Mountaineers in the SE?

    Hello from north Alabama.  Any mountaineers near by?   Looking to meet a few dependable people who also dream daily about alpine fun.  After my first trip to WRR, Gannett Peak attempt, I was hooked. However, having trouble finding right minded people in the SE with whom to continue my endeavors. 

Certainly not a mountaineer, but have a few CO 14ers under my belt and tramping around the Inyo's on skis, but planning a trip this winter to the volcanoes around CDMX. 

Hello Emily,

           Chattanooga! It is nice to get a response from someone in my neck of the woods.  Pretty much anywhere in the mountains from Hunstville, AL has me travel through Chattanooga.  One of my favorite spots is just a bit NE from you, the Citico Wilderness/Joyce Kilmer area.   Even take the family to a nice campsite my kids have dubbed “The Beach,” but it is right on Citico Creek. Seeing the Solar Eclipse in full totality atop Hangover Lookout was also not too shabby.  Now that I am typing this, I realize I could go on, and on, about time spent there.  I definitely prefer the Wilderness Areas over all the more regulated and over used parks/forest.  

        Sounds like you have been on some solid adventures, and volcanoes in your near future…outstanding!  My experience is primarily limited to the east, having only taken a few trips to CO and WY. Guess I should have titled the thread “Aspiring Mountaineers in the SE”.   Hopefully, we will get more responses on the thread and can put together a meet-up for a weekend outing; see who works well with whom.

         Note- Just waiting on some snow to hit Citico and will be heading up that way.  I’ve got to get better at tripping on my own snowshoes! Will holler if I do.

Is there anything in the southeast that counts as even semi-alpine climbing? I’m also fairly stoked on alpine while being stuck in this snow barren humid region

Hmm, not sure exactly how you classify “alpine”, it’s a broad category. From ice to fairly popular trad routes at higher elevations, my understanding is that they tend to require more skill apart from climbing itself, understanding weather, navigation, and moderating risk for yourself and your partner as you usually far from help. So I dunno, maybe leave your cell at home, walk an extra 5 miles up a stair master before and after, and practice running everything WAAY out at your local crag lol

There's sometimes ice to climb in the winter: Whiteside, Sam's Knob, etc. As for the other aspects of alpine climbing, big days are often a part of it. Something like the Linville Crusher can get close to that aspect of it.

FWIW- I am not a vertical climber, mostly fixated on glacier travel ATM(multi-day/weeklong outings, not just parking lot peak bagging). Although, I do plan to hit the CO 14ers at some point.  Most immediate goal is to complete the northern section of the WRR "high route" to Gannett Peak and summit the beast.  Did attempt in 2019 and made it over the bergschrund, but team fell apart and had to turn back.  Made it there again in 2021, but new team was not prepared, overwhelmed even.  Beyond that the next thing on my radar would be something like the Pfiffner Traverse in CO.

Anyone out there looking to take a stab at Gannett Peak the end of August 2022? Have found the last week and a half to be most hospitable in the range.