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The Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) www.seclimbers.org would like to announce that the contract for the 3.14 acre Jamestown climbing area was signed by the landowner today, March 2, 2005. The document is currently being mailed to Gus Fontenot's office.

Jamestown is located in northeast Alabama and is a mile long sandstone cliff that has been closed since 1993 and is scheduled to re-open in May, 2005.

The tract is to be purchased for $19,000.00 of which a $1,000.00 earnest check was submitted as a down payment.

The dirty work and grunt labor has been done. Now comes the fun part. We need to raise approximately $18,000.00 in the next 60 days and the crag is ours, forever. So far we have raised approximately $6,800 of which has gone to pay for the survey, appraisal, earnest check and insurance fees.

Access to the tract will be available by accessing land owned by Alabama Power Company (APC). We have obtained a ROW easement and have purchased a $1mil general liability policy to cover the hiking easement. APC has said that this is not meant to be a public access to the cliff and that members of our group (The SCC) are only allowed to use the trail. This is no different from any hunt lease where only members are allowed to enter the land. Dues paying SCC members will be allowed to use this access. Non members of the SCC can either rappel down at the powerlines or walk in from the bottom. A map and information will be available for these alternate access points. We encourage climbers to join the SCC and help us to raise money for this tract.

If you have any questions, would like to donate funds or would like a copy of the business plan, please email Brad McLeod at mbmcleod@mindspring.com

You can donate to Jamestown now online:
http://www.seclimbers.org/modules.php?
name=membership
or send a check to:
The SCC 275 Stone Mill Trail NE
Atlanta, GA 30328

Thanks for your support of the SCC and the effort to re-open Jamestown.

Good job! Good luck with raising the funds..I'll send a check for sure.

These days it seems that more areas are becoming endangered and access issues are becoming increasingly more prevalent. It's great to hear that you guys are actively involved with these issues and making progress. Keep up the good work.

thanks guys

SCGC wrote:I'll send a check for sure.

Ditto that.

anyone know the nature of this crag, I think I remember an article from the 80's about some 5.hard line that Jesse Guthrie did there but know little else, I may be wrong about what I think I know too.

I think the hard Jesse Guthrie route you are speaking of is at Yellow Bluff.. another closed gem of a crag in Alabama. That crag is on our radar screen.

Info on the JT area and its climbing opportunities are listed below. Thanks for the awesome support from the Kentucky crew.

Proposed Jamestown Preserve (3.14 acres)

Introduction
The Jamestown climbing area is comprised of nearly one mile of 80 to 100 foot tall sandstone climbing cliff located in northeastern Alabama. Situated above the town of Jamestown, this climbing area has a long history of climbing dating back to 1977. The area was discovered by visiting climbers Rich Gottlieb and Chick Holtcamp, who were touring the Lookout Mountain area and climbing at nearby Yellow Creek. In time, Jack Chislet, Eric Zschiesche, John Vermont, Shannon Stegg, Gene Smith, Mark Cole, Rob Robinson and Chris Watford would all put up new routes on the sandstone cliffs called Jamestown.

Jamestown has been closed to the public since 1993 after a dispute with a local landowner. The cliff has sat relatively unused and almost forgotten until climbers revisited tax maps and contacted the owner about the possibility of leasing the area. Eventually talks led to the possibility of purchasing the land and a survey of the cliff was quickly commissioned.

Currently, negotiations are underway with the owner and we expect a purchase of the area within weeks. The Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) is soliciting your interest and potential donation to help re-open this climbing area and preserve access for future generations.

Location
The proposed Jamestown climbing tract (3.14 acres) is located on top of Lookout Mountain on Crest Road (Cherokee County Road 103) and approximately one mile west of the town of Jamestown in Cherokee County in northeast Alabama (Figure 1 and 2). The tract is bordered by Crest Road to the northwest, a powerline easement (Cherokee Electric Company) to the north, property owned by Mr. George King to the east, property owned by James Hughes to the west and property owned by Gwinnett Seven, Inc. to the southwest. The 3.14-acre portion of the cliff encompasses approximately 1,550 linear feet (0.3 mile) of cliff line. An aerial map is found on Figure 3. A recent survey of the area is found on Figure 4.

