gegarrenton wrote:Yeah, I know the table flat area in which I reside is anathema to climbing, but love to travel to the western part of the state for backpacking and mtb'ing. What's the closest good stuff for me to expand my horizons beyond the rock gym?
Any help would be most appreciated.
Graham
You're a long away from anything decent.... Seneca/ Franklin/ NRG is gonna be more like 5 or 6 hours away! Technically, the closest thing to VA beach would be in Richmond (2-3 hours?). Can't remember the name of it, but people like to sport climb and top rope on some old stone bridge-pillars. The climbing isn't bad, from what I hear. I think you might even be able to place trad gear there.
There are 'secret spots' just west of Charlottesville that are damn good and will get better over the coming years. (Trad and sport). I think this would be about 3 hours or so from VA beach (straight shot on I-64). PM if your interested in directions to these crags.
In Shenandoah, you have the following options" Little Stony Man cliffs (Top rope olny- unless you're into hard aid/ or dangerous trad climbing), Ravin Rocks (mostly top rope, I think), and Old Rag (excellent trad, some top rope, some sport). Ravin Rocks will be closest to VA beach, followed by Lil Stony Man, and then Old Rag.
All of these are viable options for weekend trips. Seneca and the New would be suitbale for multi-day trips. The Richmond crag can be done in the day.
Good luck and be safe!!!!