Excerpted from Great Adventures in North Carolina , by Lynn Setzer

Who

Take rock climbing seriously! Seek out good instruction and learn from a qualified, experienced climber. Be sure to ask any questions you have about the instructor's qualifications before you commit to climbing. Ask where that instructor has climbed and problems and challenges that he or she has struggled with. Climbing is an intense experience, and you'll need to be well matched with your instructor. In my case, Burton was the right mix of coach and taskmaster. If you attempt this sport, you will probably find yourself dealing with more than rocky ledges. It's important to have an instructor who will coach you through to completion. Check out the North Carolina links for instruction from experienced guides.

Moreover, I recommend a private lesson. You'll probably have many questions about the gear—and there's a lot of gear to become familiar with—and a group lesson probably won't answer all those questions.

If you don't know anybody who has ever climbed rocks, but you think the sport has an appeal, you may want to go to one of the climbing areas listed below and watch other climbers. Seeing it in person is very different than watching it on television: Rocks are larger and the sun can be hotter than you can imagine. More to the point, you will better understand the inherent risk.

Interestingly, Burton commented that women learn to climb rocks as well as, if not better than, men because they tend to be more patient.

When

Obviously, rock climbing is not the sort of activity in which you engage while it's raining, nor is it something you do when there is a high probability of electrical storms. Rocks attract lightning. Rock climbing is, however, something you can do year-round. Spring and fall are generally best, with the fall being the driest time of year. Summer may be the least preferred time of year because of the heat that the rocks absorb and because of the high humidity. And wintertime? As Burton pointed out to me, a south-facing climb on a mild winter day can be absolutely perfect.

Move on to Practicalities: Where

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Explore the Southeast! North Carolina Getaways - Cruise past glittering waterfalls and scale gnarly granite. Florida Frolics - Leave Disney in your wake as you sail and fish off the coast of Florida. Wild West Virginia - Learn what all the fuss is about in the East's most rugged wildlands.

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Great Adventures in North Carolina is available from the Adventurous Traveler Bookstore. Click here to order! Click here to visit Menasha Ridge

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