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Southeastern climbing in the winter

Emil Briggs · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 125

I had an interesting experience there one year. It was sunny and around 30 with no wind at the cliff base but blowing over the top from the North. It was so comfy at the base that I climbed a route in shorts and a t-shirt and belayed my partner from the top. That was a mistake, the belay location was shaded by a tree and exposed to the wind and my second was having problems with the route and took a long time. I was halfway to hypothermia by the time he topped out.

Jim Corbett wrote: T-Wall is up high above the river and faces due south. When the sun's shining it bakes, 20s(F) and no wind is perfect climbing weather, although if it has been cold for awhile the jam cracks can be a little frigid. Climbing there in the summer is the definition of stupid.
DB Cee · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined May 2007 · Points: 146
Emil Briggs wrote:I had an interesting experience there one year. It was sunny and around 30 with no wind at the cliff base but blowing over the top from the North. It was so comfy at the base that I climbed a route in shorts and a t-shirt and belayed my partner from the top. That was a mistake, the belay location was shaded by a tree and exposed to the wind and my second was having problems with the route and took a long time. I was halfway to hypothermia by the time he topped out.
Were there no anchors? Most of the routes at Twall have nice bolted anchors eliminating a need for any kind of shenanigans.
Emil Briggs · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 125
Blake Cash wrote: Were there no anchors? Most of the routes at Twall have nice bolted anchors eliminating a need for any kind of shenanigans.
It was back in the 90's on Golden Locks. I don't recall if there were anchors then but we didn't have a guidebook and weren't sure if a single rope was long enough so he trailed one to rap with.
Isara Tungmanelatkul · · Nashville · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 40

Yeah, T-Wall is weird like that. You need only a t shirt to climb, but a thick coat to belay when it's really cold. The rock itself is warm to the touch and emits heat, but the cracks and corridors have cold wind blowing from them. For what it's worth, I've climbed at T-Wall in the dead of summer and it wasn't THAT bad. If you find some of those nice cold corners or corridors you can climb somewhat comfortably (I've been on "Let's Face It" in a heat wave, like in the 90's, and it was tolerable...I'm also thinking "Open Casket" and "Art" would be fine).

Eli Buzzell · · noco · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 5,506

Obed in Tennessee. So close to T-Wall, totally different feel. Incredible location, great culture and accommodations. It holds very warm spot in my heart.

Austin Eddy · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 11

Just had one of my climbing buddies tell me he went to tierrany when the high was 18 and it was sunny. He said it was actually pretty close to perfect conditions. Just wore long underwear all day and a warm baselayer while climbing. Then threw on a belay jacket while belaying.

El Duderino · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 70
Isara wrote:Yeah, T-Wall is weird like that. You need only a t shirt to climb, but a thick coat to belay when it's really cold. The rock itself is warm to the touch and emits heat, but the cracks and corridors have cold wind blowing from them. For what it's worth, I've climbed at T-Wall in the dead of summer and it wasn't THAT bad. If you find some of those nice cold corners or corridors you can climb somewhat comfortably (I've been on "Let's Face It" in a heat wave, like in the 90's, and it was tolerable...I'm also thinking "Open Casket" and "Art" would be fine).
I noticed that you've scored a lot of ticks in the TN/AL region. Any news on the current conditions at Foster's Falls and Obed into this upcoming week? Thanks.
Crack Slabbath · · Chattanooga · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 500

I was at Fosters last weekend. Lots of snow on the ground and lots of sun on the rock made for a wonderful day at the crag. Only minimal seepage on the tops of some routes. This weekend looks nice too.

Austin Eddy · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 11

Id expect Obed to be good this weekend.

El Duderino · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 70
Chet Butterworth wrote:I was at Fosters last weekend. Lots of snow on the ground and lots of sun on the rock made for a wonderful day at the crag. Only minimal seepage on the tops of some routes. This weekend looks nice too.
What is "lots of snow" for you? Not trying to be condescending, but I don't know if I can camp in a foot. Two inches yes, though...
Pnelson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 635

NRG report:

This weekend will be great conditions, but with the massive flooding we had yesterday, and then the heavy dump of ~6-8" of snow today, there is high likelihood that everything will be wet.

The AAC campground is also essentially closed right now; the road in is about a foot deep in unplowed snow.

Crack Slabbath · · Chattanooga · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 500
scienceguy288 wrote: What is "lots of snow" for you? Not trying to be condescending, but I don't know if I can camp in a foot. Two inches yes, though...
Maybe an inch or two last weekend, definitely not a foot!
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
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