Weatherproof Climbing: Your Rain Plan for Conquering Stormy Days in the New River Gorge
As a part of the Appalachian Temperate Rainforest, the New River Gorge receives about 26 inches of rain per year on average. That’s a lot of rain - and forecasts here are often less than helpful. Fortunately, afternoon showers shouldn’t have to put a damper on your climbing plans.
When the skies darken, keep this in mind:
Practice optimism. A 20% chance of rain and a 60% chance are often the same here in Wild, Wonderful, Wet Virginia. You may never see a rain cloud, or it may rain the entire day. You can check the forecast, but looking out a window will probably tell you more.
Look at the road. Chances are if the road is dry, the rock is probably dry as well.
Pick a sheltered crag. Most of the dry stuff is by default overhanging and therefore hard, but there are exceptions.
WHERE TO CLIMB WHEN IT’S ACTIVELY RAINING
Our favorites are:
Rico Suave at Kaymoor (5.7 - 5.12)
First Buttress at Upper Meadow (5.10 - 5.13)
White Wall at Kaymoor (5.12)
You can also try:
Kaymoor - The Hole (5.12 - 5.13),
Bridge Buttress - Rock Shelter Cave (5.10 - 5.12)
Cotton Club - Essence (5.10c)
Endless Wall - Party Buttress (?), The Cirque (5.11 - 5.14)
Summersville Lake - The Coliseum (5.12 - 5.15), Narcissus Cave (5.12 - 5.13)
You can boulder at:
Ali Bubba Cave (V4 - V10)
BBQ Babies Cave (V0 - V7)
Junkyard Cave (V2 - V7)
Cotton Top Cave (V2 - V7)
WHERE TO CLIMB WHEN IT JUST STOPPED RAINING
Endless wall is our favorite:
Diamond Point (5.10 - 5.12)
Fern Point (5.9 - 5.13)
Snake Buttress (5.9 - 5.13)
You can also try:
Bubba City - Head Wall (5.7 - 5.12)
Junkyard Wall (5.7 - 5.12)
Bridge Buttress (5.5 - 5.13)
Fern Buttress - Star Trek Wall (5.4 - 5.11)
Endless Wall - Idol Point (5.9 - 5.12), Kaymoor Slabs (5.5 - 5.13)
Beauty Mountain - The Brain (5.7 - 5.14), Thunder Buttress (5.8 - 5.13)
Summersville Lake - Long Wall (5.5 - 5.12), Orange Oswald (5.5 - 5.10)
Upper Meadow (5.7 - 5.13)
You can boulder at:
Meadow Top (V0 - V10)
Beauty Mountain Boulders (V0 - V10)
Interp Boulders - Ronski Feint Area (V4 - V8)
WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU’VE GIVEN UP ON CLIMBING
Trailing running. We love running on:
The Endless Wall Trail
The Rend Trail
The Park Loop Trail at Fayetteville Town Park
White Water Rafting on the New or the Gauley. You’re already wet.
The Escape-A-Torium escape room
The Bridge Walk. Stormy weather adds to the thrill
Waterstone Outdoors. You didn’t think we’d leave this out, did you? We have coffee, beer, and complimentary wifi, and our consignment section is always a rainy day favorite.