March Club Trip – Palisades Park, AL

The club trip is tomorrow 3/6 at Palisades Park in Alabama. It’s an all trad spot, but there will be plenty of top-roping available. Mountain Project says it’s a perfect place for a beginner’s first outdoor climbing experience because there is a wide range of grades. All climbers must register at the park office and buy a $5 climbing permit (good for three days) or a $35 annual permit. From the parking lot, head for the cliff top near a picnic pavilion and scramble down a fourth-class gully/chimney to the base of the cliff. 

The meetup location is different than usual! We are meeting at 7:30am at the Thornton Road Park and Ride off of Thornton Rd on I20. The address provided leads you to an intersection, the last right turn is hard to find, use the map on facebook or provided in the email.

Meetup Time: 7:30 AM
Meetup Location:
     Thornton Rd Park and Ride
     1700 Blair Bridge Road, Austell, GA
     https://goo.gl/maps/NspcbaFGuAyPwC4d6

Climbing Location:
     Palisades Park, AL
     https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105914427/palisades-park
     https://goo.gl/maps/2MxhDBk3pkvrkFrz9

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March Meeting/ Club Trip

Club Meeting:
Our club meeting will be held on Thursday 3/4 at Fire Maker Brewing at 7pm. Meeting starts at 7pm. We’ll discuss a potential summer trip to Colorado, and our guest speaker (some guy named Evan?) will be doing a presentation on skydiving and bass jumping. If you plan on joining the climbing trip or have an interest in Colorado, please try to attend the meeting. Or not, social distancing measures are up to you. 

Time: 7pm on Thursday 3/4
Location: Fire Maker Brewing
Address: 975 Chattahoochee Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Club Trip:
Weather looks good for Saturday, we will be heading to Palisades Park in Alabama for some trad climbing. The meetup time will be discussed at the club meeting and details will be released afterwards. 

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ACC Big Rock Trip Report – Next trip T-Wall on Jan 9th

The December trip was held on yet another perfect day, with lots of warm sunshine to bask in.  With around 14 members, including 2 first timers, showing up at various times in an unfamiliar location we were seldom all in one area at the same time.  Still, we were able to set up several ropes and swap around as it was uncrowded.  Many folks felt the climbs were a bit harder than advertised.

There was an extended after climb gathering with people straggling down from the crag and with most headed directly home with no group dinner for a change.  Overall while we had a good time, the general consensus seemed to be Big Rock was a worthwhile experience, just not an all-time favorite crag.

The Sending Chain goes to Chris Perilla for making Unknown Slab his project for the day, stretching his trad skills and taking his first fall on gear. Falling is integral to climbing so mastering gear placement is a necessity for great climbing.  

If our weather luck continues the next trip will be to Tennessee Wall on 1/9/21, details to come.

Just some of the routes done:

  • Unknown Slab 5.10 T
  • The Underdog 5.9 T
  • Traffic Jam 5.6 S
  • Stellar Slab 5.11 S
  • Flakey 5.8  
  • Sport 1 5.8 S
  • Genesis Wave 5.8 T
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ACC Sat. Dec. 5th Trip to Big Rock Mtn. SC

For the December club trip we will be going to Big Rock Mtn (AKA Nine Times Preserve) in SC. A relatively new area that offers up a variety of grades on slabby granite in both trad and sport flavors. This is a good winter destination, especially if sunny. It’s about 2:15 hrs. from the Indian Trail park/ride.

Once we arrive we will probably hit the main wall and then explore the area in smaller groups. Santa will bring the nicest or naughtiest climber the Sending Chain!

  • Date: Saturday 12/5/20
  • Time: 7am @ park/ride
  • Park/ride: Indian Trail: 1560 Indian Trail Lilburn Rd Norcross
  • Event Location:  Big Rock Lake Rd, Pickens, SC. Look for “P” sign @ lot and is located just past Charles Towne Rd. DO NOT PARK ON THE ROAD IF PARKING IS FULL!!! DO NOT PULL DOWN CHARLES TOWNE RD! (Alternative Parking info below).
  • Trail: From the main parking lot follow the trail that leads up. There is a split very soon after starting the trail. Right takes you towards X-wall, and Rowan’s Leap eventually to the Main Wall and some of the slabs.
  • Mtn Project info: https://www.mountainproject.com/area/113573351/big-rock-mountain
  • Alternate parking lot: If by chance the Main Parking lot is full, exit the neighborhood and drive to the intersection of Preston McDaniel Road and Nine Times Road. Here there is a gravel parking lot and a large grassy lot.
  • Trail from Alternate lot: From the alternate parking lot, walk across E Preston McDaniel rd and follow the gravel road for 0.1 mile. Once you are beneath the power lines look for a trail sign on the right side of the road. Take the path to the right to begin the Big Rock Mtn Summit trail, which has green blaze.. Follow the obvious trail with green blazes uphill for 0.4 miles to reach an old logging road. Continue to follow the green blazes on the logging road for 0.2 miles. At the next trail sign, make a right turn to continue on the Big Rock Mtn Summit trail. Continue to follow the green blazes for 0.1 mile to reach the left shoulder of big rock, near the inversion wall.  ~1.25 miles

Reminder: Friday night 12/4 is the Holiday Party check your email, FB, or the ACC website for details.

