Don't Take It For Granite - Boat Rock Party and Fundraiser

Post by **jlove** » Thu May 29, 2003 1:07 am

Southeastern Climbers Coalition Hosts “Don’t Take It for Granite” Party and Fundraiser

On Thursday, July 24th, the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) will host its second annual fundraiser at Club eleven50 in Midtown, Atlanta. Monies raised at the event will be used to help pay the mortgage on the 7.8 acre Boat Rock Preserve. Famous alpinist and author Dr. Geoff Tabin will be the featured speaker. Geoff has climbed the highest peak on all 7 continents, including Mt. Everest. Last year’s fundraiser raised more than $9000 for Boat Rock and organizers hope this year’s event will be even more successful. Highlights at this year’s event include:
 Free Dogwood Ale from 7-9pm
 Buffet featuring delicious food from Club eleven50 and Maggiano’s
 Silent Auction and Raffle: Call of the Wild, Patagonia, Sterling Ropes, Blue Water Ropes, Atlanta Rocks, Southeastern Expeditions, and others
 Fashion Show
 Boat Rock videos, slide shows, and photos
Tickets: $25 advanced, $30 at door
Available at Escalade, Patagonia, REI, Wall Crawlers Rock Gym, Galyans,
High Country Outfitters, Atlanta Rocks, or your nearest Southeastern Climber’s Coalition representative (seclimbers.org)
Attire: Come as you are
Directions: eleven50 is on Crescent Ave between 13th & 14th St in midtown, Atlanta www.eleven50.com

All proceeds go to the Don’t Take it For Granite! Campaign to protect Boat Rock

About Boat Rock

Boat Rock is a mile long ridge of giant boulders in the Sandtown Community of Fulton County. Rock climbers have been visiting the granite boulders since the late 1960’s, but the true origins of Boat Rock date back much longer. Approximately 325 million years ago an intrusion of magma formed a large dome under the earth. Cooling slowly, the dome remained buried for several million more years before erosive forces began to slowly expose the igneous rock. Today we know this area as Boat Rock. It is the best example of what geologists refer to as the Ben Hill batholith. Boat Rock is one of approximately five batholiths around the Greater Atlanta Area. Other batholiths include Stone Mountain, Arabia Mountain, and Panola Mountain; these areas are already protected from development and serve as parks for the citizens of Atlanta to enjoy and as refuges for the flora and fauna that thrive in the parks.

The ridge at Boat Rock has been eroded to expose massive granite boulders, some which tower over nearby houses. The rocky nature of the ridge prevented it from being converted to agriculture, sparing Boat Rock from the erosion and devastation caused by cotton farming. Today the natural community of Boat Rock is a rare example of an intact oak-hickory piedmont forest. Flowering shrubs such as Oconee Azalea and Dwarf Pawpaw grow underneath a canopy of White Oak and Pignut Hickory. In the spring and summer, wildflowers such as Vernal Iris, Green Adder’s Mouth Orchis, and Catesby’s Trillium color the forest floor. Wildlife such as Southern Redback Salamanders and Gray Treefrogs find shelter among the jumble of boulders, while Scarlet Tanagers and Pileated Woodpeckers nest in the canopy above.

Even though Boat Rock has the natural, historical, and recreational qualities that would make the tract one of the premier natural parks in Metro Atlanta, it was not until 2002 that the non-profit group the Southeastern Climbers Coalition purchased a small 7.8 acre slice of the ridge. The SCC manages the small park as a public preserve, balancing the recreational activities while preserving Boat Rock’s unique natural community. The parking lot at Boat Rock overflows on weekends with climbers and hikers, adults and children. Local citizens of the Sandtown Community have been involved in clean-ups and trail days, while local schools have been introduced to the area through environmental educational programs focusing on geology and biology. The SCC has raised nearly $40,000 of the $100,000 mortgage to pay for the Boat Rock Preserve and would eventually like to see the entire ridge conserved as greenspace before the area succumbs to development.

Post by **Horatio Felacio** » Fri May 30, 2003 7:39 pm

i've heard that boat rock pretty much sucks ass? isn't it all slab problems? why would you even want to save crap like that?

Post by **climbhigh** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 10:06 pm

Boat Rock is not a bad place to climb, its really pretty damn cool. Its sharp friction dependent granite. I have never had such a hard time getting used to an areas movement. Once you do the climbing is a freaking blast, its just so unique. Its right outside of Atl, it gives the locals a great place to hang. Not many large cities like Atl have that large of an area within 20 minutes. Its a pretty historical climbing area too, people have been climbing there for years. That itself shows that its a decent area. You should give it a go next time you are down south. I have only been a couple times, but would go back anytime I was in the area. One mans garbage is another mans treasure.

Post by **Artsay** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 12:23 am

Can't forget about all the dead bodies that have turned up in the water down there. That place is *well* known for more things than just the bouldering...

Post by **Horatio Felacio** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:20 pm

"One mans garbage is another mans treasure."

true. let's not forget about the zoo, cherokee bluffs, any cliff in ohio, homeless people who collect bottles of urine to try and pass off as currency, and raw sewage.

Post by **Power2U** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:49 pm

Hey H-F...Boat rock is a lot of slabs but there are some cool steep power problems too.