A place to connect the community with the rich history of climbing in the Carolinas. Located in Black Dome Mountain Sports in Asheville, NC, the Carolina Climbing Museum has countless artifacts and treasures from climbing in the Carolinas across the generations.
NEW! PDF of Art Williams’ “A Climber’s Guide To The Carolinas.” (compressed for fast download)
Click here for the high-resolution (slower download) 30-meg version
NEW! PDF of the 1977 “Carolina Climber’s Guide.” (compressed for fast download)
Click here for the high-resolution (slower download) 76-meg version
NEW! PDF of Thomas Kelley’s excellent book “The Climber’s Guide to North Carolina.” (compressed for fast download)
Click here for the high-resolution (slower download) 160-meg version
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Interesting Historical Documentary Videos
50th Anniversary of the Nose at Looking Glass First Ascent
In December 1966, Bob Watts, Steve Longenecker, and Robert John Gillespie made the first ascent of the Nose at Looking Glass. Though they didn't know it at the time, their landmark ascent 50 years ago set the stage for western North Carolina's bold climbing scene and reputation.
Stone Mountain Pioneers
During the 1960s and '70s, North Carolina climbers Bill Chatfield, George DeWolfe, and Gerald Laws put up a number of first ascents at Stone Mountain, including classics like The Great Arch, No Alternative, and Fantastic.
The Amphitheater of Linville Gorge
A historical documentary of early explorations into the Amphitheater of Linville Gorge. This film goes way beyond the Amphitheater and digs deep into the history of climbing in the Carolinas.
The Carolina Climbing Museum presents in association with Black Dome Mountain Sports and the Carolina Climbers Coalition, “Doug Reed: Climbing Pioneer of the Southeast” bybRainey Scarborough - featuring Doug Reed, Zach Lorraine, Zach Ferris, Russ Clune, Brad Carter, Mike Fschesser and Jamar Woods. Music by Infraction Media - edited by Rainey Scarborough - footage by Mike Fischesser, Shannon Millsaps, Doc Klein, RaineySscarborough and Steve Carte’s “The South’s Steepest”
Open Book is an historic rock climb located on Tahquitz Rock in Southern California. When Royal Robbins did the first free ascent in 1952 it was one of the hardest routes in the country and became the first climb given the grade of 5.9 on the Yosemite Decimal System. To this day Open Book remains an all time classic and an aspiring tick for any leader. The route was first climbed using aid in 1947 by John Mendenhall and Harry Sutherland, two leaders of the Sierra Club. Mendenhall famously fashioned wooden pitons out of 2x4 lumber which he pounded into the wide crack on the second pitch. He then attached stirrups to the pegs and stood up in them to make upwards progress.
Jeff Lowe's Metanoia - An incredible documentary of the life of Jeff Lowe and the evolution of ice climbing and mountaineering styles.
The MapMaker - You can’t take a photo of every boulder in Linville Gorge – but you can draw it. Or at least, Joey Henson can. Follow Joey and a community of rock climbers as they climb, document, and preserve the boulders around Boone, North Carolina.
The Flaming Crimp - Hound Ears is the first leg of the three-part Triple Crown Bouldering Series, Presented by Marmot, which exists to raise funds for the Southeastern Climbers Coalition and the Carolina Climbers Coalition. These two organizations are by climbers, for climbers, and serve to acquire and maintain access to some of the southeast’s most beloved crags and boulder fields. This is the story of Hound Ears.
Fire on Ice - A documentary on Carolina Climbing Legend, Kitty Calhoun filmed in Norway in 2005 with her partner Kim Reynolds.
Climbing Pioneers of North Carolina
Tales of Climbing in the Carolinas
A short video introduction by Mike Fischesser, about a series of audio interviews he recorded in the 1980s. The interviews are available at this location: https://carolinaclimbingmuseum.org/
Historic Audio Interviews with Legends of Climbing in the Carolinas
Video Interviews with Pioneer Climbers
Uploaded by Mike Fischesser on 2018-04-02.
Uploaded by Mike Fischesser on 2018-04-02.
Thomas Kelly, Bruce Burgess, Pascal Robert Big Green Interview March 24, 2018
Doug Reid Interview
Monty Reagan Interview
Bill Chatfield, Ray Rimmer and Will Wyland Interview
Jennings Family History - Laurel Knob - Part 1
Jennings Family History - Laurel Knob - Part 2
Robertjohn Gillespie Interview