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New Location for ACC Holiday Party, Don’t forget to RSVP, & Turn in any ACC Board Nominations

This is a notice the ACC Holiday party has moved and a reminder the party is next Fri 12/4.  RSVP if you plan to attend so we can plan the food, please include any guests or diet needs.  More detail below.

  1. Send in your ACC Board nominations: Get your nominations in! We are building a good candidate list but want to be sure all willing volunteers have a chance to be on next year’s board.  Nominations will close with the Holiday Party.  Please email [email protected] with your nominations, or text/call a board member. 
  2. 2020 ACC Holiday Party:
    1. When: Fri Dec 4th at 7 pm – ? (Remembering the Dec Club Trip to Big Rock SC is Sat Dec 5th).  The party replaces the Dec club meeting which would have been Thurs Dec 3rd.
    2. New Location:  We are back at the Allison’s house: 4861 Hunters Oaks Lane, Alpharetta GA 30009. 
    3. What:
      • Spouses and other partners are welcome and encouraged to come and meet your climbing pals.
      • It’s BYOB; however, the club will provide dinner.  Sides/snacks are encouraged. 
      • Please RSVP to [email protected] with your head count.
      • There will be a gift exchange game.  Gifts should be climbing related with a $25 limit
      • The house won’t be decked out this early but we still have the pool table, fire pit, lighted area for corn hole, and hot tub. 
      • Plenty of beds and other place to crash if that’s the best way for you to be on time for the club trip on Sat.
  3. 12/6 Self rescue class:  This class is full.

Climb On!

[email protected]

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ACC Board Nominations, Holiday Party & Nov Trip Report

Send in your Board nominations, RSVP for Holiday Party Fri Dec 4th, & a great trip to Palisades Park

Hi All,

This post combines 3 messages into a single post, so if you want to be informed, be sure to read all three topics.  There are a couple of items to reply to in this post. Don’t be shy. Like with voting; reply early and often.

  1. Send in your Board nominations: We need nominations for next year’s ACC board.  Please send your nominations to: [email protected], or text/call a board member.  If you are nominated, remember we can’t have a club without some folks being willing to run it.  None of the roles consume more than a few hours a month, you don’t need to be an experienced climber to serve, and the club benefits from new ideas and perspectives.
  2. 2020 ACC Holiday Party:
    1. When: Fri Dec 4th at 7 pm – ? (Remembering the Dec Club Trip to Big Rock SC is Sat Dec 5th).  The party replaces the Dec club meeting which would have been Thurs Dec 3rd.
    2. Where: The City View Vinings apartment complex clubhouse; 3340 Cumberland Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30339.  This is same location as the Nov meeting.  The clubhouse is on the first floor facing the intersection.  The door will be open and the club sign in the window.  The easy parking is across the street at the bank.
    3. What:
      • Spouses and other partners are welcome and encouraged to come and meet your climbing pals.
      • It’s BYOB; however, the club will provide dinner.  Sides/snacks are encouraged.
      • RSVP to [email protected] with your head count.
      • There will be a gift exchange game.  Gifts should be climbing related with a $25 limit.
  3. Trip Report for Nov 7th trip to Palisades Park:

The trip to Palisades Park went well despite some iffy weather.  The day was overcast with occasional light drizzle, not quite the perfect weather that was forecast.  This did not limit the 14 members that came out, only 3 of which were “club old timers”.  Chuck and Tim were on hand to offer up advice and encouragement to the folks getting used to being on the sharp end of a trad route.  Many had not been to this crag before and found it fun and challenging, especially as most routes seemed to have roofs of some size on them.  The early sunset caught some of us out, with one party electing to climb out via Bubba rather than do the hike in darkness. Turns out climbing by head lamp entails it’s own challenges. 

We revived the tradition of awarding the “Sending Chain” to the climber that most distinguished themselves, good or bad. The chain was bestowed upon Sam for flashing Elephant Crack, Cashmere and 9 to 5.  Congrats Sam!

After some social time we split up with half the group headed back to Atl and the others to Sandrock for the self-rescue class the following day.  The next trip will be at Big Rock in SC on December 5th; we hope to see you then.

