After four weeks of sport climbing in the Red I looked
forward to what was my main objective of the trip: to wrestle the fine southern
sandstone found in the dirty south. The last time my feet lay on that soil was
about ten years ago in my early years of bouldering. I didn’t know what to
expect this time round but I had hoped with my expanded experience and new strengths
that I would be able to send the things that I had fallen off years before.
best of friends
ledee on a LRC classic
ryan hugging it
Well, needless to say, things didn’t go as planned. The trip
was cut drastically short and of the time spent there, only 4 days were spent
on the rocks and 2 of those days were just for a couple hours. This is all
because of my own demise but certain lessons sometimes need to be learned…
On the days spent climbing, I found myself pleasantly running
around from boulder to boulder in what I could call a paradise. The warm up could
have gone on all day as the problems were so good. Although the rock remained
as good as I remembered it, I found myself barely recognizing the areas of Rock
town and Little Rock City. The parking areas, the approaches, the warm ups; none
of it seemed familiar but considering the changes and time lapse since my first
visit it was to be expected. The number one difference was the crowds. Granted
it was Christmas break… When I was last there, LRC was pretty much a closed
area and rock town was not closed but definitely not like it is now. One thing I
did notice about the crowds is that many of them tended to travel in groups of
8 or more and had an affinity to stop and stare at every rock and climber that
may lay sideline on their path to their next destination. Slightly awkward for
those who are climbing but I guess I can’t say that I have never done that
myself though I am not sure if for the same length of time...
hunter museum
check out that fancy brush on a stick
One of the good things about leaving a project behind is
that the chances of it moving are next to nil. Though I suppose other factors
are in play, holds break, areas close. I never did get on any of my old
projects though I did try some lines never seen before which is always
delightful. I didn’t try too many harder things though when I did let me remind
you were we are: the dirty south. Here the warm ups can spit you off, the
slopers are fat and smooth and the grades, pleasantly stout. The mantles are
challenging enough even for a season squaminard such that I failed to send one of
the area classic warm ups because of the mantle.
kevin crushing
don't believe him kev.
The level or shall we say
grade of the things I normally try at a new area was humbling deflated. Finding
myself trying to send hard moderates, I wondered if it was the month of sport
climbing that did my power in or was the area just plain hard. Perhaps a little
bit of both but sending or no sending, I love the place. The woods have an
overall feeling of eeriness, the rock has unique features and the lines are esthetic
and proud. As for the town of Chattanooga itself, it is home to some stylish characters
and homes, as well as anything else one would need from a town.
The herm-ster
settlers with the fam
One of the perks of my trip was finally meeting Ledee Holden.
Ledee is one of those people who I have heard of for years but never met. Living
between Chatty and Rock town up on Lookout Mountain, Ledee is mother of four
amazing boys, 2 dogs, 3 cats and still manages to crush it when climbing in the
SE.
Last year her home was hit by a class 4 tornado which went on a rampage through
the SE last year, destroying homes, trees and pretty much anything laying in its
path. Thankfully Ledee and her family survived though their land and
environment had taken a drastic change. What was once a secluded area full of
tall lush trees was replaced by fallen trees and open skies. I was fortunate
enough to be there to photograph the burning down of a neighbors’ house which
was destroyed by the tornado. Some may see such events as completely tragic but
I see such events as a reminder of what is important and treasured in life. I believe it is good to look at the positive
in all destruction as with death comes life and with this change came a time of
community support and a showing of humanity.
