Tallulah Gorge, Georgia? Better Than Yosemite. No lie Yall!

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micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 7, 2015 - 10:36am PT
Just came across some old photos of when I lived in Georgia. Man I loved the Tallulah Gorge. Tallulah means "Terrible" in the native tongue. Two miles long. Nearly 1000 feet deep according to local stats. Super steep multi pitch routes thrust out of the riverbed, leaning and tilting this way and that. Climbs follow splitter, hand friendly cracks up, through and around natural blocks and corners and towers. One route literally finishes up through an old cave that reeks with lore of indian sacrifices.

The Great Wallenda once tightrope walked across the dizzying chasm, and the rigging towers are still there, covered in kudzu and forest bramble. The approach is steep 4th class and the place has a committing feel. No sport climbs can be found. Be prepared to climb out. For a few years this place was our Black Canyon and coming across these photos reminded me of weekend missions escaping the drudgery of professional school. I sometimes miss the smell of boiled peanuts, the taste of real sweet tea and waitresses at local breakfast joints calling me "suga" or "sweetie." But when I think of the South, I think of the Tallulah Gorge and all the adventure and mystique and stoke we found deep within its golden sandstone walls.


Here's a few photos. You ever been there? Chime in if you have. Enjoy.















Ok, So maybe my thread title was a bit of a stretch. But man, this place is steep and wild and splitter and quiet. I'll take that all day long over a yak train of noobs on The Nutcracker. So if you ever find yerself in the derty souf, look this place up. It's pure magic.




jogill

climber
Colorado
Jul 7, 2015 - 10:42am PT
I did a little bouldering there once or twice in 1956. Can't remember any details.
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 7, 2015 - 10:43am PT
Pilfered a few photos off the webs. The whitewater down there is legendary too. Big. Skeery. I think they do a Gorge Day every once in a while to let boaters play in the steeps.

jeff constine

Trad climber
Ao Namao
Jul 7, 2015 - 10:44am PT
Not better than the Needles in Ca, no way..
johntp

Trad climber
socal
Jul 7, 2015 - 10:51am PT
Shirley you jest.

edit: the boiled peanuts looked good.
Gunkie

climber
Jul 7, 2015 - 11:08am PT
Very nice!
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Jul 7, 2015 - 11:19am PT
Chiggers, ticks, poison ivy, that place looks stacked!

Seriously though, looks like fun!

Edit; Snakes too!
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
Jul 7, 2015 - 11:40am PT
I HATE cottonmouths. Nasty, mean, territorial f#@ks. Wouldn't surprise me if that's what kind of snake that was Will.
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
Jul 7, 2015 - 11:41am PT
But the George looks pretty dang fun! If I lived there, that's where I would be.
Mike Bolte

Trad climber
Planet Earth
Jul 7, 2015 - 11:42am PT
Climbed some of the steepest, pumpiest 5.8 corners I've every been on there back in the late 70s. Beautiful place. Lots of copperheads and I don't mean swaged ones.
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Jul 7, 2015 - 12:10pm PT
Better than Yosemite? Obviously you ain't been to Yosemite.

I've done a lot of class 5 whitewater kayaking down south, certainly there is some great whitewater in the Tallulah Gorge. But better climbing than Yosemite?....

Not only are the snakes bad, but the damn BUGS are horrendous in the south.

Here's a link to random whitewater video from the Tallulah Gorge.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 7, 2015 - 12:14pm PT
Oh yeah....I don't miss the copperheads. Fesity. And always hanging out in the #2 Camalot range.
Rollover

climber
Gross Vegas
Jul 7, 2015 - 01:01pm PT
I know personally why they call it
"Flying Frog"!!!
Great post micronut!
Very cool area!!
I found it very intimidating!!
little Z

Trad climber
un cafetal en Naranjo
Jul 7, 2015 - 02:22pm PT
I hear topping out there can be a bit tricky


and the whitewater isn't for the faint of heart

Prod

Trad climber
Jul 7, 2015 - 02:33pm PT
F*#k!!! That snake picture is gonna give me nightmares. Forever.

Prod.
yanqui

climber
Balcarce, Argentina
Jul 7, 2015 - 02:33pm PT
I thought was hearing those dueling banjos, as well.

When I lived in the States, for me, climbing in the east meant going to Colorado. But that Georgia sandstone sure looks nice.

Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jul 7, 2015 - 02:45pm PT
It's better than Yosemite if you live near it and are doing a day/weekend trip.
Otherwise a lie.
The sandstone looks like fun, but I wouldn't move there vs. Yosemite for the climbing.
Sonic

Trad climber
Boulder, Co
Jul 7, 2015 - 02:47pm PT
Awesome climbing, but far from Yosemite....

Climbing permitting system sucks balls...
Pappy

Ice climber
Warren, VT
Jul 7, 2015 - 04:06pm PT
It ain't sandstone, it's very fine grained quartzite. Harder than granite (we figured two or even three self drive bits per hole) and slicker than ice when wet. The only place I would not use tri-cams because I figured they just would not bite, even worried about Friends. Flying Frog, and Stretch, are a couple of the best pitches in the SE. An overlooked gem? Yes. A destination? That's a stretch.
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 7, 2015 - 04:10pm PT
Ok......I agree....it ain't "better than Yosemite"

But man the place sure does have a flavor of its own.

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