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Moving to Alabama

Original Post
michaelmiller Miller · · PHOENIX, AZ · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 35

Hey all, I'm moving to Wetumpka Alabama from New Mexico next week. I wanted to see if there were any climbers in the local area or if there was anyone up in the mid to northern part of the state that would be interested in showing a new guy in town around.

BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620

You'll probably be hard pressed to find many climbers local to Wetumpka. Good luck, though. Look me up when you arrive and I'll be happy to show you some spots and introduce you to some folks , if interested.

The closest climbing to Wetumpka is going to be a very small area outside of Auburn and, beyond that, will be near Birmingham and further NE. Look at Moss Rock Preserve and Horse Pens 40 for bouldering, Steele and Jamestown for trad, and Sandrock and Little River Canyon for sport.

You'll also want to make regular trips to Chattanooga and Western NC if you like granite....a bit of a haul, though.

willeslinger · · Golden, Colorado · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 25

Moving to Alabama? I'm sorry...

Seriously though, I went to college at Samford in Birmingham, the WORST years of my life. However, there is some climbing.

If you want to boulder, you're an hour and a half away from Moss Rock Preserve in Hoover, and two hours away from Horsepens 40.

If you want to get on a rope, you're two hours away from Steele, AL (trad and sport), and three hours from Chattanooga, which has, literally, more easily accessible climbing than you've seen in your entire life. We're I in your shoes, I'd make many weekend trips to Chattanooga. The weather's nice (except for May-Sept), and if you stay at the Crash Pad Hostel, my buddies Dan, Al and Max (the owners) will make sure you've got someone to rope up with any day you're there.

BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620
willeslinger wrote:Moving to Alabama? I'm sorry... Seriously though, I went to college at Samford in Birmingham, the WORST years of my life. However, there is some climbing.
So, you were ten minutes from downtown Homewood and Mountain Brook with their coffee shops, hipsters, yuppie moms, bike shops, karate studios, boutique eateries, five minutes from one of the best gear shops in the country, could get to good world class restaurants, lively bars, great golf, a variety of athletic events, dozens of music venues, spectacular paddling, great road biking, multiple breweries, libraries, museums, and shopping only miles away, were surrounded by Southern co-eds, with Oak Mountain and Moss Rock accessible in half an hour, Steele in 40 minutes, and any sort of steep sandstone you could possibly want from 30' to 200' in a little under an hour, Chatt in two hours, WNC in five, and these were the worst years of your life??? Bummer.

The keys to flourishing in Dixieland are not necessarily few or easy to piece together....However, if you can figure it out, life here can be very rich and rewarding.

For the other dude's benefit.....

Consider your ability to travel; get out of town from time to time....drive North to mountains, South or East to beaches, and West for, well, not a whole lot....the Birmingham and Atlanta airports are both easily accessible as well.
Find a way to cope with the oncoming heat; climbing above river canyons and in shady box canyons is the ticket.....climb/swim/paddle....or head to the quasi-alpine arenas of Western NC in June and July and camp in the high country.
Avoid Wal-Mart altogether; and chain restaurants that show football during prime season, but do catch a college game and some Baron's baseball once or twice a year....good people watching and good to be part of the culture if not immersed in it. UAB also has a strong basketball program.
Support local, independent food producers and the restaurants they serve....Alabama has some of the richest soil in the world and many local growers contributing to farmer's markets in Birmingham and Montgomery and a long standing tradition of locally supplied mom and pop restaurants.
Find some intelligent people to convene with regularly and do so over cold Good People IPAs. Breweries have sprung up in Birmingham, Gadsden, Anniston, Huntsville and other areas around the state and are putting out some gooooood beers.
From time to time, capitalize on the loose firearms laws and poorly enforced speed limits and have you a good ol' redneck time....every red-blooded American male should take to the woods in 4x4s, with the dogs, to exercise the 2nd amendment from time to time.
Fully exploit the opportunities to get out of doors in our year-round climbing/hiking/biking/boating-friendly weather.
Take in the nature and environment of a part of the country that is diverse with terrain, lush with wildlife and flora, abundant with rivers, lakes, streams, and full of history...
Be friendly to everyone.....there is major diversity of people here, be it in the cities, in the country, or somewhere in between....we all mostly get along these days.

