Blue Rock is the newest jewel in the Scenic City’s sandstone crown.
Blue Rock is the newest jewel in the Scenic City’s sandstone crown.
THE COMPETITION:
Go Blue or Go Home, being held May 6, is a flash competition where teams of two will attempt to summit as many of Blue Rock’s 40 routes as they can over the course of one day. Routes completed in one try will be awarded 100 percent of their assigned points, while routes completed after an unsuccessful attempt will only be awarded 25 percent. There are three categories (all male, all female, unisex), and the first place winners in each category will receive a $200 prize. Runner-ups will receive gear prizes. May 7 offers an open gate climbing day for competitors. Music, food trucks and camping options will be available. Tickets can be purchased at tinyurl.com/GoBlueOrGoHome2017. All proceeds from the event will go to the Denny Cove Acquisition and to South Cumberland State Park.
For years, Blue Rock in Marion County has been little more than eye candy for travelers on the Fiery Gizzard below. After the first weekend in May, however, the private land will become the envy of Chattanooga’s climbing community.
May 7-8, the 40-acre tract of land, situated in Jasper Highlands mountain community, is opening to the public for its first-ever flash climbing competition. The event, titled “Go Blue or Go Home,” challenges competitors to conquer each of the property’s 40 new sport routes in one try, giving them a taste of what land manager Cody Averbeck hopes could one day be an adventure park or resort.
The property is currently for sale – meaning climbers will only have access to the 100-foot sandstone during this and any other open gate days – but marketers envision the tract as a permanently open or pay-to-play wilderness getaway with direct access to South Cumberland State Park, Averbeck says.
Jasper Highlands developer John “Thunder” Thornton has invested the equipment and staff to help make that vision a reality, commissioning Averbeck to develop the new climbing routes and connect the area to the soon-to-be 20-mile perimeter trail.