About Leda: Leda is a sandstone cliff and there are variety of sports and trad routes out there. ~2.5 hours of drive, located not far from Chattanooga. Please note: There is $ 6 permit per person for using the climbing area.
Weather: Nice weather with slight (10%) chance of rain. High of 60 F. Recommend you get a rain shell just in case.
Where do we meet? 7:00 am at Marietta park and ride. Parking is limited, so it is recommended that we car pool. However, you can also meet the group directly Leda parking lot at 9:10 am ET. Below are the google maps links Marietta park and ride and the directions to Leda parking lot
http://maps.google.com/?q=33.
Club’s May trip is going to be on Saturday, May 9 at Leda in Tennessee.
About Leda: Leda is a sandstone cliff and there are variety of sports and trad routes out there. ~2.5 hours of drive, located not far from Chattanooga. Please note: There is $ 6 permit per person for using the climbing area.
Weather: Little hot but good for climbing. High of 90 F and low 68 F. Recommend you get enough water and sun block
Where do we meet? 7:00 am at Marietta park and ride. Parking is limited, so it is recommended that we car pool. However, you can also meet the group directly Leda parking lot at 9:30 am ET. Below are the google maps links Marietta park and ride and the directions to Leda parking lot
]]>Looking glass trailhead:
If you are planning to come to this overnight trip, then now is a good time to book a place for Friday and Saturday night (Obviously, you can join us on one of the days if a 2 day trip does not work for you).
Some options for overnight stay:
If you need any help finding a place, have any questions or want to coordinate with anyone else for sharing a cabin / campsite then please feel free to email Bindal – [email protected].
We will share details on time / place to meet for climbing later as we get close to the trip day.
]]>Club’s March trip is going to be on Saturday, Mar 7 at Palisades park in Alabama. About Palisades Park: The climbing area in a state park and there are variety of trad and top rope routes out there. ~2.5 a hours of drive, located not far from Birmingham. Please note: There is $ 5 permit per person for using the climbing area. Park opens 9 am Central time and closes at 5 pm Central
Weather: Looks good for climbing. High of 58 F and low 30 F. Recommend you get some warm clothes that will come handy when you are belaying or just hanging out around the crag.
Where do we meet? 7:30 am at Thornton road park and ride off I20. Parking is limited, so it is recommended that we car pool. However, you can also meet the group directly near the palisades parking lot at 10 am ET. Below are the google maps links to both (first one is for park and ride and the second is for parking area / trail head)
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//33.7779915,-84.605301/@33.778812,-84.6070558,17z/data=!3m1!4b1
If you want to contact the group on the day of the trip then please reach out to Bindal at (804) 833 3255 or Denmark at (404) 797 5479
For more information on Palisades park, how to get there and the routes, refer below:
http://www.mountainproject.com/v/palisades-park/105914427
http://www.blountcountypark.com/activities/rock-climbing/
Looking forward to see you all this Saturday!!
]]>Club’s February trip is going to be on Saturday, Feb 7 at Jamestown in Alabama.
About Jamestown: It is a trad climbing area, ~2 hours of drive, comprised of nearly one mile of 80 to 100 foot tall sandstone climbing cliff located in northeastern Alabama. There are routes with all level of difficulties 5.7 to 5.12 – good for beginners as well as advanced climbers.
Weather: Little cloudy on Saturday but looks good for climbing. High of 63 F and low 37 F. Recommend you get some warm clothes that will come handy when you are belaying or just hanging out around the crag.
Where do we meet? 7 am at Marietta park and ride. Parking is limited, so it is recommended that we car pool. However, you can also meet the group directly near the parking lot at 9 am. Below are the google maps links to both (first one is for park and ride and the second is for parking area / trail head)
http://maps.google.com/?q=33.941016,-84.527773+%28Marietta+Park+and+Ride%29
https://www.google.com/maps/place/34%C2%B024’40.3%22N+85%C2%B034’25.3%22W/@34.4098369,-85.5735391,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en
If you want to contact the group on the day of the trip then please reach out to Bindal at (804) 833 3255 or Denmark at (404) 797 5479
For more information on Jamestown, how to get there and the routes, refer below:
http://www.mountainproject.com/v/jamestown/105905660
http://www.seclimbers.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=27
Looking forward to see you all this Saturday!!
]]>Welcome to the new year, the club board members have now been assigned to their positions.
