Team Green

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Outdoor Rock Climb

When

Saturday, May 10

Details

TRIP IS CLOSED!

Join Becknology Rock Climbing Guides and Team Green for a Spring Outdoor Rock Climb. Join us to for some great beginner to intermediate climbing at Rocktown, GA. All materials provided including instruction, harness, and a group to cheer you up the rock (climbing shoes rental only $5- you can pay on-site).

We will climb a variety of routes ranging from 5.6 to 5.9 so there is something for even the more advanced climber. We will meet at 7:30 AM and climb till 6:00 PM at the latest- more details to come. The drive is 2.5 – 3 hours. Camping options and events in Chattanooga available.

Belay experience is recommended/encouraged but not necessarily required.
If you have not attended an indoor climbing event, then come out Thursday, April 17 or Thursday, May 1 to Climb Nashville.

About Rocktown, GA

Here, on the southernmost vestiges of the Cumberland Plateau, an area of large boulders has been exposed on the top of the broad ridge. Rocktown is the area of house sized boulders which shares the characteristics of Sandrock, Alabama. It is comprised of several acres of large sandstone boulders, averaging 30 – 40 feet high. The rock is unusually juggy, with tons of hand and foot holds, and some very unique formations. It is here that some of the best bouldering can be found. The very featured rock, long low roofs, and shear variety provide scores of challenges. Unlike Sandrock, this area remains in essentially pristine condition, unpolluted by the trash and graffiti of it’s Alabama cousin. This is most likely due to the easy 1 mile hike in from the trailhead that discourages riffraff.

Camping

Team Green is setting up camping at Cloudland Canyon, not far from the climbing site. Reservations for camping, contact Stephanie Cook directly if you are interested in staying saturday night. These sites have electric and access to all the facilities. There is a max of 2 vehicles per site and an additional charge of $3/vehicle. They also close the gates at 10pm and there is no admittance after that time.

There is camping past the ranger’s house on the right side of the road before you head up the hill to Rock Town. There is NO CAMPING in the cul-de-sac parking lot, on the road to the lot, and most of the ridge. There are signs posted informing you of where you cannot camp, so PLEASE follow the rules. Bring your own water, and be aware there are often fire restrictions. Also, because this is a managed Wildlife Area, no alcoholic beverages are allowed, and the park is occasionally closed for managed hunts. For information on closure dates, call the Armuchee Ranger District office at (706) 638-1085.
Important Note: Speeding through the park has been a serious problem in the past, and has threatened to shut down climbing access – Please Drive Appropriately.

Chattanooga

Just forty-five minutes north of Rock Town lies perhaps one of the biggest attractions for the visiting climber; the veritable “rest-day oasis” of Chattanooga. Voted by Outdoor Magazine as one of the nation’s ten best cities for outdoor recreation, Chattanooga has the perfect blend of hospitality, scenic beauty and big city appeal to lure you away from the boulders.

Begin your visit to the city with a stroll through the beautifully designed Coolidge Park in downtown Chattanooga. The park seamlessly blends the amazing natural features of the Tennessee River and Lookout Mountain, with quaint shops, eateries, art galleries, coffee bars, and the truly amazing architectural marvels of the Tennessee Aquarium and Hunter Museum.

For lunch, try the curiously “New York” cuisine of the River Street Deli, or experience the open atmosphere of the North Shore Bar and Grille. Follow your repast with a stop by The Stone Cup, where you can pass the time with some of the best caffeinated (or de-caffeinated) beverages on the planet.

Later, to round out your afternoon and collect supplies for camp, walk over to Rock/Creek Outfitters where you can probe our experienced staff for secret beta for your current Rock Town project. After this quick climbing “fix,” saunter over the expansive Pedestrian Bridge, which crosses the meandering waters of the Tennessee River, to connect Coolidge Park with the downtown Chattanooga proper. This walk will gain you access to many other fantastic dinner options, theatres, bars and live music scenes. Some “not to miss” venues include the Big River Bar and Grille, Rhythm and Brews (Live Night Music and Beverages), Lupi’s Pizza (a favorite among area climbers), Sekisui Sushi Bar, Greyfriar’s Coffee Shop, The Thai Smile, and The Bijou Theatre.

