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THE MOUNTAIN TIMES SUMMER GUIDE
s n i a t n u o M
2012
You’re in the Try rock climbing BY ANNA OAKES
T
he Blue Ridge Mountains have a few features that you may not see at home, including rocks – big rocks. And leave it to mountaineers to want to conquer them. You too can become a mountaineer during your visit to the High Country, overcoming boulders and rock faces with only your fingers, toes and mental fortitude. And thanks to modern equipment and experienced guide services, families — from children to grandparents — can climb very safely. If you’d like to try rock climbing for the first time or improve your climbing skills, stop by Rock Dimensions, located in downtown Boone. Just look for the 40-foot climbing tower on Depot Street, which features varying climbing terrain and opportunities for beginners or seasoned veterans. With guides certified by the Professional Climbing Instructors Association, Rock Dimensions provides
half-day or full-day guided climbing trips for beginning or intermediatelevel climbers. “We offer guided rock climbing trips to places in the immediate area right around Boone,” said Jenny Allen, co-owner of Rock Dimensions. Destinations include the Linville Gorge Wilderness and the Wilson Creek area. “There’s hard stuff for really dedicated, experienced climbing, but then there’s stuff that’s really aesthetic,” Allen said. Group sizes are limited to protect the environment and allow for maximum participation. “For the most part, people get really private experiences,” Allen said. “They’re not kind of lost in the crowd.” Allen said Rock Dimensions has worked with couples, parents with kids, bachelor parties and other groups. In the summer, Rock Dimensions offers multiple camps for kids and teens. “The half-day trip by far is the most popular,” she noted. Rock Dimensions provides all equipment needed, including harnesses, helmets, ropes, belay and rappel devices, anchoring equipment and climbing shoes. In addition to climbing, Rock Dimensions offers a ropes course, teambuilding activities and caving expeditions to Worley’s Cave in Tennessee and Robert’s Cave in Virginia. For more information, call (828) 265-3544 or visit www.rockdimensions.com.
Climbers in the High Country enjoy fantastic scenery, while overcoming mental and physical challenges. PHOTOS COURTESY ROCK DIMENSIONS CLIMBING GUIDES
ROCK DIMENSIONS 131-B S. Depot St. Boone, NC 28607 (828) 265-3544 info@rockdimensions.com www.rockdimensions.com
EDGE OF THE WORLD 394 Shawneehaw Ave. Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-9550 www.edgeoworld.com