RRC Archives

Like, uh, where is this place & what is it all about

Dude, this is like one of Kentucky's better choss piles! You have to freakin come here and check out a couple of John Gill's bouldering problems that he put up when he was going to school at Murray State (1964-1967). He put up a sick bouldering problem under Gill's Overhang that he called 5.12ish. If I recall correctly, the hardest route at the time was 5.9....... His bouldering problem toped out at 35ft!!! History Baby, lots and lots of Climbing History. There are a couple of 5.12 routes, a couple of 5.10 routes, a 5.3 route, and a few others scattered throughout the park... lots of cool bouldering under Gill's Overhang down by the swimming pool (from V0 to V-sick as shit).

The only problem here is that climbing is not allowed in the park anymore. Does this stop anyone? It hasn't yet.

There is a guidebook out on Pennyrile by Jim Deterline. Very Very old, when pocket sized books were popular. It's called, "something something midwest" and it features Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

DIRECTIONS: From Madisonville take the Pennyrile Parkway South for 5 miles. Exit off onto the Western Kentucky Parkway (hence the name, you are now heading west). Drive 13 miles to Dawson Springs Exit, take the road (whatever it is) South for 3 miles until you hit HWY 62. Turn Right (West) on HWY 62 and go about 2 miles to the epicenter of Dawson Springs (yeh, this is as good as it gets here). From Dawson Springs, KY., go south on Hwy 109 to signs for the park. Park at the swimming area for the bouldering.

BRING YOUR OWN BEER! THIS IS A DRY COUNTY AND THE CLOSEST LIQUOR STORE IS IN MADISONVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!