"The Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) has just signed a contract with a private landowner for a 25.59 acre tract (for a price of $55k) along the cliffline at Steele, AL. This area has been closed to climbers since 1987 due to parking access issues. The goal of the SCC is to open this area back up to climbers by purchasing the area.
The tract has over 1,400 linear feet of cliffline and includes several cliff areas; it is estimated to have 30-50 existing routes.
Steele is comprised of over one mile of 80-100' tall sandstone climbing cliff located in northeastern Alabama. Situated above the town of Steele, this area has a long history of climbing dating back to the mid 1970s. Several old rings and angle pitons have been found scattered all along the cliffline.
Early pioneers and first ascentionist included Mark Cole, Rob Robinson, Gene Smith, Maurice Reed, Curt Merchant, Les Hutchinson, James Guidry, Ken Pitts, Mack McNease, Dean Elliot, Jamie Silliman and others. According to early climbers, many new routes were put up between 1984 and 1986. A second generation of climbers added new energy and lines to include Bernard Wolfe, Adam Henry, David Hemphill, Gus Fontenot and others. Today the area boasts many superb lines and a large concentration of 2- and 3-star routes (nearly 100 throughout the cliffline)."
Fundraising is currently in progress toward the purchase price of the cliff. The SCC needs to raise $60,000 to complete the Steele purchase by June of 2009. Financial donations as well as volunteer support for trail construction and other work are needed by the SCC, so please consider a contribution to open this great climbing resource.
Donations can be made to: The SCC 275 Stone Mill Trail NE Atlanta, GA 30328
Getting There
The Steele cliffline is located seven miles from the Horsepens 40 bouldering area and 45 minutes from Birmingham. The 25.59 ac. tract has road access from Chandler Mountain Road (bottom access) and includes a house trailer, metal shed and old jeep trail that heads up towards the cliffline (additional parking area).
Take the Steele exit off I-59 and turn left if coming from Birmingham, right if coming from Chattanooga. Drive a few miles and turn left on Hwy 11. Turn right on Chandler Mountain Road after a few hundred yards. After approximately 4.5 miles, begin looking for a gravel driveway to the right before the road turns steep uphill after the chicken houses on the right. This is a shared drive, so be respectful. Head up and take the right fork uphill to the trailer. A high-clearance vehicle is mandatory, 4WD doesn't hurt.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Steele:
The Southeastern Climbers Coalition has signed a contract to purchase what is roughly the "middle section" of Steele, to-wit, from the Walk down gulley near the Rinkles radio tower down to Relevation Wall, which is just shy of Graham's Crack area...
until we give the go ahead, this place is still off limits to climbing.
Although we have until June 26th to close, we will try and get it opened ahead of time to enjoy it before it gets too toasty...
if you have any questions, contact someone at the scc board at www.seclimbers.org or shoot me an email at guslf100@aol.com
The aquisition of Steele means alot to Birmingham based trad and hard sport climbers...legal climbing 45 minutes from my from door. Big thanks to Gus and the rest of the SCC Board.
Wow, thanks for working to open this area. It was the hotbed of Southern climbing in the early to mid-80s with folks coming from Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, in addition to the nearer locations. I can't wait to revisit. I'll make a trip just to climb there.
There are many routes on this portion of the cliff (left of Grahams Crack area all the way to the radio tower) that have never been documented. Most follow logical natural weaknesses that are visually appealing or invoke curiosity. Some are all naturally protected, some mixed, some sport, and some are unfinished projects where fixed protection has not fully been installed yet. There are also routes where you will find ring-angle pitons placed by those who came before.......These artifacts i hope will be respected and left in place....but certainly don't expect them to hold a fall. This evidence seems to suggest that rockclimbing was done at Steele many years ago, which gives the place a sense of heritage one might not expect.
regarding optimal seasons for visiting, chiggers are prevalent here in summer, especially when it has been dry. If you ever have the misfortune of suffering through what is just the average chigger experience this cliff can inflict, you will not forget it.
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