A nice evening walk back across the Pedestrian Bridge will return you to your car, and a short drive will take you back into your camp. A very unique urban experience followed by a return to a fantastic wilderness – Unbelievable!

Hiking Around Rocktown

Chickamauga Creek Trail – 6.2 mile loop – rated moderate
http://georgiatrails.com/trails/chickamaugacr.html
This loop trail begins and ends at the end of Ponder Creek Road. It
follows both Ponder Creek and Chickamauga Creek for about half the
trail. At the trail loop a stone wall stands that was used by rebel
forces as an entrenchment during the Civil War.

The Chickamauga were a group of Cherokee sometimes called “Lower Towns“or “River Towns.” They came to this area after white settlers further
east forced them to leave the land they called home. Their violent
opposition to further white encroachment made this a dangerous area
until the early 1800’s, when men like Major Ridge began to change the
Cherokee Nation.

Many of the creeks north of the trail flow into East Chickamauga Creek,
which forms a major basin in the valley below Taylor and Dicks Ridge,
which the footpath follows. The river played a significant role in the
history of north Georgia. Completion of a railway bridge across the
river, combined with a tunnel built at Tunnel Hill created the first
rail connection to the West from the South. The bridge played a
significant role in the Great Locomotive Chase. Later the name would be
indelibly etched in the American memory when the bloodiest two days in
our history were called “Chickamauga.”

The trail itself is an excellent hike. Turkey, deer and skunk are easily
spotted, as well as evidence of other animals and there was abundant
growth indicating this would be a good springtime hike. The trail is a
loop with two trailheads. The hike is described walking
counter-clockwise from Ponder Creek Road.

Starting near the power lines, it climbs to Rocky Ridge. The trail
meanders around second-growth hardwood coves reaching the top of the
ridge near the power lines. The coves are filled with poplar at lower
levels frequently giving way to hickory and oak near the tops. From
Rocky Ridge the trail leaves the power lines (don’t miss the blazes and
continue to follow the power lines — the power poles are marked at the
top in black numbers on a yellow background. After the passing pole 125
turn left onto the trail) and climbs steadily to its highest point, the
Tennessee Valley divide on Dicks Ridge. Rivers north of the divide(in
this area, west in others) flow to the Mississippi. Rivers south of the
divide flow to the Gulf.

Now the trail begins a downward trend to East Chickamauga Creek. This
descent, which can be steep, follows switchbacks down the slope of Dicks
Ridge. The path then turns south, along an old road that follows the
creek upstream, crossing it repeatedly. The trail rises to cross the
divide, then descends back to the starting point at Ponder Creek. **********************************

Johns Mountain – 3.6 mile loop – rated moderate
http://georgiatrails.com/trails/johns.html
This trail starts with one of the best views of the “Ridge and Valley”
section of north Georgia from the deck in the parking lot. It follows
the high ridge top of Johns Mountain to the upper Keown Falls overlook,
then returns to the Johns Mountain parking lot in a grueling mile,
climbing some 800 feet.

>From the trailhead walk straight ahead, towards a small building and
tower antenna. On previous hikes the building has normally been a trash
collection, but on our most recent hike it was clean. The well-worn
ridgetop path is easily followed and occasionally marked with a blaze
that I call white recta-squares (sometimes rectangles, sometimes
squares). If you go a ways and haven’t seen a blaze, don’t worry.

The trail can be rocky in places. It is interesting to note the changes
in the flora as the trail becomes rocky — fewer, lower trees permit
light that encourages lower-growing plants that at times choke the path.
The ridgetop is wide with gently sloping sides except in three places
where a steep, almost cliff-like slope drops sharply near the trail.

After 1.8 miles the gradual downward slope of the trail steepens, then
the trail turns away from the ridge, heading down to a stepping stone
crossing of two streams (one is frequently dry) and a wooden bridge over
the creek that creates Keown Falls. The upper platform (2.55 miles) for
Keown Falls offers a look down at the falls and another scenic view
nearby Dick’s Ridge. You may follow the Keown Falls path down to the
lower platform for another view of these high mountain falls.

