Stonefort aka LRC (Tennessee)

We left Red River Gorge at noon and arrived in Stonefort, Tennessee around 5 pm. Everyone had told us about Stonefort (or Little Rock City as it was originally called) and recommended boulders we should check out. The area has had many ups and downs, with times when it was completely off limits to climb there. The rocks have always been on private property. At one point, a golf course was built right next to the rocks, and not all golfers were big fans of bouldering...but eventually a compromise was reached and climbers were charged a fee to enter the area. Two years ago, the golf course and some additional land around it came up for sale, and a group of climbers (and investors) bought the golf course and the rocks, ensuring that bouldering will continue to be allowed! However, it still costs $9 to get in.

The area is worth it though. The rock is top quality sandstone, the access is easy and short, and there are plenty of 5 star lines! The area certainly met or exceeded all expectations!

My goal was The Shield, a very famous line that follows a shallow sloping crack through an otherwise empty wall. I knew I was probably not fit enough to climb it, and the conditions were not the best at 28 °C, but I gave it a try. I could not climb it, but I really enjoyed the two sessions on it. I wish I could go back one day in slightly colder temps...

We spent the nights at Chester Frost Park, which is about 20 minutes away from the area. The campground was really nice, next to a lake where we went swimming in the morning and after returning from a day on the rocks.Read more