Adventure suggestion needed

[Woody]

I'm looking for some good adventure ideas(i.e. rock climbing, skydiving, etc...). 1-3 day length and not too expensive. I love backpacking, white water rafting, and canoeing but want to branch out a bit. I have checked out REI adventures and they have some enticing trips but I was going to see if I could find something a little more local if possible. I once heard that there was a rock climbing guide service in Little River Canyon but I couldn't find anything about it. Maybe Horse Pens 40 has something like that. Any Ideas?

[squidbilly]

Here's the place near LRC...http://www.trueadventuresports.com/
 
HP 40 is mainly a bouldering area. You can go nearly any weekend and check out the climbers. They have a nice campground and a store I think.  I don't know of any local guides personally. but you can check with the American Mountain Guides Association for certified rock climbing instructors/guides in the area.  We (my boys and I) rock climb locally,mostly at Palisades Park, Steele,and Sand Rock. I've been climbing for about 15 years. You're welcome to tag along with us sometime and check it out.

[Woody]

Very cool! May have to take you up on that invite. I have been thinking of getting into climbing for a while, especially top rope climbing since it seems the simplest to start out with but wanted to give it a try before I made the gear investment. I checked out HP 40 and they don't have any guides or anything but they will rent you a crash mat for bouldering for $5. May give that a try if I get the feeling to make an idiot of myself since I have no idea of what I'm doing. I live just north of Bham so that wouldn't be too far.

[squidbilly]

It sounds like you do have a good idea of what you're doing. Or going to do anyway. We toprope most of the time. It's the only way with kids and beginners.

[Woody]

If I go down to Moss Rock a/k/a Shades Crest to do some bouldering just to try it out do you think I will be laughed out of the park? I don't have any specialized equipment and don't really know anything about it. Don't really even know if I'm strong enough to do it (i'm 28 and in decent condition but I am definately not ripped or anything).

[squidbilly]

Go for it. They won't laugh at you. Most climbers would be glad to let you hang out and help you get started. Just don't call the crash pad  a mattress    About all you need to boulder is climbing shoes,chalk and a crash pad for softer landings.  The routes or problems all have names and grades of difficulty. 

[weathermansam]

Hurricane Creek Park [Vinemont] and Cherokee Rock Village [near Leesburg] are good spots for this stuff, too.  There's an entrance fee at HCP, though. 

[squidbilly]

 There will be an entrance fee at Sand Rock ( Cherokee Rock Village) if Cherokee County manages to implement their plans to turn the place into a park. Probably the best thing that could happen to that place. Don't climb there with just anyone you meet - lots of folks climb there that really have no clue. Don't camp there either, unless you like being awakened in the middle of the night by drunken h***raisers. Other than the trash and grafitti painted on the rocks it's a nice place to climb.

I've never been to HCP, but I hear it's a nice little park.

[weathermansam]

There will be an entrance fee at Sand Rock ( Cherokee Rock Village) if Cherokee County manages to implement their plans to turn the place into a park. Probably the best thing that could happen to that place. Don't climb there with just anyone you meet - lots of folks climb there that really have no clue. Don't camp there either, unless you like being awakened in the middle of the night by drunken h***raisers. Other than the trash and grafitti painted on the rocks it's a nice place to climb.

I've never been to HCP, but I hear it's a nice little park.

I thought it was already a park, just neglected or ignored.  http://www.cherokeecounty...herokee-rock-village.html  I can't find a reference on the Nature Conservancy's site to confirm this, though.  Either way, the views are awesome, which is why I go, besides the rock formations themselves.  I agree with you on the camping.  Kept us up until about 1 in the morning before they'd had enough bad karaoke and hair metal with the bass too loud. 

There's a small natural bridge at HCP, and a "cave" called 'twilight tunnel' that's neat to browse around in.  The picnic area is overused, and the place itself is geared toward mtn bikers, but fun none the less.  Beware of the map, though, it's inaccurate and confusing. 

[jamfan]

You may want to check out UAB Outdoor pursuits. - http://studentaffairs.uab...usRecreation/outdoor.html

I have done the tandem hang gliding at Lookout Mountain.  I think the website is just hanglide.com.  I would wait till summer though.

My wife and I did an REI adventure to Ecuador & the Galapagos, and we were both very pleased with the trip.  The closest thing they have local I think is a smokey mountains backpacking trip.  I've thought about going on that one. 

[Woody]

There's one I hadn't thought of, Hang Gliding. Fantastic idea and thanks for the info! How was it by the way?

The REI dream trip for me is the MT Shasta climb but I was figuring it would cost me about $2,000 to do it. They also have a three day rock climbing trip in North Carolina which was neat looking (camp and climb for 3 days) and it was only about $400 I think and of course I can drive there.

[jamfan]

There's one I hadn't thought of, Hang Gliding. Fantastic idea and thanks for the info! How was it by the way?

The REI dream trip for me is the MT Shasta climb but I was figuring it would cost me about $2,000 to do it. They also have a three day rock climbing trip in North Carolina which was neat looking (camp and climb for 3 days) and it was only about $400 I think and of course I can drive there.

Yeah at some point I am going to do one of those drivable trips too.  I wish REI would being a store to Bham.

What we did was arrange for hang gliding on Saturday, then continue on to Chattanooga.  I think it was 120$ per person a few years ago.  For an extra 20$ they take pictures, although not the best quality IMO.  The prices have probably gone up a little bit.  If conditions are windy, you may have to take a rain check.   Basically they drag the glider with a little prop place up to about 1500' and then let you go.  The unhooking is the scariest part, as you go from pretty fast and stable to suddenly nothing.  You can see 4 or 5 states from up there, and for a little extra they will take you even higher.

We spent the night in Chattanooga then drove over and rafted the Ocoee.   I recommend doing both the Upper and the Middle.  The upper has the stronger rapids but the middle I think is more fun.   Chattanooga is a pretty cool town, I would stay in their downtown area if I did it again.