By Jennifer Adkins, Staff Writer

Chattanooga is internationally known as an good place for rock climbers to test their skills, according to officials with the Tennessee Bouldering Authority and Southeastern Climber’s Coalition.

In fact, Chattanooga has more climbable rock within 25 miles of the city than does Boulder, Colo., said Chad Wykle, co-organizer of the Triple Crown Bouldering Series, which makes a stop here each fall.

“Bouldering is rock climbing bound into its purest form,” Mr. Wykle said. “Essentially all you need is a crash pad, chalk, shoes and a good partner.”

The primary goal of the climber’s coalition, a nonprofit regional climbing organization, is to maintain access to climbing areas. Many locations are on private property like the Little Rock City/Stone Fort boulder field at Montlake golf course on Mowbray Mountain.

The field at Montlake, which opened five years ago, is the site of one leg of the Triple Crown Bouldering Series, the “largest outdoor climbing event on the planet,” said Mr. Wykle. The bouldering competition, the first weekends in October, November and December, involves up to 1,200 climbers each year, he said.

The Tennessee Bouldering Authority is a climbing gym at 3804 St. Elmo Ave. where many local climbers perfect their technique. It was built to help enthusiasts develop climbing strength, according to Luis Rodriguez, one of the owners.

“It’s really a meeting place for climbers,” Mr. Rodriguez said. “Climbers encourage each other naturally. They want to see one another succeed. Climbing is one of those sports ultimately you want to learn under someone’s tutelage.”

Chattanooga climber Matthew Gant said, “It’s a fun, challenging sport. It’s addictive to the point that the top percentage of climbers in the area have trouble keeping their jobs. They just want to climb all the time, and that is more important than other time commitments, like work.”

However, as bouldering becomes more mainstream, outdoor etiquette is being overlooked by climbers new to the sport, Mr. Wykle said.

“Folks new to climbing should first do everything they can to educate themselves about land stewardship,” he said. “They need to learn to lower (their) impact on the land and preserve all the features there.”

Climbing officials said it takes no experience to get started with bouldering.

“You can be at any level. Even a beginner can go out and find challenges,” Mr. Gant said.

Mr. Rodriguez said climbing is a metaphor for life.

“You don’t fall unless you let go. You don’t succeed if you don’t apply yourself,” he said. “It’s not always about getting to the top but the exploration on the way.

“It’s a chess game of your mind leading your body through what is feasible to do. You are not going to do it through sheer strength.”

Also according to Mr. Rodriguez, bouldering is unencumbered by ropes and harnesses, and the challenges are rarely above 20 feet high, which decreases the likelihood of injury.

Mr. Wykle said, “If you compare it to football, our rate of injury is (less) than organized sports. The injuries from bouldering usually consist of a sprained ankle or tweeked finger.”

Ultimately, Mr. Wykle said, climbers are looking to gain strength to climb highter.

“It’s a frivolous cause in a way, but it is a great way to get exercise and spend time outside,” he said.

E-mail Jennifer Adkins at jadkins@timesfreepress.com