John Dorough started climbing Chattanooga’s rock walls back in 1995, just before the sport took the city by storm.
Back then, the 41-year-old says, the area’s small band of local rock climbers didn’t have all the modern innovations that make scaling the region’s sandstone as comfortable as it is today. Looking back, he adds, some of their gear even called safety into question.
Regardless, these forerunners climbed on, and the challenges they endured now serve as a testament to their love for the sport.
Dorough drew a few comparisons between today’s climbing gear and the tools he and his buddies rocked in order to give us an idea of just how impressive Chattanooga’s rock climbing pioneers really were.
Boreal has continued to produce its classic Ballet Gold rock shoe for the last 30 years. Like many board-lasted shoes, it is super-durable with a high top for ankle protection.» SHOES