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What to Bring
Clothing and Personal Items
Although you can climb year round at the New River Gorge, the climbing season runs from April through October. Obviously you should dress for the season, and be prepared for the weather to change without warning.
To be prepared for possible inclement weather a rain jacket and a warm pullover are handy... Pay attention to garment fabrics when looking for waterproof jackets...many are only water resistant and you will eventually get soaked in a heavy downpour. A high quality WATERPROOF jacket will have fully taped seams, a well-designed hood, ventilation areas that can be unzipped for air flow, and be some type of laminate like Gore-Tex®. Bring extra clothes!
Normally though, shorts and/or loose-fitting pants, t-shirts, and sweatshirts work well for summer outings. In the spring and fall it is wise to have polypro tops and bottoms (Patagonia™ Capilene is particularly nice) as well as a warm hat and gloves.
Wear comfortable sturdy shoes (heavy hiking boots are not necessary) but not sandals. Climbing areas tend to have plenty of uneven terrain! Pick footwear that is well made for scrambling.
Cameras are also great to have along on a climb. The scenery at the New River Gorge is spectacular. The rock is hard and good cameras are expensive and fragile. We have seen excellent results from disposable plastic cameras (especially the panoramic ones). Rigging them with a small loop of cord allows you to clip them to your harness so they're accessible. We have yet to see a disposable camera get abused beyond function.
Feel free to bring your own climbing equipment; if we consider it unacceptable, we may insist you use ours. Climbing gear is included for all beginner level classes at no extra charge: shoes, helmet, harness, pack and necessary hardware.
Bring at least one to two liters of water in a personal, plastic water bottle or hydration pack. Due to the energy expended while climbing, remaining hydrated is very important. Bring a good sack lunch to graze on throughout the day. Food that can stand up to a squishing fares best. Non sugar-intensive energy bars make excellent climbing grub.
Checklist
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Clothing suitable to the time of year including--jacket/warm layers, rain jacket, pants/shorts, t-shirt
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Sturdy hiking shoes for the approach to the climbing area
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Small backpack to carry the climbing equipment we will issue to you
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Water--at least 2 liters per person
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Lunch
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Camera
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Sunscreen
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Medication--If you are taking medicine prescribed by a doctor, bring it with you (heart medication, blood pressure, diabetes, seizure, asthma inhaler, pain management, etc). If you are allergic to bees, be sure to carry an epi-pen. |
