Feb. 7, 2009 - Tallulah Gorge, GA
It turned out to be a record setting day for the Atlanta Climbing Club at Tallulah Gorge this past weekend. It was the first time in the history of Tallulah Gorge that the maximum number of climbing permits, 25 per day, was issued. Tallulah Gorge, located in Northeast Georgia, offers moderate to hard multi-pitch climbing on bullet hard quartzite rock in a beautiful wilderness setting. The crux to climbing at Tallulah Gorge is the approach -- the climbing area is approached via an exposed 4th class descent or an alternative option of a free hanging double rope rappel.
After a quick rendezvous off of I85 and Indian Trail, climbers made their way north to Tallulah Gorge. ACC members arrived and kept arriving at the Interpretive Center to fill out the climbing permits until all of the permits had been issued. With the large number of ACC climbers and a few others, the ACC suffered one climbing casualty; Tom arrived late and wasn't allowed a permit. Sorry Tom. The climbing quickly got started after the group split, some hiked in and others rapped in, with climbers partnering up and jumping on routes. The day passed quickly with folks heading out at different times to make their way back home. A few of us lingered getting the most climbing in we could for the day. And eventually by dark everyone had hiked out of the gorge and was on their way home or to meet up for some dinner. The club members, totaling nearly 20, had a pretty darn nice climbing day. Some even said it was "perfect".
See Mark's pictures from the Tallulah Gorge trip here
Other Details:
Attendees: Johanna, Bryan, Stacey, Mark, Ashley, Ted, Chuck, Cathi, Lucius, John, Frank, Rick, Jim, Davis, Gary, Enid, Tony and myself... hope I didn't miss anyone.
Routes: Primitive Paradox, 5.9, 2 pitches; Punk Wave, 5.10a, 1st pitch; Digital Delight, 5.8, 3-4 pitches; Mescaline Daydream, 5.8, 2 pitches; Flying Frog, 5.10b, 1 pitch; The Diagonal 5.10c and variation 5.8, 1 pitch each.
Dinner: Great Thai food in Gainesville recommended by Bryan.
Next month:
Rumbling Bald, NC weekend trip*. Stay tuned for details.
*If the new road construction into Rumbling Bald is finished.