Name | Grade | Type | Ascents | Rating | Sector | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ascension Aria
|
300
5
|
Boulder | 1 |
The area is access sensitive!
🔴This area is water level dependent. The minimum level is 4.35ft. You can find the current water level at this site:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/380649081083301/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D
🔴 ACCESS WARNING: Walking along railroad tracks is trespassing, illegal and dangerous. Do NOT walk on railroad tracks; trespassing and any illegal activity associated with climbers will jeopardize access to boulders. If you chose to use the rail corridor to access boulders, you must walk off the tracks and off the gravel that is private CSX property. The only tolerated exception is CAREFULLY crossing directly from one side of the tracks to the other, going from NPS land to NPS land. If you are near tracks, keep your eyes and ears open for trains and keep a large distance from the gravel. Trains are dangerous; coal and rocks often fall from or are thrown by trains. Trains can't stop. Don't make the conductor think they have any chance of running you or your dog over. Be respectful and polite to any railroad worker you see. This is VERY important to future access to all climbing areas near train tracks.
🚗 Driving:
From Fayetteville, drive north on WV-16 heading straight through the intersection with US-19. Drive about 7 miles, and park on the just-wide-enough shoulder on your right immediately before crossing over the bridge across the New River. Be careful not to miss the parking, as the shoulder slowly widens around a curve in the road, becoming widest just as the bridge comes into view.
🔴 THE parking is around a blind curve, take care when exiting your vehicle. There is also limited parking for only a few cars and shares a pullout with the Casey Jones boulders. If there is no more room, please choose another climbing area for the day.
Hiking:
From the parking, cross the road and head down the paved driveway to the tracks. This road/building are associated with the tracks, so be discreet. Walk downstream (that's to your left. Don't pass under the bridge) parallel the tracks. The Lorax trail is marked by a cairn; this trail is primarily to access the Lorax as it sits halfway up the cliff side. If you are going to ANY other boulder it is easier to continue downstream until you can find the steep, loose but open scramble to the river. This will overgrow every summer, there is no well established trail to the river. Good luck. The trail is mainly flat, uneven gravel. The trail down the hill to river level is non-existant, so you'll have to routefind a way down the steep hill. Once you reach river level, the walking is adventurous with rock hopping, scrambling, and routefinding. Total hiking time: 30-45 minutes.