Stone Fort Trail Day

Stone Fort received an entranceway facelift on Saturday March 19th, 2011 thanks to a great group of volunteers and financial support ($500 donation!) from Dan Rose and Max Poppel of The Crashpad!

The entranceway was cited as an area of erosion concern by our (still on-going) Environmental/Social Impact Study that began in the fall of 2010. Local climbers

Stone Summit donates $5,000 to SCC at Florin Grama's show

Sunday March 20th Stone Summit hosted a beautiful audio/visual presentation by accomplished climber Florin Grama. The event was a dual benefit for the Southeastern Climbers Coalition and Project Elevate Hope.

SCC Fall 2010 Board Meeting

The SCC conducted its fall board meeting on Friday October 22, 2010. Click here to view the meeting minutes.

Deep Creek is Paid Off

In only 6 weeks, the SCC has raised all funds for Deep Creek access purchase. Once again the climbing community has really stepped up and shown how committed they are when it comes to preserving climbing resources. I want to personally thank each person who contributed towards this purchase!

Float the Boat 2011 Crushes it!

After no less than 2 postponements last year for snow, and a giant snow/ice storm here in the Southeast just a couple of weeks ago, we were all biting our nails and looking at weather.com leading up to this year's Boat Rock "Float the Boat" bouldering competition. I probably checked the weather about 10 times a day all week long. And it kept looking good. Hallelujah.

Message from the President #5

"Do it right." - Raymond Fletcher Bryant (1913-2006)

Castle Rock 2010 Trail Day

On the morning of Saturday, November 21, 2010 a group of 13 climbers set out to cleanup the top parking lot of the crag at Castle Rock. Castle Rock is located above Jasper, Tennessee and has been leased by The Southeastern Climbers Coalition since 2005. Because of climber's cooperation over the years and the continued efforts and the success of the trail days, we have been able to maintain a good relationship with private land owners allowing us to continue to have access to this beautiful crag.

Interview w/The Crash Pad Hostal in Chattanooga

Interview by: Paul Morley + Brad McLeod

The Crash Pad: Dan Rose & Max Poppel

SCC: Tell us about yourselves and how you got the idea for The Crash Pad?

CP: We both moved to Chattanooga just over five years ago to pursue our passion for rock climbing. Once living here for a couple years it started...

The SCC Announces Fundraising for DEEP CREEK!

Yep, that's right folks. Click away to read the announcement and learn how YOU can help with access to this incredible crag!

Help Protect Climbing Access in Chimney Rock State Park

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently released a draft of the Chimney Rock State Park Master Plan for public comment until December 13. The draft plan is available online at www.greenways.com/chimneyrock_download.html

Chimney Rock State Park includes the classic Rumbling Bald cliffline and boulderfield. In addition, the park includes or is slated to include several lesser-known, high quality cliffs such as Ghost Town, the north side of Rumbling Bald, Eagle Rock, Cloven Cliffs, and the cliffs of the Chimney Rock attraction. Some of these outlying areas have 20+ years of climbing history.

The Chimney Rock State Park Master Plan will guide land management in the park over the next 20 years. Currently this plan makes misguided statements about the impacts of climbing and endangers the future of climbing in Hickory Nut Gorge.

The Carolina Climbers' Coalition and the Access Fund are working together to provide key comments regarding climbing access and management. Help ensure climbers' voices are heard. Visit the Access Fund website and use their letter-writing tool to urge park planners to protect current and future climbing access in Chimney Rock State Park.

The park planners need to hear your thoughts today.

Record Turnout at Boat Rock Trail Day

On Saturday, November 13th, 110 climbers and volunteers gathered for a record turnout for the Boat Rock fall trail day. The trail day was sponsored by the Urban Core Climbing team, and also supported by members of the Adrenaline climbing team, the Atlanta Rocks climbing team, Girl Scout troop 2910, local (and even non-local!) climbers and community members. The volunteers tackled a huge pile of mulch and spread it throughout the trails and under many of the classic problems that receive the most traffic. Other volunteers spread out throughout the main Boat Rock area, the adjacent Woods Hill area and Boat Rock Road to pick up trash. Meanwhile, Erin Panter led the girl scouts on a walk through the area to discuss the landscape and leave no trace ethics and troop 2910 picked up trash and spruced up the boulderfield. After the work was done (in record time thanks to the huge number of volunteers!) everyone enjoyed lunch together and then headed into the boulders to enjoy some climbing on a beautiful fall afternoon. In total 110 climbers worked for two and a half hours for a total of 275 volunteer hours and lunch was provided by the SCC at a cost of $126.

