It’s no longer a secret that the climbing in the Southeast is among the world’s finest, with dozens of immaculate sandstone bouldering and route-climbing areas. Some of the attention in recent years is no doubt due to the stellar outdoor comps of the region. The big boys? The 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell (24HHH) and the Triple Crown.

This year’s 24HHH went down on September 25-27 and attracted 230 competitors (the event organizer, Andy Chasteen, had to cap registration, which he says filled in three days) and 500-plus people total at the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, in Arkansas. Unique this year were the hourly screams the climbers let out day and night and the free mullet haircuts. “You name it, and it was carved into someone’s head,” says Chasteen, adding, “We had some good costumes this year, even without advertising the contest.” The team winners, Tommy Caldwell and Jeremy Collins (who climbed 222 routes, mostly in the 5.11-5.12 range), dressed as Superman and Spiderman, respectively. “The amount of preparation that the climbers put in for the event is amazing,” says Chasteen, 32, whose day job is photography (andrewchasteen.com). “The energy is like none other.”

The Triple Crown, an annual three-stop bouldering series, just wrapped up its second leg at Horse Pens 40 in Alabama. (The first stop was in Hound Ears, North Carolina; the last will be at Stone Fort, Tennessee, December 5.) Like 24HHH, the Triple Crown organizers Jim Horton and Chad Wykle had to cap registration. “Allowing more than 450 competitiors makes for a crowded boulderfield,” says Wykle. A big part of the Triple Crown is helping to support the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC; seclimbers.org) and other access causes. “We have more access issues in the Southeast than in any other region of the US,” explains Horton. In addition to donations to the SCC, the Triple Crown has given to other non-profi ts like Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. Top climbers who have dominated Triple Crown events in the past include: Lisa Rands, Paul Robinson, Kate McGinnis, and James Litz, a domination that the local Jimmy Webb is “poised to possibly repeat this year,” says Wykle.

RESULTS!

24HHH:
Team (Advanced): 1. Nineteen-Fingered-Two- Headed-Beast-of-the-Rockalypse (Tommy Caldwell, Jeremy Collins); 2. Renaissance Builders (Todd Johnson, Nate Moore); 3. Docs Who CARE-ibiner (Alan von Gremp, Barrett Tilley)

For more, visit: twofourhell.com

TRIPLE CROWN:
HOUND EARS
Open Men: 1. Jimmy Webb; 2. Brion Voges; 3. Maxim Zolotukhin
Open Women: 1. Sasha DiGuilian; 2. Kasia Pietras; 3. Francesca Metcalf (tie); 3. Isabelle Faus (tie)

HP40
Open Men: 1. Jimmy Webb; 2. Brion Voges; 3. Phillip Schaal
Open Women: 1. Kasia Pietras; 2. Francesca Metcalf; 3. Patti Newell

STONE FORT
Open Men: 1. Jimmy Webb; 2. Brion Voges; 3. Jeremy Walton
Open Women: 1. Kate McGinnis; 2. Alex Johnson; 3. Kasia Pietras

OVERALL WINNERS
Open – Men
3 – Brad Weaver 32477
2 - Brion Voges 37472
1 – Jimmy Webb 43022

Open – Women
3 – Kate McGinnis 18537
2 – Francesca Metcalf 18907
1 – Kasia Pietras 21577

For more, visit: triplecrownbouldering.org

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