba City. 30min hike.

Ames Wall left side
“Smoking Crack” 5.8 sport lead 40ft, 4 bolts, bolt anchor
“Czech Vacation” 5.8 sport lead 50ft, 4 bolts, bolt anchor

Head Wall left side
“Hubba Bubba” 5.9 4 star sport lead, 60 ft, 5 bolts, bolt anchor

Head Wall right side
“So freakin fun” 5.10d sport lead
“Skinhead Grin” 5.11b sport lead, 60ft 5 bolts, bolt anchor

30 min hike

Beer Wall
“Cerveza Verde” 5.9 sport lead, 50ft 5 bolts, bolt anchor
“St Pauli girl” 5.10c sport lead, 50ft 5 bolts, bolt anchor

Light drizzle. 20min hike back to car. Pies & Pints at fayettevill, WV for dinner. Fantastic climbing area with lots of variety and choices, definitely worth a trip back!

-B. Fang

Sunday:

It rained overnight, so we went to Bridge Buttress which dries pretty quickly. Some of the climbs were still moist, but we climbed Chockstone, Angel's Arrete, and Zag. Stopped by Waterstone on the way out to try on shoes.

-F. Duvallet

New River Gorge, WV

We rose early Saturday and were rewarded by being the first group at Beer Wall in Bubba City, a popular sport crag with moderate routes. Nate got in his first sport lead ("Near Beer", 5.6), which Cecile led as well. Nate continued adding leads on the classic chimney "Daisy Cutter" (5.7), and "Cerveza Verde" (5.9). Mukund impressively led the sandbagged "Beer Wench" (5.8), which has a high crux before the first bolt! We also tackled some challenging face and roof climbs, including "St Pauli Girl" (5.10b), "Bubbaweiser" (5.10d), and "Celebration Ale" (5.11a).

On Sunday morning, we packed up camp and drove up to Whippoorwhill. Before the sun hit the rocks, we enjoyed cool weather on "Aimee's Jugs" (5.6), "Wendy's Jugs" (5.7), "Gimme a Clown" (5.9), "Straight Outta Lockmont" (5.9), and "Latch Key Kids" (5.10a). By the end of our trip, our whole group was comfortable and confident cleaning anchors, rappelling, lead belaying, and lead climbing!

-M. Golub

Red River Gorge, KY

After closing the 2012 climbing season at the Red River Gorge last November, another intrepid group of CMU Explorers headed down to open the 2013 season right back up again. Despite frigid overnight temperatures, a lack of firewood at the Land of the Arches campground, and a steady Sunday drizzle, the day time weather was warm enough for several full days of climbing.

Brian, Erica, and Felix---along with a merry band from the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh---got the party started Friday at Wall of Denial. Everyone enjoyed the hand crack on Strick 9, but Felix particularly enjoyed a gnarly off-width crack that truly doesn't deserve a name. A wonderful day, topped by pizza at Miguel's and an exciting chat with local law enforcement.

Cecile, Hugh, and Justin arrived Friday evening, and the group started Saturday at The Gallery, but moved across the valley to the What About Bob well when the hordes of sport climbers in gold and neon pink tights arrived. On rainy Sunday, a wise strategic decision by team leadership took the group to the Stadium in Muir Valley, whose aspect and large roofs kept everybody dry and on the rock until it was time for the long drive home.

-B. Kent

Red River Gorge, KY

Over Thanksgiving weekend five climbers (Felix, Eric, Hugh, Cecile, and Nate) made the trip to Red River Gorge to finish the outdoor climbing season with some sensational climbs.

To accommodate folks staying in town for Thanksgiving dinner, car 1 headed out on Wednesday evening and car 2 started before sunrise on Friday. The two groups met up at Left Flank on Friday to enjoy some amazing climbing in the sun with many other climbers from Pittsburgh. We cooked a group dinner in the Land of the Arches campsite rec building before playing some cards and hitting the tents.

Saturday was chilly and overcast, so the morning was spent doing yoga in the rec building and visiting the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, which houses hundreds of venomous snakes used for venom extraction. After an enlightening guided tour, the group headed to Global Village, careful to check that each stick and log on the approach was, in fact, a piece of wood and not a venomous snake. At Global Village we enjoyed the best crack climbs of the weekend. Hugh had the good fortune to see the sun set from the peak of one of the routes while cleaning it. A variety of experimental pizzas from Miguel's was enthusiastically consumed for dinner followed by many games of Around the World ping pong and Farkle.

Sunday morning the group headed to Stadium in Muir Valley, taped up, and sent a handful of routes before reluctantly heading back to the campsite to finish packing up before getting on the road home.

-N. Brooks

Cooper's Rock, WV

We made the hour and a half drive down to Cooper's Rock in West Virginia on a beautiful fall day. The leaves were colorful, the sun was out, and the temperature was cool and perfect for climbing. The CMU Explorers club provided all the gear we needed including a guide book that explained the bouldering routes on each of the house-sized boulders which seemed to be whimsically scattered across the mountainside. We climbed for several hours, moving from boulder to boulder and trying as many routes as we could. The routes ranged from fairly simple, to impossible. Snacks, a packed lunch and constant pictures provided good breaks between climbs, as well as opportunities to socialize with fellow students and explorers. Once we were all too tired to continue, we headed back towards Pittsburgh, picking up delicious some roadside tacos on the way. It was a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone!

-B. Hood