We left Miamisburg around 5:30 Thursday morning to get us thru Cincinnati before traffic took hold of 75, and we would have made great time if it wasn't for getting turned around in the final miles leading up to Table Rock. Our directions landed us at a road leading up to Table Rock, but with no trespassing signs being the tamest of a clear message, we ended up driving thru the Pisgah National Forest to the appropriate access road.
Upon arriving we grabbed the gear and took off to the wall to get our bearings. We'd be running out of light here shortly, but we did manage to shoot up the first pitch of Jim Dandy (which we were planning to take to the lunch ledge then walk off or find a route to the summit). Rapping down the temperature started to drop pretty quick, so we got the tent set up and attempted to get a fire going, but with the wind ripping up thru the valley it kept our fire from ever getting started. So, around 6:30pm we retreated to the tent in the pitch black comfort December has to offer.
Days were expected to be sunny and in the 60's.... but what we didn't account for was that first night in the teens. Bring this trip up with Sara and just watch her expression drop. Good or bad we have new parameters for booking cabins when the lows hit certain temps. Regardless, we made breakfast Friday morning, filled up the thermos with coffee, and threw a couple (would be celebratory) beers in the bag just in case. Familiar with the area now, we cruised to Jim Dandy from the campsite and I lead the first pitch. As Sara was tying in another group showed up, but after leading up the second pitch we didn't see them the rest of the day.
Pitch 2 traversed out right and gently angled up to a bolted belay. The gear was sparse and slightly shoddy, but the climbing was easy enough to not be concerned. We made our way to the lunch ledge where we looked around for any sort of "walk off" or decent, but decided we'd rather continue up to the summit. Looking at a topo it looked like we could take another pitch up to the Lightening Ledge then walk off to the summit. Perfect! The next pitch was pretty stellar, 30' off the belay before a #1 fit in perfectly, then you start up the "headwall" running into decent moves, even clipping an old piton on the way up.
Sara cruised up and we had a cup of coffee on the lightening ledge, picturing folks back in the office having another cup to keep their morning going as well. From here we yanked off the climbing shoes, coiled the rope, and started to walk along the ledge towards the summit. Problem was, we walked about 50' then the path stopped and we ran into a steeper face going up and a bulging traverse going out left.... This did not match the beta.
Deciding straight up looked too steep, Sara anchored off a tree and I began the tip toe traverse on the bulge, making my way to another tree where I anchored and Sara followed. From here I lead out again, stemming up between two features then pulling up over a lip where we find a bolt! I clip that and my confidence is back knowing we're at least on known terrain. After a few more pieces I come to a bolted anchor and the appearance of a path that could take us to the summit. I put Sara on belay, she fires whatever pitch that was, and then walks up to the summit proper.
After cleaning the anchor and bringing the rope up I join Sara on the summit where we enjoyed those aforementioned beers. We did get a chance to feel slightly heroic here, as a group of hikers asked how we reached the summit without taking the trail. Hiking down instead of rapping is always wonderful, although for Sara presents the most dangerous part of a climb. Not falling once on the wall, Sara took a spill and received a bruise just about the size of a #3. From here we drove into High Point and got to hang with Uncle Dave and family, giving us our first exposure to cheer wine. Go Packers.