Trad near T-wall

I was debating on heading to T-Wall this upcoming weekends, but then realized its closed for hunting...
Are there any other good close places? Im coming from Mississippi, so I would prefer not to drive into North Carolina. I'm looking to stay in TN or AL.

Or should I just go to the triple crown at HP40, never climbed there but looks fun

I'm not a local by any means, but get a Dixie Craggers Atlas, there is a lot of other trad nearby. Suck Creek, Sunset Park, though I'm not sure if an other places will be closed, too. Or, drive another hour north to the Obed (though its more sport than trad).

Alabama is looking a little toasty this weekend. There are other trad cliffs around like Sunset, Griffin Falls, Jamestown (personal favorite), Sand Rock, Suck Creek, Steele just to name a few. HP40 is cool, but is very compact and unless you are competing this is probably not the weekend to sample the place. You could however go to HP40 on Sunday and Steele on Saturday, but it will still be busy I am sure.

There is also Foster Falls up past Jasper.

anyone want to climb this weekend?

CraigS. wrote:There is also Foster Falls up past Jasper.

Foster's is pretty cool, but definitely not a trad destination. The few routes left as trad are mostly short moderates.

If you're coming across I20, you'll save a couple of hours driving if you hit the AL spots Tom mentioned. Sandrock will probably be a little crowded, but if you walk away from the parking lot, it's not usually too bad. Jamestown rocks, and it's never crowded.

If you're tired of AL, you can't go wrong with Sunset just outside Chattanooga. It might be a little chilly in the morning since it faces west and doesn't get sun until later in the afternoon, but I've been there in Feb and had a great time. Keep in mind that AL and TN are in different guide books.

Wish I could get out this weekend, but it's not to be.

Sunset Park in Chattanooga

Yeah Tom, I wasn't thinking when I posted. Everyone had already hit the obvious places. Would've mentioned Deep Creek, but I've heard (from a local guide) the rock there is a little chossy. Great for the sport routes, but just doesn't hold protection comfortably.

Agree that the top 2 places for you would probably be Sunset Park, TN and Jamestown, AL.

Be advised that the Southeastern Climbers Coalition is having a trail day at Jamestown this Saturday, Nov. 3. So if you're looking for climbing partners, that might be an option -- although you'd have to put in a half-day's hard labor first!

seclimbers.org/modules.php?…

Or you could just suck it up and drive to Laurel Knob. FYI, there have been multiple bear encounters in Panthertown Valley of late. The FS recommends you not camp there, but you can, just keep your food either in the car or way up in a tree.

Maybe I'll see you up there?

TC

Laurel Knob looks awesome but 9 hours is pushing it for me! The Jamestown workday sounds fun. Looks like I might be heading out there if I can't nail down a definite partner for the weekend.

TomCaldwell wrote:Alabama is looking a little toasty this weekend. There are other trad cliffs around like Sunset, Griffin Falls, Jamestown (personal favorite), Sand Rock, Suck Creek, Steele just to name a few. HP40 is cool, but is very compact and unless you are competing this is probably not the weekend to sample the place. You could however go to HP40 on Sunday and Steele on Saturday, but it will still be busy I am sure.

Toasty?!? Low 70F is toasty? Sounds perfect to me but then again I've climbed at TWall in 115F heat index ;-)

If you're coming from MS, I would pick one of the destination Tom mentioned in AL. Trail days are great.

In fall and winter with temps below 60F with some wind, subtract at least 20F to 30F for a 'feel-like' temperature at Sunset.

Thierry wrote: Toasty?!? Low 70F is toasty? Sounds perfect to me but then again I've climbed at TWall in 115F heat index ;-) If you're coming from MS, I would pick one of the destination Tom mentioned in AL. Trail days are great. In fall and winter with temps below 60F with some wind, subtract at least 20F to 30F for a 'feel-like' temperature at Sunset.

Low 70's at Jamestown is roasting, not to mention full of slopers. I have been there in the upper 60's and thought I was going to die. It gets sun from sunrise until 2-3pm depending on where you are at on the cliffline. It is doable, but expect to climb a grade or two less and bring lots of sunscreen. Sandrock will have the best temperatures, because it has every sun aspect possible due to the pinnacle nature of the formations. Just beware of the weekend shit-show.

Laurel is so good! I think that is where my wife and I are headed this weekend. Conditions are looking almost perfect for Saturday.

Steele is close to HP40 if you go there for the event.
It's also on your way home from the further out crags....Jamestown, TWall, etc.
Good steep sandstone.

As for me, 70s at Jamestown is not a deal breaker.
It would not hurt for a newcomer to visit JT during a trailday as the lower access is a bit complex, first visit.

Laurel Knob is glorious this time of year...and you should probably try to visit WNC at least once before you depart the South.
It's a special place.

Sunset.....or Jamestown. Those will get you closest to the T-Wall experience

Ill definitely get out to North Carolina before I leave here, probably take a day off to make it worth getting out there. Anyone have a flexible schedule to maybe climb on a Friday? and then the rest of the weekend?