Interview with the Chatt Nasty

In 2009 the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) completed its own "climbing gym" in their ARC, Aquatic and Recreation Center, and as a result the UTC Climbing Club and the Chatt Nasty climbing team have come to fruition. The masterminds behind this collegiate climbing movement in Chattanooga are Drew Meyer and Jordan White. These guys are epic! They both have so much positive energy. They are the ones behind comp names like "Chatt Town Throw Down" and "Get Schooled Climbing Competition". They even gave away plastic yard animals with the Chatt Nasty and UTC Outdoors logos on them as trophies. Here's a little Q & A session with these creative minds.

Deep Creek Is Paid Off

In only 6 weeks, the SCC has raised all funds for Deep Creek access purchase. Once again the climbing community has really stepped up and shown how committed they are when it comes to preserving climbing resources. I want to personally thank each person who contributed towards this purchase!

Message from the President #4

So I hope everyone is doing well. The weather has been incredible, almost epic for route climbers. Bouldering season is right upon us. All around me have been my friends and colleagues sending their projects. I still think that seeing the expressions on your friends' faces when they send is almost more gratifying than when you send yours. The season has been good to many, including me, and I just see it getting better for those who want to CRUSH at the utmost sick gnar (Yeah. I used that word. Seemed appropriate, maybe).

High Country Presents $2,000 Check to SCC

Thursday night, November 11th - Atlanta climbers gathered at High Country Outfitters for food, drink, and films. The night kicked off with excellent barbecue masterfully prepared as usual by High Country's Glenn Orton on the Big Green Egg. Beer was provided by Sweetwater Brewery, and the popcorn machine was a-poppin'. After everyone's appetites were satisfied, Will Eccleston accepted a check to the SCC from Glenn for $2000.00 - proceeds from the Reel Rock Film Tour event on September 23rd, which High Country sponsored. Then we were all treated to selections from the excellent First Ascent Series from Sender Films. From the heartbreaking: Johnny Copp, Micah Dash, and Wade Johnson lost in Tibet, to the inspiring: Timmy O'Neill and paraplegic brother Sean climbing HUGE routes together, to the downright insane: Dean Potter "freebasing" (free-solo climbing combined with base-jumping) it was entertaining, to say the least. Thanks to everyone who came out, and much thanks to High Country for continuing to show the love for the SCC time and again!

Jamestown Fall Trail Day 2010 Rocks it!

A big thanks to all who came out for the Jamestown trail day on Saturday, October 23rd. Until Saturday, the lower 60 or so yards of approach trail went up a bare power line cut that was susceptible to rapid overgrowth. In fact, towards the end of summer you couldn't even tell where the trail was supposed to be for all of the briars and brush. 22 folks came out and gave up their morning building a new section of trail in the woods, where we won't have the overgrowth problem. We also planted 3 trees to replace some that were cut down when the access road was built. Much thanks to George King for graciously allowing us to access Jamestown from his land. By lunchtime the trees were planted and a beautiful section of new trail was complete, so what was left to do other than crank down on some sweet climber-owned sandstone? Nothing. Well, except maybe shoot some video: John Liles on Medusa Tree Another big thanks to all who came out to help maintain OUR crag!

Foster Falls Trail Day 2010 - Big Success

Trail Day at Foster Falls was a huge success! We built steps leading up to Jacob's Ladder and cleared a bit of trail down towards the new area. Huge thanks to Darryl Steele for organizing the trail day.

Volunteers -- You got it and we need it.

As a non-profit the SCC is always in need of volunteers. We rely on volunteers to make climbing access happen and continue happening. There is something everyone can do to help, from programming an iPhone application and designing/building sticker boxes to participating in trail days and making a donation. View this entire story to see the details of what kind of volunteer opportunities are currently available.

Message from the SCC President #3

It has been a while since I have taken the time to put some thoughts into print, but sitting here right now with the windows open and a cold beer, it just seems to be a good time to do it. The past week has been amazing for Access in the South and from the looks of it, this fall season will be sick for reasons along with getting to finally send your projects. That’s right folks, we are officially out of the red zone for heat, and it is only going to get better. I’m still trying to figure how in less that two weeks, we went from 98 degrees to lows in the 40’s but we are going to roll with it. Fluff out that down jacket because if you are camping it is looking like you will need it. So, onto the incredible happenings of Access Week 2010.

La Sportiva Limited Edition Tees to be Sold at Triple Crown to Raise Money

La Sportiva will design and produce three limited edition tech tees...one for each Triple Crown event. The cost for each tee will be $15 with all proceeds going to the SCC. Only 100 tees will be created for each event. They will be available for purchase during the individual competitions. About 30 tees leftover from the Hound Ears Comp. If you missed your opportunity to purchase one you can get yours at Tennessee Bouldering Authority in Chattanooga.