Generally, look for what's great about this part of the country and try to overlook that which brings the stereotypical view of the South.....fat people, racism, poverty, moonshiners, etc.
Actively engage the available resources....they are many.
Alabama is a good place to be if you like your freedoms and want to live an ecclectic lifestyle.
NC Rock Climber · · The Oven, AKA Phoenix · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 60
Br'er Rabbit wrote: So, you were ten minutes from downtown Homewood and Mountain Brook with their coffee shops, hipsters, yuppie moms, bike shops, karate studios, boutique eateries, five minutes from one of the best gear shops in the country, could get to good world class restaurants, lively bars, great golf, a variety of athletic events, dozens of music venues, spectacular paddling, great road biking, multiple breweries, libraries, museums, and shopping only miles away, were surrounded by Southern co-eds, with Oak Mountain and Moss Rock accessible in half an hour, Steele in 40 minutes, and any sort of steep sandstone you could possibly want from 30' to 200' in a little under an hour, Chatt in two hours, WNC in five, and these were the worst years of your life??? Bummer. The keys to flourishing in Dixieland are not necessarily few or easy to piece together....However, if you can figure it out, life here can be very rich and rewarding. For the other dude's benefit..... Consider your ability to travel; get out of town from time to time....drive North to mountains, South or East to beaches, and West for, well, not a whole lot....the Birmingham and Atlanta airports are both easily accessible as well. Find a way to cope with the oncoming heat; climbing above river canyons and in shady box canyons is the ticket.....climb/swim/paddle....or head to the quasi-alpine arenas of Western NC in June and July and camp in the high country. Avoid Wal-Mart altogether; and chain restaurants that show football during prime season, but do catch a college game and some Baron's baseball once or twice a year....good people watching and good to be part of the culture if not immersed in it. UAB also has a strong basketball program. Support local, independent food producers and the restaurants they serve....Alabama has some of the richest soil in the world and many local growers contributing to farmer's markets in Birmingham and Montgomery and a long standing tradition of locally supplied mom and pop restaurants. Find some intelligent people to convene with regularly and do so over cold Good People IPAs. Breweries have sprung up in Birmingham, Gadsden, Anniston, Huntsville and other areas around the state and are putting out some gooooood beers. From time to time, capitalize on the loose firearms laws and poorly enforced speed limits and have you a good ol' redneck time....every red-blooded American male should take to the woods in 4x4s, with the dogs, to exercise the 2nd amendment from time to time. Fully exploit the opportunities to get out of doors in our year-round climbing/hiking/biking/boating-friendly weather. Take in the nature and environment of a part of the country that is diverse with terrain, lush with wildlife and flora, abundant with rivers, lakes, streams, and full of history... Be friendly to everyone.....there is major diversity of people here, be it in the cities, in the country, or somewhere in between....we all mostly get along these days. Generally, look for what's great about this part of the country and try to overlook that which brings the stereotypical view of the South.....fat people, racism, poverty, moonshiners, etc. Actively engage the available resources....they are many. Alabama is a good place to be if you like your freedoms and want to live an ecclectic lifestyle.
Although I don't agree with everything you wrote, that is as great post about how to live happily in The South. A lot of the more general statements apply to enjoying wherever you are living. Cheers!
willeslinger · · Golden, Colorado · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 25

Samford U was the issue, not necessarily Alabama.

Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,698

Ben nailed it! I love the south. Never moving back to the NE. Although summers can be oppressively hot, I've found my niche. It definitely helps to live in a college town. No complaints about the stone in Alabama.

Stonyman Killough · · Alabama · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 5,785

I agree with Tom. Alabama, especially north bama

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
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