Routes climbed:

  • Mickey’s Mantle 5.9 plus
  • Boobs 5.9
  • R and D 5.8 plus
  • Elephant Crack 5.7 plus
  • Buckets 5.5
  • Cashmere 5.8
  • Trivial Pursuit 5.9
  • Bubba 5.5
  • 9 to 5 5.8
  • Captain Crunch 5.9

Climb On!

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ACC Thurs Nov 5th Meeting and Sat Nov 7th trip

Club Meeting:

The presentation this Thursday the 5th at 7:00pm is on the 1984 Tsobuje (21,980 ft) Nepal Expedition. 

The meeting will be at the City View Vinings apartment complex clubhouse;  3340 Cumberland Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30339.  The clubhouse is on the first floor facing the intersection.  The door will be open and the club sign in the window.  The easy parking is across the street at the bank.

Rick Susgin, a long-time climber who originally hails from Canada will present his 1984 expedition which successfully summated Tsobuje (21,980 ft) in Nepal.  As if scaling as 22,000 foot mountain wasn’t enough, the expedition had an exciting conclusion as Indira Gandhi’s assignation disrupted their return trip.  Rick will be reprising his 2012 presentation to the ACC which predates most current members.

Club Trip:

The Nov 7th club trip will be going to Palisades Park in AL. The area has one of the easiest approaches in the South, allowing for very simple top rope setting. There are no sport routes, but a good mix of grades to try out your trad skills on. All climbers must register at the park office and buy a $5 permit. Projected weather looks perfect. We hope to see you then.

When: Saturday 11/7/20

Location: Palisades Park 1225 Palisades Pkwy Oneonta, AL 35121

Time: 7:30 @ carpool, 10 EST @park. NOTE: park opens @ 10 EST.

Carpool: Thornton Rd park-ride. 1100 N. Blairs Bridge Rd Lithia Springs, GA

Park website: http://www.blountcountypark.com/activities/rock-climbing/

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NOVEMBER 8TH SELF RESCUE CLASS

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Looking Glass Trip Report

The October trip to Looking Glass turned out quite well. We had 15 members make the trek to NC, including a few new people continuing a trend for this year.  Despite being hard to find in the dark, the campground was very nice with an actual creek on site just as the name implied.

Saturday we headed off in 3 groups to The Nose, Southside and a new area off FS475 respectively, doing the same on Sunday. While the nights were chilly both days were sunny and warm. A couple of folks had their first multi-pitch experience while climbing slab, face and crack features. We hit most of the classics including The Nose (4 pitches), Sun Dial Crack (4 pitches) and Second Coming (2 pitches) to name just a few.

It was a great weekend with lots of climbing and some campfire time to hang out and socialize. Brevard is a beautiful area and we really enjoyed our time there.

Next month’s trip will be to Palisades  in AL on 11/7/20. We hope to see you there!

We will be taking nominations for the 2021 board at the next meeting. Please consider volunteering. We have many new members and think the club would benefit from some fresh perspectives.

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ACC Oct 1st Club Meeting – Picnic at Chastain Park 7-8:30 pm

This month’s meeting is Thursday Oct 1st from 7-8:30 pm at Chastain Park (map and address below).  The same location as the Sept meeting and July 4th BBQ.  This is a picnic meeting and planning session for this weekend’s trip to Looking Glass.  We know folks going on the trip have packing to do, so we will limit the social time and get the planning done early.   This meeting is a picnic, BYOF&B.  Food to share is welcome.  As a reminder, no glass is allowed in the park, so all beverages need to be brought in cans. The club will be providing water, but please bring a reusable water bottle so we can cut down on waste.

After this planning session there will be an email with more detail on the Looking Glass trip.  


Chastain Memorial Park: Alex Cooley Pkwy Atlanta, GA  30327

As a recap: Looking Glass in Brevard, NC. It is @ 3.5 hr from Atl.  Looking Glass is a trad climber’s paradise.  Well known for its big granite walls, it has both single and multi-pitch climbs with some very unique features.

We will be fancy camping at Cherryfield Creek Campground  (address: 195 Still Waters Ln, Brevard, NC 28712 map to campground) approximately 40 min away in Brevard.  They have tent platforms, hot showers and such for $25 pp/night.  Alternatively there is free primitive camping near the trailheads.

There will not be a formal carpool, but if desired you can use [email protected] email to make your arrangements. Note: This address has been corrected since the last email.

If you plan to attend please respond to this email by 9/29 with the following info.

  • If camping @ Cherryfield
  • What grade of climb are you comfortable with
  • Whether you can lead or clean a multi-pitch trad climb

This will help us set a plan where/when to meet on Saturday. Final details will be emailed after the meeting on Thurs.

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