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Multipitch climbs in Tennessee that aren't in BSF

NOFF · · Big South Fork, TN · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 16

Hey Evan,

The quality varies depending on which wall you are on. Most of the rock in BSF is great, but there is so much rock up there, some of the cliffs are not suitable for climbing. Too soft, maybe too loose. I have seen it all up there. BSF is adventure climbing. Bring a helmet, protect your belayer. As far as a days worth of climbing, it all just depends on your style of climbing. I have climbed there for twenty years, and I am not even close to running out of new rock. Start with Suicide Blonde on O&W, then go from there. For a true adventure, check out nbrown and wroy's route on O&W! Knifeblades, #5 cams, ice gear, lasso tricks!

dorseyec · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2009 · Points: 5
Evan Sanders wrote: Chattanooga is only about 45 minutes away.
Really? I thought it was closer to double that from knoxville to chatanooga... Have to drive down then next time Im in knoxville.
Evan Sanders · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 140
Eric Dorsey wrote: Really? I thought it was closer to double that from knoxville to chatanooga... Have to drive down then next time Im in knoxville.
I don't know what way you take...but the interstate gets you there in about 45 with little traffic. I've made the trip about 6 times, longest it's taken was a little under an hour. Google maps, will tell you an hour and twenty minutes i think, but that's severely overestimating.
dorseyec · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2009 · Points: 5

hmm really evan? Everywhere I look says its 112 miles... Not sure how you are getting there in 45 minutes. Id say closer to 1hr 15 at a minimum.

NOFF · · Big South Fork, TN · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 16

Just did the mileage calculator on Rand McNally. Knoxville to Chattanooga 111.7 miles - 1hr. 50 minutes.

Evan Sanders · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 140
NOFF wrote:Just did the mileage calculator on Rand McNally. Knoxville to Chattanooga 111.7 miles - 1hr. 50 minutes.
Haha If only the calculators were true. That's about double the real time it takes.
Reece Henson · · Knoxville, TN · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 65
Evan Sanders wrote: Haha If only the calculators were true. That's about double the real time it takes.
That's not true. A solid hour and half from downtown to downtown. I've done it going 90 the whole way and it's a little over an hour at the least unless you're going a secret way. if so, please let us know haha it'd make my life easier
dorseyec · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2009 · Points: 5

Regardless of the time the calculators are dead accurate on mileage... You must be driving damn fast to go 112 miles in 45 minutes :)

Whatever the time is I'll have to check out chattanooga soon.

Evan Sanders · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 140
Reece Henson wrote: That's not true. A solid hour and half from downtown to downtown. I've done it going 90 the whole way and it's a little over an hour at the least unless you're going a secret way. if so, please let us know haha it'd make my life easier
It depends on the area you're going to. I'm counting 45 min to 1 hr as city to city, not the time it takes to actually arrive at the area. Depending on how fast you're comfortable driving, sometimes it can be faster to head to Rockwood and take Highway 27 south. I mean i do drive pretty damn fast..but i don't think it's 112 mph fast :). Maybe I'm underestimating, or I don't start the time until I actually hit the interstate and stop it at the off ramp or something. It doesn't really matter, I just know it's definitely not close to 2 hours.
JohnWesely Wesely · · Lander · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 585
nbrown wrote:It's true that "typically" sandstone in the east is shorter than its western counterpart. But there are cliffs in WV, for example, that are much taller than the stuff in TN. Seneca is probably the most famous of them all.
Seneca is Quartzite.
Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,623
nbrown wrote:It's true that "typically" sandstone in the east is shorter than its western counterpart. But there are cliffs in WV, for example, that are much taller than the stuff in TN. Seneca is probably the most famous of them all. Back to the subject...
John beat me to it. Quartzite looks like sandstone, but it is definitely not. Typical blade like ridge just like Crowder's. Quartzite is made of sand, but geologically very different, more dense and typically a lot more solid because of heat, pressure, and crystallization. That is why the quartzite provides much taller climbs, it can support itself. Sandstone out west is tall for different reasons, normally a solid limestone base, a lot lighter rock, and very little water erosion.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
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