Climbing Opportunities
The Jamestown climbing tract is a relatively isolated climbing area that is described as a serene setting overlooking a small valley. The area is primarily known for excellent traditional climbing, but several sport routes and nice boulder problems can be found along the cliff line. With an eastern aspect, this wall is baked in the sun for many hours of the day, making for great fall and winter climbing days.

Within the 3.14-acre tract there are two walls known as the Harvest Wall and the Winter Wall with over 40 known climbing routes (both traditional and sport) ranging from 5.7 to 5.12d. Several three star routes are found within the tract to include:


Yum Yum Tree (5.7) *** Scarecrow (5.10) ***
Medusa Tree (5.9) *** Sideways Glance (5.10) ***
Pumpkin Patches (5.9+) Cinnamon Girl (5.10) ***
Tainted Love (5.9+) *** Hairdressers on Fire (5.11c) (sport) ***
Autumn Sonata (5.10-) *** Digital Desperation (5.12d) (sport) ***

The remaining portion of the cliff (approximately ¾ mile of cliffline south of the Winter Wall) includes the remainder of the Winter Wall, The Garden of Allah Wall, The Steggosaurus Slab, and the Wonder Wall. The Wonder Wall was recognized in a national climbing magazine (Rock and Ice) article written by Eric Zschiesche highlighting great climbing areas in Alabama. The SCC is currently reviewing this portion of the cliff for future acquisition.

The slopes below the cliff are strewn with bullet hard high quality sandstone boulders and include the Transmission Block and the Pizza Lips boulders. There are many other boulders and potential top-rope problems along the slope. You may have to walk a little but the explorer can easily find a nice problem or two. With some time and effort the area should yield dozens of problems.

Peak climbing season for Jamestown is late fall (October 30) to early Spring (March 15). Summer climbing is not advised. The cliff line faces due east and experiences a long period of sunlight throughout the majority of the day. The cliffline goes into the shade after 3:00 pm so that may be a good time to catch an afternoon climb or two before the sun goes down.

The Jamestown climbing tract is located in close proximity to other climbing areas in northeastern Alabama to include Little River Canyon (National Park Preserve) (10 minute drive), Sand Rock (Cherokee County Park) (30 minute drive), Horse Pens 40 (1 hour drive), Lost Wall (45 minute drive), and Rocktown (1 hour drive).

You can donate to Jamestown now online:
http://www.seclimbers.org/modules.php?
name=membership
or send a check to:
The SCC 275 Stone Mill Trail NE
Atlanta, GA 30328

thanks Brad, this is awesome, will support the cause and truly appreciate the efforts of those responsible for regaining access-ya'll deserve a case of Ale-8

Thanks to many Kentucky climbers that have already donated to help the Jamestown project!

Here is your chance to re-open a closed climbing area in northeast Alabama. All donations are tax-deductible.

To date we have raised $22,248 in donations and pledges towards our goal of $27,400. We need $5,152 to finish our purchase of the crag.

If your interested in pledging, just sign up below.
If you want to donate you can click online at:

http://www.seclimbers.org/modules.php?name=membership

or send a check to:
The SCC
275 Stone Mill Trail NE
Atlanta, GA 30328

Every little bit counts.. come on.. lets get this done and save this crag forever! Thanks!

Awesome job climbers!

We have reached our goal of $27,400 to help purchase and preserve 3.14 acres (1,550 linear feet) of cliffline at Jamestown, Alabama. Everyone that donated time, money and energy to this project are all part owners in a great climbing area.

We still have a few pledges out there to get in.. so go ahead and write that check and drop it in the mail as we will definetly need it as we write the big check for $18,290 to purchase the crag (we have already paid $1,000 in earnest money to the land owner).

Come on out and join us in our ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday May 7th, 2005 at 2:00 central time (3:00 eastern time) at Jamestown. We are going to cut the ribbon and climb a few routes and then go eat some bbq and drink a few colds one at a nearby spot (to be announced at event). It would be a great time to meet some of the awesome SCC volunteers that put together the Jamestown project as well as meet some of the SCC board members if you want to talk with them about future projects.

If you have questions about the ribbon cutting ceremony-party email Brad McLeod at mbmcleod@mindspring.com

Thanks for everyones great help in purchasing this crag. Look forward to seeing you all out there at our new cliff line.