So, do what you have the conscience to do?

Pilot Mtn. NC State Park staff has said that Carolina Climbers' Coalition was at Pilot Mtn. on Oct. 22 to replace some anchors. We take for granted that these installations are granted. No, they are provided, by the CCC.

I've been told by CCC that the costs, including the hardware, a generator to run the drills, labor, etc., are also provided by CCC. Now, who provides that? Well, either you do, by donating to CCC, or you don't and take the climbing they have been making possible for granted. It isn't granted, it is provided--or, it isn't. I figure that if you are not donating the funds to CCC, you are stealing the facilities you use, even if that's only the lower-off anchors for a Trad climb.

So, do what you have the conscience to do?

Pilot Mtn. NC State Park staff has said that Carolina Climbers' Coalition was at Pilot Mtn. on Oct. 22 to replace some anchors. We take for granted that these installations are granted. No, they are provided, by the CCC.

I've been told by CCC that the costs, including the hardware, a generator to run the drills, labor, etc., are also provided by CCC. Now, who provides that? Well, either you do, by donating to CCC, or you don't and take the climbing they have been making possible for granted. It isn't granted, it is provided--or, it isn't. I figure that if you are not donating the funds to CCC, you are stealing the facilities you use, even if that's only the lower-off anchors for a Trad climb.

So, do what you have the conscience to do?

While I definitely appreciate folks putting in the time, effort, and expense to maintain the local anchors, this ham-handed attempt to parley a voluntary effort at a local chosspile into some kind of guilt-ridden fund raiser is at best ill-advised.

Paid in full til next January,

-Knieveltech

yeah pilot sucks man, you have like 6 posts about it, whats the deal?

I wouldn't go so far as to say all that, Pilot is what it is. In my opinion it's a fantastic place to take a huge clot of new climbers and introduce them to some spicy toproping (and it definitely gets spicy once the rocks and beer bottles start raining down from the top of the crag), then everybody retires back to the campground for a round of "shit! hide the beer!".

I just wish they'd restore access to the pinnacle. It's the only point out there where someone can't drop shit on you from the trail.

I've donated to the CCC and I've never been to either of the Carolinas.

Further still, tales from old-timers that were around when the Pinnacle still had access indicate that Pilot would be as good a trad crag as Moore's Wall if the Big Top were open for business. It really seems to be a shame, climbing wise, because the areas that do have access are decidedly...mediocre.

I've donated to the CCC and I've never been to either of the Carolinas.

Definitely as good or even better maybe. I've heard vague rumors that the State shut it down due to soil erosion/compaction concerns. If that's the case, one has to wonder if a concerted access initiative couldn't gain some traction if fixed top anchors where part of the sales pitch. No topout, no erosion.

State shut it down after (surprise) some moron tourist decided to kill himself by attempting to lower himself down the pinnacle using only his hands on a rope, no real technical rope equipment. Ironically, he did not fall from the rope, but had stopped to (rest? think? whatever?) on a ledge, and the ledge subsequently gave way under him.

Now, the reason cited for continued closure is most often concerns about erosion and conserving the habitat on top of the pinnacle...both of which don't hold much water in my book.

I'm way more annoyed by climbers at pilot leaving wrappers, tape, dogs and their 12 clueless anoying friends at the base of climbs than not donating money for anchors...

How about Hanging Rock? Any idea why the state banned climbing on the main formation?

IIRC, there was a climbing accident resulting in a fatality there some years ago that led to the closure for Hanging Rock itself for climbing. As best I can tell, it's stayed closed just because - some heinous combination of preserving the rock, deterring fixed anchors/bolts, preserving peregrine nesting sites, preventing further injuries/accidents, preventing further erosion/trail breaking are things I have heard at one point or another. I'm not really sure what the exact motivation is.