Here they are:
Club President – Denmark Blount
Past President – Jim Allison
Program Coordinator – Greg Allen
Trip Coordinator – Bindal Shah
Treasurer – Susan Stewart
Trail Day and Access Issues – Kevin Kehm
Communicator – Jennifer Kemper
Just a quick reminder that dues are due, 25 for single person or 40 for family.
The January trip was a good one, some going to good ‘ole T-wall and some to ice climb at Hogpen Gap.
Here is a quick trip report from the T-wall gang:
Meeting at the Marietta park and ride before first light, the temperature was right around 20 degrees. Tim, Chuck and Bindal were all foolish enough to show up, and they headed on toward Chattanooga. Arriving at the trailhead around 9:45, they found Gary waiting for them.
With clear skies and temperatures still in the low 20s, the hike up to the crag seared the lungs but provided some much welcomed body heat. The waterfall was a lovely display of water cascading over icicles, with a huge pile of ice and snow at the base. The rock seemed cold but bearable, and the first climbs of the day confirmed that things were thawing out nicely.
By the end of the second climb the T-Wall magic was in full swing. Jackets were put away as it turned into a beautiful day — punctuated with the occasional sound of ice falling down the cliff. Tim bagged numerous onsight ascents. Bindal logged some time on the sharp end of the rope as well, pink pointing some of Tim’s leads. Gary and Chuck each managed to sneak in an onsight as well. The day’s climbing was a resounding success.
Things started to cool off as the sun got low on the horizon. Everyone packed up and headed back to the cars as the sun went down. Gary headed straight back home, while the rest of the gang returned to the Wing Cafe in Marietta to meet up with Gerise and Jenny. After some hot food and cold beers, everyone headed home for some well-earned sleep.
Routes that were climbed:
Nappy
Plastic Toys
Multiple Use Area
Prerequisite for Excellence
Standard Deviation
Sunday Gardening
Contents Under Pressure
Shiva’s Last Dance
A Tension Span
Some things to look forward to are: The Feb club meeting; the next club trip (location to be announced later); “Float the Boat” bouldering competition (Feb 28th)…
]]>Option 1: Rock climbing at T-wall
It is a trad climbing heaven near Chattanooga. Most of the routes are single pitch. There are routes with all level of difficulties from 5.7 to 5.12.
Where do we meet? 7:30 am at Marietta park and ride. You can also meet the group directly at T-wall trail head at 9:30 am. Below are the google maps links to both (first one is for park and ride and the second is for trail head)
http://maps.google.com/?q=33.941016,-84.527773+%28Marietta+Park+and+Ride%29
http://maps.google.com/?q=35.068046,-85.402093+%28Tennessee+Wall%29
It is going to be cold on Saturday (high of 38 F) so wear enough warm clothes (bringing a thermos with a warm beverage won’t be a bad idea either). We are going to monitor the weather and if the forecast for cloud get any worse we might move this to next week. We will keep you posted.
If you want to contact the group on the day of the trip then please reach out to Bindal.
Option 2: Ice-climbing at Hogpen Gap (with a fall back option of rock climbing)
Hogpen gap is located near Cleveland, GA. Plan is to get there early in the morning (8 am) and start climbing. Ice climbing is weather dependent and if it gets warm early in the day then we will do rock climbing at a nearby location. Greg Allen is also going to scout the place on Thursday night or Friday morning, if the conditions does not look suitable for ice climbing then we will let you know in advance.
If you are interested in ice climbing please sign up by replying to [email protected]. Signup is on a first come first serve basis. There are 10 slots and we already have 5 people (who attended last nights meeting) signed up and 2 maybes.
Where do we meet? 6 am at Mansell road park and ride. It is off GA 400, exit # 8 Mansell road on the southwest corner. Below is the google map link.
What should I bring? Get the usual rock climbing gear – Harness, belay device, helmet, rope (if you have it). Greg and Denamrk will have ice climbing specific gear – ice axes and crampons – that you can use. You will also need stiff boots that will accept crampons. Please dress appropriately.
Guidance on dressing: Dress in layers. Use mid weight, not expedition weight, long johns/underwear. Long sleeve pants and shirt. Ski pants or wind and water repellant pants and jacket. Hood on jacket helps. Sock liners and expedition weight socks. Gloves and optionally liners. 2nd pair of gloves in case first get wet. Cap or beanie. Dry clothes to change into when done. Comfortable shoes for when not climbing.
