Day 7 (One weird week in)

We said our goodbyes to little Hannah and Kaj, and thanked Chris and Lindsay for our great stay before hitting the road for an 8+ hour stretch to St. Louis. We passed through downtown Atlanta, then through Chattanooga, and Nashville on I-24. Just North of Chattanooga was a short detour to a great rock climbing crag called Foster Falls. With no idea what the area was like we went for it and what we found was well worth the risks. The area's name belongs to that of the 100 foot waterfall surrounded by an impressive rocky bowl. To say the park was picturesque is a substantial understatement.

View from scenic overlook

Foster Falls

Alex negotiating the rocky trail

A cave along the hike to the falls

After admiring the falls we traveled down a cliff line to a short 4-bolt sport climb that ended in closed shut anchors. The rock was really good, although a little damp, but after several attempts and big falls I lead Tea and Strumpets, 5.10a (a reference to medieval hookers and wenches recently popularized by Capt. Jack Sparrow). Alex followed with a top-rope ascent. Due to time constraints we did not get to explore the almost any of the 130 bolted sport lines at this area but apparently the climbs farther down the cliff band become increasingly impressive. It would be great to return one day to climb and swim in the deep cold hole that Foster creek pours into.

After my first run, only clipping the first two bolts

We returned to I-24 after our refreshing trek. We couldn't help but admire the sunset over the flattened country of western Kentucky before we rolled into St. Louis to stay at Alex's other brother Matt and his wife Katie's home. They cooked an exquisite meal with more sausage, pork chops with a cranberry glaze, zucchini, and salad. We were living high on the hog.