The return trip is a grueling mile climb along an old roadbed, rising
about 80 feet every .1 mile, along what is probably a logging road,
although it did seem fairly well developed. This portion of the trail is
easily a “difficult” and could be a strenuous.

If you want to avoid the return trip, take two cars, park one a Keown
Falls and one at Johns Mountain. Walk the ridge portion of the Johns
Mountain Trail, then the Keown Falls Trail. Use the Keown Falls car to
return to Johns Mountain trailhead. ***************************************************

Keown Falls Trail – 1.8 mile loop
http://georgiatrails.com/trails/keown.html
This easy hike climbs Johns Mountain, ending at the second overlook of
Keown Falls. These high mountain falls frequently run dry.

Gordon Keown surveyed much of Northwest Georgia, and these falls near
the top of Johns Mountain are named for him. Frequently little more than
a trickle and usually dry by the end of the summer, they really only
come to life after a spring downpour. A sign at the start of the trail
will indicate the current water flow.

Just after the start of the trailhead is the path’s most unusual
feature, an A-frame roof over the treadway, for no apparent reason.
Rocklined and gravel filled at the beginning, these amenities end at a
tree in the middle of the path. At this point the trail begins to climb
Johns Mountain.

Johns Mountain is typical of many of the mountains in Northwest Georgia.
Ringed by large boulders just below the top like its taller brother to
the west, Lookout Mountain, the mountain is part of a geological
formation known as Ridge and Valley. The footpath steepens a it rises,
turning into a series of switchbacks just below the top. The sound of
falls can be heard just before a turn to some rock steps. At the top of
the steps is a cool cove and the first falls. A second set of falls and
observation deck are shortly ahead. The deck serves as a connector
between the Keown Falls Loop and the Johns Mountain Trail. *****************************************************

Rocktown Trail – 2.0 in and out
http://georgiatrails.com/trails/rocktown.html
This trail follows the ridge line to the tallest spot on Pigeon
Mountain. Toward the end of the trail is a “rocktown,” rocks of unusual
shapes and sizes.

Pigeon Mountain forms the right side of a “Y,” jutting off Lookout
Mountain just north of the Chattooga-Walker County line and ending about
3 miles west of Lafayette, Georgia, In between the two mountains is
McLemore Cove, and almost all of Pigeon Mountain is within the
Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Half an hour south
of the bustling city of Chattanooga, Pigeon Mountain offers a wide
variety of outdoor fun including fishing, camping, and many multi-use
trails. Rocktown, however, is designated strictly as a hiking trail.

Evidence of water erosion creates an eerie stone formation where the
base of this rock is half the size of the top.
The trail to Rocktown has little change in elevation. This wide footpath
is great for groups, however we do not recommend the trail for families
because of the abundance of potentially dangerous wildlife both along
the trail and in Rocktown itself (see below for a further explanation).
Initially the trail is nondescript, but within half a mile the first of
a series of large boulders can be seen. There is dense vegetation along
the entire trail including numerous berries. Among the berry bushes we
could identify were blackberry, wild raspberry and huckleberry.

At the end of the trail are a strange series of boulders and
outcroppings that have been given the name Rock Town by those who pass
through it. It is well named, for it indeed looks like a town.

More than 200 million years ago this area was once great ocean, that at
one time completely covered both Pigeon and Lookout Mountains. The water
washed away the softer limestone while leaving other, more durable rock.
In many places the effect of the water is apparent, from curved holes in
solid rock to tiny mazes of stone netting. In downtown Rock Town you can
visit the Champaign Glass, where water has eroded the base of a 50-foot
tall rock, leaving the cap precariously balanced on what little remains.

Once in Rock Town the trail ends, and it’s fun to take a few minutes to
explore. There are numerous squeezes and caves, but beware, these are
often havens for wild animals. In one squeeze we found a bobcat growling
at us. The fact that the animal did not leave may have meant she was
nurturing young, always a dangerous situation. There are developed
trails that lead to other areas of Pigeon Mountain, so keep an eye out
for the trail blazes for the return trip to the car (an ugly sort of
pink that one member of our group described as orange.)