The Southeastern Climbers Coalition

Page last updated 1/10/2013

One of the many aesthetic boulders
on SCC's recently acquired tract.
This page contains the most up to date information on accessing Hospital. Please check this page each time before visiting Hospital, as we will likely implement a gate combination in the near future that is necessary to access the SCC parking lot.

Access Details
As of November 15, 2012 Hospital boulders is officially open to climbers! We are forming a committee to hash out the details, so in the meantime here are some basic rules and beta (note: if you see any errors or have additional info please email me at matthew@seclimbers.org and i will update this page) :

1) Be a good neighbor- We are the new kids on the block in a quiet neighborhood. Please make a good impression by driving slowly, smiling and being respectful to our neighbors.

2) Gates- There are 2 gates you will have to negotiate. See the directions below for gate beta.

3) Camping- Camping is not allowed at Hospital Boulders

4) Dogs- If you do bring a dog, please keep them on a leash at all times.

Click here to see a map of Hospital parcel and parking

Directions from Birmingham: (see link to map above)

Take I59 North. Go ~58 miles.

Take exit 188. At bottom of ramp turn right onto Noccalula Pkwy. Go 1.1 miles.

Turn left onto Scenic Drive. Go 1.1 miles on Scenic Drive/McNaron Drive until you see road sharply bending right. You should see a left fork private drive with a black gate. open gate (not locked) and enter private road, then please close gate and dummy lock it behind you. Follow private road until you arrive at the barn (barn is SCC owned). There is a gate but it isn't locked- park inside the gate and close it behind you. Access the boulders from here.

Directions from Chattanooga: (see link to map above)

Take I-24W towards Nashville. Go 10 miles.

Merge onto I59 South. Go 73 miles.

Take exit 188. At bottom of ramp turn left onto Noccalula Pkwy. Go 1.3 miles.

Click here to view the new Hospital Video. Get Psyched!!!

Press Release November 6, 2012. Gadsden, AL –The Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) is pleased to announce that it officially closed on the Hospital/High Rocks parcel on November 15, 2012. Hospital Boulders is located in northeastern Alabama. The Access Fund has providing a bridge loan of $75,000 from the Access Fund Land Conservation Campaign (AFLCC) to finance the acquisition. The SCC is now asking the climbing community to show their support and help fundraise $80,000 to complete the purchase.

Climbing access has historically been “low profile” at Hospital Boulders, with limited access and details distributed only by word of mouth. The SCC was outbid at an auction to purchase the boulder field five years ago with negotiations for access ongoing ever since. The current landowner, a private developer, recently put the property up for sale again, with plans to auction it to the highest bidder. “The threat of losing the area to another private landowner or developer was very real,” says Josh Reyes, SCC board member. “We did not want to be sent back to square one with access negotiations, facing the very real possibility of having access permanently revoked.”

“We had to move fast to get the land under contract before it went to auction,” says Access Fund southeast regional director Zachary Lesch-Huie. “Our close working relationship with the SCC was key to getting the AFLCC funds released quickly to save this bouldering area.”

Just north of Gadsden and less than 30 minutes from Horse Pens 40, the Hospital Boulders boasts 150-200 high quality sandstone boulder problems, and even some short traditional, sport and top rope climbs on the west brow of Lookout Mountain. The area, with its spectacular scenic views, still has potential for many more first ascents.

SCC owned baby!

The SCC and the Access Fund are working together to finalize the purchase of this local bouldering area from the private developer. The sale is expected to close in mid-November, placing Hospital Boulders in climber-friendly hands forever. The SCC will own and manage the property in perpetuity.

The Hospital Boulders acquisition marks the twelfth successful AFLCC project since the inception of the revolving loan program in 2009. It will make the seventh successful acquisition by the Southeastern Climbers Coalition.

Published on: 2012-11-30 (3048 reads)

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