Climbing at the New River Gorge!
We took a trip up to one of our favorite places to climb and camp- the 'New'. We left late Friday night, but arrived to a campsite already with tents waiting for us, thanks to our friends Andy and Lara. We got up to get some climbing in at the Bridge Buttress. Danielle did a great job on Easily Flakey finishing this difficult variation. The real excitement of the day came later with Deep Water Soloing. There's a winter climbing area in another gorge- which in the summer is called Summersville Lake. There is easy to moderate climbing in this area during the winter- but during the summer, they flood it and create the lake. The climbs are still there, but they're 25 feet under water. We swam out to the climbs- and started them... 25' up. You climb as high as you want- then jump in! The water was perfect- and clear- you could see the rest of the climb beneath you as you swam past it.

The next excitement of the day was going to Pies and Pints- the absolute best pizza we've ever had. Steff ordered the Cuban, and the kids and I ordered the Classic. Yumm!

We had a great campfire and smores and got some needed rest. We got up Sunday to go back to the bridge area to do some easy climbs the kids had spotted, and then left that afternoon for the drive back to Raleigh.

It was a nature weekend- Aidan spotted a garter snake and the boys caught a worm snake.