DISCLAIMER - THERE IS NO GOOD CLIMBING IN THE SOUTH

After two months living the dream in the Sierra this summer, returning to the grind of daily life was like clipping a peregrine's wings. A month in the humidity of Florida's Gulf beaches - beautiful, but surfless - was about 30 days too long. Time to hit the road.

First stop - Tallulah Gorge. DENIED. Got damnt bureaucrats. What the f*#k do you mean you don't issue permits after 4pm!? Its 4:15. And why do I need a f*#king permit to climb in a 200' gorge? Where's the damned guard that took my 5 bucks!? Welcome to the South.


Oh well - lets blast up to Laurel Knob - that place looks big and we've never climbed there.

{sleep}

Prime day for some slab:

Oooh, Fathom Direct looks cool. Check out that featured water runnel waaay up there.

WTF!? 20 ft above my last gear and 20 more to go to the anchor!? I hate runout slab climbing. Scares the shite outta me.

{insert bailure aka descending rhythm}

At least we found a good spot to contemplate the meaning of slab climbing.

Aight, we need some flow. Bust out the shredsleds.

The shred sesh was good. So good in fact we rode again the next day in the Dupont State Forest. That place has some awesome trails.

Visit on sirbikesalot.com


After riding 15ish miles in Dupont, we boogied on up to the north end of Looking Glass to get in our multi-sport day.

Now THIS is what I'm talkin' 'bout. Gimme the steep.




Thanks Looking Glass. You never disappoint.

Now, lets go get some more steep.

Hawksbill anyone?

This place is home to some of the smallest holds you'll EVER pull on. So crisp, so incut, so small, so good!

Its also home to some steep-ass granite(ish) climbing.


The Linville Salute?

OK, our time is running out. We've had this nagging feeling in our guts ever since we got hosed at Tallulah. Rematch on the way home? Definitely...

All signs pointed to yes as we headed towards northern Georgia wondering if we'd pull it off.

As I walk into the Tallulah Gorge visitor center - I had a good feeling. Until they started lecturing me...
"Ya'll experienced climbers?"
"Yep."
"Ya'll know its all lead climbin' down thar right?"
"Uhhh, ya."
"Aight, well here's how yi git down thar..."
"I can see the approach trail from here, thanks."
"Well, I got tuh giv youz the proper orientation."

Shoot me now.

Holy sh#t Jimmy! We pulled it off!

Yeeeeewwwwww!



FIN

Just because: