Access Notes - Vol. 12 Winter 1995

More Area Reports

Southern Comfort

South Carolina Opens More Park Lands to Climbing

Although there is plenty of excellent rock in South Carolina, from boulders to big walls, the state has seen little attention from climbers. Its northern neighbor grabs the headlines, and until three years ago there was a ban on climbing on most public lands in the state, including all state parks. This ban was based on the perception that climbing was a potential liability problem and might cause unacceptable environmental impacts.

In 1992 Sean Cobourn, Access Fund Regional Coordinator, broke through the barrier of bias and convinced state officials to allow climbing on a trial basis on the Main Wall at Table Rock State Park. The trial is now over and the verdict is in. Climbing has worked so well at this site that when Cobourn contacted state officials again this summer they agreed to extend it to Pumpkintown Wall, a second cliff in the park.

Both the Main Wall and Pumpkintown Wall are open only from August through December (to protect nesting birds), and nearby Caesar's Head State Park remains closed due to a lack of discrete climber access. Another major wall in the area, El Lieutenant, is also still being considered for climber use. All of these areas offer multi-pitch climbs on good granite, from slabs to overhanging aid.

At Pumpkintown Wall it was agreed that climbers would make their own trails, following approaches flagged by state officials. Locals will organize a volunteer day to begin construction.

Call Sean Cobourn for more information at 803.948.1259.

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Next page - 1995 Access Fund Grants
Back to Access Fund Index Page or Access Notes Vol. 12 - Contents.