View Full Version : Dragon Tooth
Is this a scramble or a technical climb?
FarmerChef
03-12-2013, 20:48
Scramble most definitely. You need to do a tad bit of free climbing in a spot or two but we're only talking about a height of 10 feet or so to get to the next ledge in the rock. Most of it is walking/scrabbling.
Most of it is walking/scrabbling.
If you do it in the rain you get double word!
Also make sure your mileage is adjusted to be there Thursday-Sunday, cause if you don't go into Catawba for that most wonderful food, you're screwed and your hike will be totally runined. It's my one caveat for HYOH.
bigcranky
03-12-2013, 21:11
It's more fun going down (nobo) especially when it's wet. With a big pack. And a dog :). But it's a beautiful spot.
Easy, I was heading SOBO, not a big deal.
Lone Wolf
03-12-2013, 21:44
Is this a scramble or a technical climb?
no. not at all
HikerMom58
03-12-2013, 21:48
It's a fun rock scramble. You will love it!
Chaco Taco
03-12-2013, 21:50
its a big series of rocks along the trail, no scramble or technical climb. Its just a few big rocks.
HikerMom58
03-12-2013, 22:03
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNhkWACo6tA
I just found this... enjoy!
This is my next section. I might have to bring a helmet and ropes.
Its a rock scramble that sucks! We had two thru hikers with injured ankles in this section last year.
swjohnsey
03-12-2013, 22:49
Hit it early when you are fresh and it is fun.
Hikerhead
03-12-2013, 23:14
Easy scramble over some interesting rock formations and ledges in a few places. More people, day hikers, get lost here than anywhere else close to Roanoke. Look at the map on the kiosh or carry one and know that the AT north of Dragons Tooth is not part of the loop. Go down the same way you went up.
peakbagger
03-13-2013, 07:25
Great entry level practice for Maine and northern NH. :) Down south its seems significant but up north its routine.
Hikerhead
03-13-2013, 08:11
Easy scramble over some interesting rock formations and ledges in a few places. More people, day hikers, get lost here than anywhere else close to Roanoke. Look at the map on the kiosh or carry one and know that the AT north of Dragons Tooth is not part of the loop. Go down the same way you went up.
I meant to say the AT SOUTH of Dragons Tooth is NOT part of the loop. My bad.
DeerPath
03-13-2013, 11:14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNhkWACo6tA
I just found this... enjoy!
Thanks for sharing.
Kerosene
03-13-2013, 12:02
The climb up to Dragon's Tooth (SOBO) from Lost Spectacles Gap is a long series of rock steps. You'll want to get in a lot of StairMaster practice before you go.
I see it as more of a "shimmy/crawl" to get near the top of the Tooth. I'm afraid of heights, so it was all I could do to drag myself to within a few feet of the topmost point.
Great, sounds like a blast. Someone mentioned food. Where and how far?
HikerMom58
03-13-2013, 19:13
Here you go... Homeplace has really good food!
http://www.roanokeoutside.com/dragons-tooth-trail
I planned very poorly leading up to this and hiked 42 miles in 2 days with only two packages of ramen noodles left in my foodbag. I was pretty lightheaded by the time I reached the top. When I got to the bottom I was relieved to see a grocery bag filled with snickers bars hanging from a sign pointing to Joe Mitchell's place. I stayed 2 days and gorged myself at the Homeplace...one of my best memories of the trail.
The Homeplace should be mandatory. I thought I was doing 9 more miles that day.....Idiot.
What is the resupply/shuttle situation in Catawba?
HikerMom58
03-14-2013, 21:49
There's Four Pines Hostel Joe Mitchell 540-309-8615 for shuttles.. he will take you to the Homeplace and Catawba Grocery... it's all the the AT guide book.
Slo-go'en
03-14-2013, 22:40
The Homeplace should be mandatory. I thought I was doing 9 more miles that day.....Idiot.
I keep passing through there on the wrong day and thier closed! Some day I'll time it right.
I'll practice on Old Rag! :)