The beginning of the climbing season usually starts long before the HOUND EARS comp, but this year the weather didn’t even start to cool down until mid October. So with the hype and excitement of the 9th annual HOUND EARS BOULDERING COMPTETITION, the Southeastern bouldering season has begun.
If you don’t get outisde during the next 2 months, you will miss the very best that the Southeast has to offer: Perfect friction, cool tempratures, motivated and encouraging climbing partners, and best of all, tons of new rock to explore. It seems as if everyone has a secret new project area that they are on the verge of busting wide open. I certainly am working on a few covert projects! And with the re-opening of Horse Pens 40, just in time for the season, there may be several new classics at your favorite boulderfield.
This season we welcomed many new faces to the local climbing community. One amazing new climber is Mike Bacon from Las Vegas. He moved into town this summer with his wife and adorable baby daughter. Mike is a strong climber and a great new partner. (Stay tuned for his interview to find out how he has adjusted to the rock of the Southeast).
Out-of-towners aren’t the only new faces at the boulders. Many weekend warriors have decided to take the dive into the full-fledged bouldering lifestyle. Jared McAlpin is a local who has begun training and is really pulling down hard this season.
New climbing areas also add to the excitement around here. Lee Means put in lots of hard work at the new boulderfield in DeSoto Park, AL. Even with the closure of such classic ’fields as Little Rock City, places like DeSoto prove that we are not done rooting out new rock.
The season has just begun, so take advantage of every nice day and sample the amazing friction here in the Southeast!
