Triple Crown Bouldering
Once again, in the Fall of 2007, The Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition in conjunction with Jim Horton and Chad Wykle will once again present the world’s greatest outdoor bouldering event: The fifth annual Triple Crown Bouldering Series.
The Triple Crown is a series of three outdoor rock climbing competitions that are held in the most prestigious boulderfields in the Southeast. The events take place during the first Saturday of October, November, and December, allowing over 1,500 climbers and enthusiasts from around the WORLD to enjoy some of the best climbing the US has to offer during one of the most spectacular times of the year to be in the southeast.
Triple Crown begins at Hound Ears just outside Boone, North Carolina. This boulderfield, which lies within an esteemed gated golf community, is open only once a year for this competition. Hound Ears, the original jewel in the crown, offers a unique opportunity for the climbing community to endure the crimps of this extraordinary boulderfield. This opportunity was first created 13 years ago in attempt to save the boulders at Howard’s Knob in Boone from housing development. The event continues to provide an exclusive kick-off to the Triple Crown.
Triple Crown moves next to Horse Pens-40 in Steele Alabama. The second jewel in the crown, HP-40 is world-renowned for it’s fantastic slopers. Many climbers travel each year to experience this sandstone paradise. This boulderfield was once closed to climbing access, until it’s purchase by the climber friendly Schultz Family. Our continued partnership is key to maintaining climbing access on this privately owned property.
The Triple Crown culminates at Stone Fort (Little Rock City) located atop Mowbray Mountain just outside of Chattanooga Tennessee. This labyrinth of tight compact sandstone DEMANDS a diverse set of climbing skills. Slopers, crimpers, roofs, bulges, slabs, this boulderfield has them all. A true story of access secured, the Stone Fort, like Hound Ears, lies within a private golf community. Through the work of the Triple Crown, the Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition and through the special help of Rock/Creek Outfitters, this long closed boulderfield was opened on a year round limited basis in 2003. Ongoing special thanks goes to the owners of the property (the Luken Family), without their support and understanding, legal climbing access at this fantastic green space would not be possible.
It bears mention that our relationship and right to climb at this site, lies firmly in the hands of the visiting climbing community. If you are planning to visit this area you must visit the Southeastern Climbers Coalition website at seclimbers.org to obtain access information.
The goal of Triple Crown is two-fold:
First, to raise money and awareness for three organizations that are dedicated to gaining and maintaining climbing access: the Access Fund, the Southeastern Climbers Coalition, and the Carolina Climbers Coalition.
Second, to create synergy between the Outdoor vendors, retailers and the climbing focused non-profit organizations in an ongoing effort to maintain climbing access and green spaces in the Southeast.
In 2006 alone, the Triple Crown Bouldering Series in conjunction with Rock/Creek Outfitters and our sponsors raised over $20,000 for non-profit organizations including the Southeastern Climbers Coalition, the Carolina Climbers Coalition, the Access Fund, and Habitat for Humanity. In it’s four year history, the Triple Crown has raised over $50,000 for climbing access, including significant contributions for the acquisition of Boat Rock and Laurel Knob, two areas now owned by the Southeastern Climbers Coalition and the Carolina Climbers Coalition respectively. In addition, the Triple Crown has also raised nearly $6,000 for Habitat for Humanity.
The success of the Triple Crown would not be possible without the continuing support of its sponsors and the outdoor industry. Triple Crown would like to thank all of its sponsors: Rock&Ice, Mammut, Prana, Clif Bar, Crumpler, La Sportiva, Five Ten, Bluewater Ropes, Mountain Hardwear, Powersox, Metolius, Sterling Ropes, Black Diamond, Misty Mountain, Footsloggers, Mountain High Outfitters, Oakley and Smartwool.
VERY SPECIAL THANKS goes to ROCK/CREEK OUTFITTERS, MARMOT, CHACO, and THE NORTH FACE. The support of these Outdoor Industry companies was key to giving birth to the Triple Crown Bouldering Series; without their support the Triple Crown would not have been possible.
Also, a special ‘thank-you’ to our Presenting Sponsor of the 5th annual Triple Crown Bouldering Series: Marmot Mountain.
Finally…
At the core of the Triple Crown lies this message to the entire climbing community:
“Our access to outdoor rock climbing is the responsibility of EVERY climber. Make yourself and others aware of access issues and concerns, follow ALL rules of access to every climbing area that you visit, and do your part to gain and maintain access for everyone.”