If you want to contact the group on the day of the trip then please reach out to Denmark.
]]>Jim and Mike lead Exit Stage Left (5.5). Jim led Cashmere (5.7), with a mock lead through the roof; Mike followed on toprope. Denmark lead Trivial Pursuit (5.9) and Tim pink pointed the climb. Tim led Captain Crunch (5.9) and Denmark pink pointed. Mike led Bubba (5.5) and Jim lead the Unnamed (5.7) right of Bubba. Denmark lead 9 To 5 (5.8) and Tim pink pointed. Tim led Jumpin’ Jeff Flash (5.8) and Denmark pink pointed. Jennifer toproped all 7 or 8 and made quota. Jennifer’s dog River was handed down the downclimb, was perfectly behaved, and exited the walk-up past End Rock.
Currently it gets dark at 4:30 in Alabama, so we quit early. But the park was open late for a Christmas lights display from 5pm – 9pm. The lights were a medley of arrangements from local businesses and family’s. We stopped at Mi Casita’s in Ashville, AL, for Mexican (no beer on Sunday) and later Dairy Queen and were home at a reasonable hour.
Climb on! – Denmark
]]>On the South Side wall Alex led Good Intentions 5.6 and set up a top rope on Left Up 5.7. Denmark led Short Man’s Sorrow 5.6 and set up a top rope on Bloody Crack 5.8. Kevin led the direct approach to First Return and Sentry Box ledge for others to top rope. He rated it 5.6/5.7. Denmark led an unnamed route right of Short Man’s Sorrow, which folks said had a couple of 5.10 moves on it.
Russ had his cast off and a splint on his broken arm. Nevertheless he aided Good Intentions and climbed Short Man’s Sorrow before he declared he was not going to overdo it. Gene climbed First Return Approach, Left Up, half of Bloody Crack, and onsited (or should we say blindsited) Short Man’s Sorrow. Linnea smoked all the climbs and cleaning the gear. She even cleaned two of Fox Mountain head guide Ron’s cams by mistake. Bindal had no problem with the polished starts given his bouldering expertise. Ian onsighted (his first?) 5.10.
Kevin led the first pitch and Alex the combined second and third pitches of Rat’s Ass 5.8 with Bindal in the middle. Ask Kevin for the story about dropping six nuts. The sun set and we packed up and hiked out in the dusk and dark, some with headlamps. Susan slipped and caught herself but smacked her wrist on a rock – radial fracture. Many went to The Square Root for dinner and celebrated Russ’s birthday a few days early.
But where were the others? Jim went to the park-n-ride at 6:00am in his all electric Leaf only to find no one else there. With only 80 miles per charge he could not make North Carolina and he turned around and went back home. Later he climbed with Tim and Greg at Jamestown. Harry, Josh, and Kevin climbed The Nose and returned to that area the next day. JP and friend were supposed to meet us at the South Side but went there on Sunday instead of Saturday.
Folks went their separate ways on Sunday and several stayed at Looking Glass. Jodi led pitches 1 and 4 on The Nose 5.8 while Jennifer led pitch 4 on Sundial Crack 5.8. Chuck redpointed all 5 pitches on Tits and Beer 5.9 (aka world’s hardest 5.8), finishing just after sunset. The rap tree was dead and had fallen over. In the dark Chuck built a new rap station on an evergreen tree and rapped and hiked out by headlamp.
Climb On!-Denmark Blount
]]>We will be leaving the Indian Trail Park and Ride in Norcross at 6:00 am. This will get us to the South Side trail head around 9:15am – 9:30am. The South Side of Looking Glass Rock will offer optimal climbing opportunities for the group. If any capable parties are interested in tackling routes at the Nose Area, they can continue driving up the forest service road to the parking area.
The club is climbing together only on Saturday. If however anybody would like to make a weekend of it, there is free primitive camping near the South Side parking area. There is also free camping at the “Horse Stables”. The “Horse Stables” are located off of Highway 276 on the right as one is driving towards Looking Glass from Brevard. These free camping areas fill up quickly however. There is also camping with more amenities at the pay camping grounds Davidson River Campground.
Indian Trail Park and Ride.
For those that are meeting us at Looking Glass Rock.
]]>