|
rock_fencer
Aug 18, 2009, 9:12 PM
Post #1 of 11
(10108 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 7, 2005
Posts: 752
|
Does anyone have any info on a relatively large cliff outside jonesgap state park Just drove by it and its definately tall. Curretnly the land has a for sale sign. maybe access fund might be interested in finally opening up climbing in SC. Also does anyone know how to find zonging for the area. Im curious if the cliff is a part of the park or not? Cheers T
|
|
|
|
|
grock52
Jan 11, 2010, 3:19 PM
Post #2 of 11
(9904 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 11, 2010
Posts: 6
|
if your talking about the cliff near the power line cut just outside the park, i believe it is owned by camp greenville and is off limits to climbing.
|
|
|
|
|
rock_fencer
Jan 11, 2010, 3:33 PM
Post #3 of 11
(9895 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 7, 2005
Posts: 752
|
indeed i was. thanks for the info.
|
|
|
|
|
clemsonscooby
Jan 11, 2010, 5:31 PM
Post #4 of 11
(9880 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 21, 2006
Posts: 190
|
Pm phoenixfire he may know, but it could be Camp Greenville. Never been, but I know someone that has taken a class to Camp Greenville and didn't have much good to say about it.
|
|
|
|
|
phoenixfire
Jan 12, 2010, 3:52 PM
Post #5 of 11
(9846 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 13, 2006
Posts: 40
|
I'm pretty sure its Camp Greenville land...Jones Gap SP includes a few cliff areas, but not the ones in the power line cut. The one you walk right past on the newer (last 5 years) Rainbow Falls Trail, has seen action decades ago, evident by the rusted bolts you can see occasionally on the face, but since the park started watching things closer, its not climbed much anymore. I've had conversations with the park about climbing, hopefully real soon some new dialogue with the CCC will start also, and they seem to be a little more open to possibly allowing bouldering, but not climbing on the taller cliffs. Taller cliffs create different problems for the park staff that they arent prepared to handle. Keep checking the CCC site for updates, and I'll try to remember to shoot you an e-mail when any progress is made. Brad
|
|
|
|
|
grock52
Jan 12, 2010, 11:33 PM
Post #6 of 11
(9829 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 11, 2010
Posts: 6
|
years ago before jones gap was a park, i climbed there in several areas. a couple years after it became a park i went climbing there and was almost arrested. it never occured to me that they would close down climbing. more recently i have spoken to the rangers at j.g. and ceasers head about climbing access, they looked at me like i had two heads and were not at all helpful. but that cliff near the power line cut does look tempting!
|
|
|
|
|
rock_fencer
Jan 13, 2010, 12:20 AM
Post #7 of 11
(9819 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 7, 2005
Posts: 752
|
do you think camp greenville would be willing to allow permit based access? I presume its the YMCA camp greenville?
|
|
|
|
|
phoenixfire
Jan 13, 2010, 12:40 PM
Post #8 of 11
(9801 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 13, 2006
Posts: 40
|
Possibility, in the past they have had a small TR crag set up for some of the camps, but I dont think they want to open that can of worms. Its always worth asking though. The new SC rep for the CCC is Stephen Scoff (I think I spelled it right) or "SS" on the CCC messageboard. Shoot him an e-mail/pm on the messageboard and he can help get this thing rolling. There are plenty of climbable surfaces in and around the Jones Gap area, it is a shame that they arent accessible. Brad
|
|
|
|
|
grock52
Jan 14, 2010, 7:55 PM
Post #9 of 11
(9773 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 11, 2010
Posts: 6
|
motivated by this thread i went and hiked all around these cliffs today. i was suprised by the quality of the rock, reminded me of looking glass. the rock is more highly featured than i expected, with lots of crystals, dykes and small ledges making for good climbing but not good for pro. most routes would be run out but most could also be top roped. the main wall is taller than it looks, the bottom being obscured by trees, its probably 300 feet. i found no evidence of previous climbing. i spoke to a ranger who turned out to also be a climber, he said he was going to start asking about access since he wants to climb it too. he said the cliff was owned by camp greenville but when i checked the tax records today it said they were owned by the state. dont know if thats better or worse.
|
|
|
|
|
phoenixfire
Jan 15, 2010, 2:39 PM
Post #10 of 11
(9758 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 13, 2006
Posts: 40
|
I'd think that its state land too, which I think will make it a little harder to get access...supposedly things have to be approved by the state and not just the local parks for decisions like these. Ive had some good dialogue with a ranger that warned us that it was illegal to boulder within the park property, but was personally not opposed to it and didnt see many problems with it. Those walls havent been climbed in 20 years or more would be my guess, I'd doubt you'd see too much evidence except for some random rusted bolts up in the middle of the face somewhere. Keep pursuing & if you can help SC gain more climbing, please do. Dont forget to mention the bouldering too...JG is like a litle chunk of Rumbling Bald bouldering down in the lower Carolina. By far the best bouldering in the Upstate!!! Let me know if I can help out in any way.
|
|
|
|
|
rock_fencer
Jan 15, 2010, 5:57 PM
Post #11 of 11
(9748 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 7, 2005
Posts: 752
|
I'll add that the land infront of the cut was up for sale/rent the last time i was up there about 2 months ago. im currently unemployed so if you need help contacting people and such let me know. Oh and if you want to go do that thing that we do with ropes and shiny things im down. cheers T
|
|
|
|
|
|