UTOP Fall Break Rock n' Boulder 10/14-17/04

During Fall Break this year, the UT Outdoor Program hosted a four-day top rope and bouldering climbing trip. We left campus Thursday morning in a school van with a loaded trailer of gear behind us and headed to Middle Tennessee for some top-rope climbing (and a little lead climbing for Brett and Brad). Our first stop was Foster Falls above Jasper, Tennessee on Mont Eagle. We climbed in the Rocket Slab area on Thursday with ascents of routes such as Afterburner (5.5), Gravity Boots (5.7), Grey Matter (5.9) and Brett and Brad climbing Fish Eye Fool (5.10b). Friday we went to the Jimmywood area and ascended climbs such as Bear Mountain Picnic (5.8+) and Miss Prissy and Miss Scarlet (5.9). The weather was good; it rained Thursday night but the rock dry enough for some good climbing on Friday. Much fun was had and a few large spiders were killed....and the girls finally got S'mores.

Pictures from Foster Falls:

Group photo at the top of the falls

Foster Falls

The hike down on Thursday

Brett holds a safety lesson before we get on the rock

Grey Matter (5.9)

Brett leading up

Tom on Grey Matter

Sean tackling Grey Matter

Therapist (?) (5.9)

Sean sees his Therapist

Afterburner (5.5) and Gravity Boots (5.7)

Beth on Afterburner

Jamie on Afterburner

Nicole on her way down after Gravity Boots

Brad on Fish Eye Fool (5.10b)

Bear Mountain Picnic (5.8+)

Nicole at the Picnic

Jamie hanging out at the Picnic

Is it just me, or does Brett look like the special kid from the short bus in this picture? (sorry Brett, had to say it)

Lunch time

"I believe the children are our future. Feed them well and let them lead the way...."

Gravity Boots (5.7) Brad and Erin on Friday

Campfire

Who thinks this is a good name for a liquor store? really....

Saturday morning we broke camp and moved to central Alabama to Horse Pens 40, the Mecca of Southeastern bouldering. Saturday we spent time in the Tens Pins area climbing some V0s and V1s while Brett and Brad showed us how to do it on some V4s. Sunday we went to the Millipede area. Brett and Brad fired some V4s; Tom and Erin wondered off to the Highlife area and were completely baffled by V5s and V7s....everyone finished up snagging a few more routes and we broke camp and drove back to Knoxville to start that school grind all over again....

Pictures from Horse Pens 40: