Above: Nick Welsh climbing near Table Rock
This summer’s LMC Outdoor Programs classes are off to a great start with the Rock Climbing and Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills classes beginning last Monday, May 14th. We were happy to have nice weather for a full week of climbing at local rock sites. On Tuesday we hiked up the Hemlock Trail and climbed at Hidden Boulder, one of our on-campus rock climbing sites. The students were able to watch a demonstration of setting up top rope climbing anchors then try out the short climbs at the site. On Wednesday we drove to the Table Rock Mountain parking area and hiked south on the Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail to The Chimneys and enjoyed a day of climbing longer and more difficult climbs.
- Above: LMC student Jarret Fleharty belaying at one of the most beautiful sites in the NC mountains, Devil’s Cellar, on Thursday. On Friday we hiked out to one of our newest on-campus rock climbing sites “Jungle Rock” to clear some of the brush away from the rock and establish a new climb up a fun route. The students are looking forward to learning more skills and climbing at several new sites before the class ends on Friday, May 25th.
- Above: Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills class student Beth Marlowe at “Devil’s Cellar” climbing on one of the difficult routes.
- This July Outdoor Programs will once again be offering Fresh Tracks trips specially designed for incoming LMC freshmen. These trips offer our new students the opportunity to enjoy hiking, camping, and rock climbing in the beautiful mountains surrounding the Lees-McRae College campus. They have the chance to spend time on one of these trips in July with the LMC Outdoor Programs student leaders and get to know other freshmen before orientation and the fall semester begins.
- Hanging out at the campsite on last July’s Fresh Tracks trip
- Dates for our 2012 Fresh Tracks Trips:
- July 6-7th…Friday 3:00pm-Sunday 4:00pm
- July 12-15th…Thursday 1:00pm-Sunday 2:00pm
- July 19-22nd…Thursday 1:00pm-Sunday 2:00pm
- July 27-28th…Friday 3:00pm-Sunday 4:00pm
Above: Fresh Tracks participants hiking to “The Chimneys” for a fun day of rock climbing.
“My name is Walter Ford and I am one of the lead instructors and co-founders of ‘Fresh Tracks.’ Last summer, our trips went smoothly and we were able to adapt to everything just fine considering that those were our very first endeavors with the program. The great thing about this year’s ‘Fresh Tracks’ is the fact that we got to study last year’s trips and think about what went over well and could be better, what we could add, what we could take out, and what we could modify to make the overall experience the best that it can be for our incoming freshman.”
- For more information about the Fresh Tracks trips, contact the staff at LMC Admissions at 1.800.280.4562 or admissions@lmc.edu
