Chattanooga on the Rocks
November 2007AAC Ambassador Max Poppel (right) and AAC member Dan Rose clowning at the Stone Fort.
Max Poppel reports on a successful first-time AAC event in Tennessee.
Chattanooga on the Rocks had a slow start and some technical difficulties, but overall it was a success. Saturday featured bouldering at the Stone Fort (formerly Little Rock City). When we arrived there was a big Evolv tent set up in the parking lot and Kurt Smith was there with a couple of helpers passing out demo shoes and telling people about the event. The weather was cool and crisp, perfect for the day's climbing.
In the evening people began gathering at the Rock/Creek store for a screening of the Reel Rock Tour. As people entered they were given a ticket for a raffle of tons of cool Evolv and AAC prizes. There were also many bigger-ticket items from the AAC that were up for silent auction. And to top that off, everyone present received 15 percent off any merchandise at Rock/Creek. Roughly 75 people showed up.
The movie ran into technical difficulties and not all of the program could be played. But there were tons of prizes, great deals, and friends to be made. In all, the raffle and silent auction raised over $400 for the AAC, ticket sales generated $300 for the AAC, and we signed up five new members.
On Sunday one more brave soul joined us all the way from right outside Atlanta. The weather was a little cooler than the day before, and rather than freeze our behinds off at Sunset Rock, which sits in the shade most of the day, we decided to go to the same bouldering area as the day before. The climbing was again superb.
Despite technical difficulties this event was fun and successful. I couldn't have organized this event without David Thoenen's initial push and certainly not without Dana Richardson and Jason Manke's support from the office in Golden through the entire process. I look forward to working with all of you to make Chattanooga on the Rocks 2008 a bigger success.
Southeast Section chair David Thoenen adds:
Absolutely super effort on AAC Ambassador Max Poppel’s part. First time out for him (and the first AAC event for Chattanooga) and it's a grand slam!!! Max put this event together on his own initiative, he’s only been an AAC member for a couple of years, and he’s absolutely committed to seeing that the AAC is visible, viable, and relevant to climbers in the Chattanooga region. What a great example of the power of the youth movement in the new AAC!