Exploring the Seattle Beer Scene
By Collin Curry
April 2014
Seattle, Washington sits in a very unique location on a narrow strip of land between Lake Washington and the Puget Sound. It is less than three hours away from 3 national parks, and on a clear day visitors can see the Olympic Mountains in the west, the Cascade Mountains in the East, and the 14,410 foot Mt. Rainier, towering over everything. This combined with three professional sports teams, including the reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks, and all the amenities of a major city make Seattle a unique vacation destination. Apart from the typical tourist attractions like the Space Needle and Pikes Place Market, the city also has a huge craft brewery scene. With over 250 breweries in the Seattle area, it is daunting task for visitors to get the full Seattle beer experience. Road Dog’s Seattle Brewery Tours gives them a fighting chance.
Lane Rosselot, a guide for the company, hopped out of the 14-passenger Road Dog’s van to greet the other customers and myself. Rosselot’s job was to ferry us around to the many breweries of Seattle. All the while spouting off his seemingly infinite knowledge of Craft Beer and the Seattle brew scene. An avid home brewer, who aspires to own a brewery himself one day, Rosselot is full of fun facts. For instance, that you always want to pour craft beer into a glass before drinking it.
Road Dog’s offers daily tours at 10:30 am, 2:30 pm, and 6:00 pm. Each tour takes the customers to three different breweries, where they can learn about the history of each one and, of course, sample the beer. The tours cost $79 per person, which includes transportation to and from the breweries, a Road Dog’s Seattle Brewery Tours t-shirt, a souvenir pint glass, and plenty of craft beer samples. Non-drinkers can also enjoy the brew scene for $20 and private tours can be arranged as well for $575. All customers must be at least 21 years old.
As we climbed into the van, Rosselot revealed our itinerary for the evening. We would be going to Hilliard’s Brewery and Taphouse, Outlander Brewery and Pub, and finishing up at one of the oldest breweries in Seattle, Hale’s Ales.
“If you like drinking beer, Seattle is a pretty awesome place to be,” Rosselot said. “I do a lot a lot of R & D, and by R & D I mean research and drink.”
With so many craft and microbreweries in the Seattle area, there is a lot of R & D to be done. In the Ballard neighborhood alone, there are ten breweries in just five square miles. Each and every one has its own unique setting and atmospheres.
Opened by Ryan Hilliard and Adam Merkl in October 2011, Hilliard’s Brewery and Taproom was our first stop on the tour. Hilliard had been home brewing since before he could legally drink, and in 2009 his home brew Pale Ale made it all the way to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. He was one of only 75 home brewers among 450 national breweries present. Two years later Hilliard and Merkl opened their brewery in a former auto service garage. The unique setting was large, open, and had high ceilings, which meant there was plenty of room for expansion. This was important because Hilliard’s has doubled in size every year since it opened. Hilliard’s brews 4,000 barrels of beer per year now, including the 12th Can. Brewed for the Seattle Seahawks’ famous “12th man” fans, it is the perfect game day beer according to the brewery’s website. Hilliard’s is also the first local brewery to start canning its beer. Customers can purchase all of the beers brewed at Hilliard’s for $4 per can. Four-packs and cases are also available for $10 and $50 respectively.
As we prepared to leave Hilliard’s to go to brewery number two of the tour, Rosselot explained how it was possible that so many breweries could operate in the same place and still remain successful. He said that most of the owners don’t view each other as competition.
“It’s a very incestuous beer environment. Everybody is connected to everybody, and you get a lot of collaboration.” Rosselot said. “On one hand someone says it is a flooded market. On the other hand it is just a market where everyone can flourish.”
Rosselot said that he thinks that all of these breweries can be successful because they all brew different, unique products.
Located in a small, 100-year-old, blue house in the Freemont neighborhood, Outlander Brewery and Pub is one of the more unique breweries in the Seattle area, and it was the next stop on our tour. Outlander is a very small-scale operation that specializes in foreign and unique beers. Nigel Lassiter, the founder, and his team brew their beer one barrel at a time in the basement of the 100-year-old house-turned-brewery. Their system is based on experimenting with different ingredients, and they usually don’t make the same beer more than once.
“ Nigel is sort of like the mad scientist of craft beer,” Rosselot said.
In the year and a half that Outlander has been open, Lassiter and company have brewed 180 different beers, including Cilantro Sriracha Pale Ale, Butter Scotch Brown, Oatmeal Saison, and a Cricket Stout (yes, made with real crickets).
“We just make random stuff,” said Lassiter. “We kind of just brew what we want.”
After visiting one of the most unique breweries in Seattle, our next stop was one of the original breweries in the area, Hale’s Ales.
Mike Hale had the idea for Hale’s Ales while bicycling through the small villages of Southern England, according to the brewery’s website. He developed a strong appreciation for the traditionally brewed ales of the small breweries there. He spent several months learning the local trades and techniques, before bringing them back to Colville, Washington and opening Hale’s Ales in 1983. He eventually moved the brewery to its present location in Seattle’s Freemont neighborhood, to keep up with the growing demands for his beer. Now Hale’s brews 20,000 barrels every year and distributes its products throughout Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.
As we left Hale’s Ales, Rosselot explained that the craft beer scene in Seattle could be seen throughout every aspect of the city. From the super market beer aisle, which is 90 percent local craft beer, to the local sports franchises.
“The culture for beer in Seattle is unique,” he said. “ Especially in the stadiums.”
He explained that Safe-Co. Field and Century Link field, homes of the Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks respectively, are the best craft beer stadiums in the country. Safe-Co. field has 32 different beers on tap and Century Link has 26.
“Why do you think Seattle fans are so loud,” he asked.
When Rosselot was explaining why the brewery scene was so big in the area, he joked that Seattle is a town where you spend a lot of time indoors, so you might as well drink good beer.
One of the reasons that the beer scene has taken off in Seattle is the city’s unique location. The Yakima Valley region of Washington is the largest producer of hops in the United States and the second largest producer in the world, and it is only two hours outside the city. The Yakima Valley region produces 80% of the country’s hops and 30% of the world’s. Hops grow on vines like grapes and are one of the main ingredients in beer. According to Beeradvocate.com, they help to keep the beer from spoiling by protecting it from bacteria, as well as transferring their unique flavors to the beer. If you combine the access to fresh, world-class hops with the proximity to the fresh spring water from the Cascades Mountain range, it is the ideal brewing location.
With the tour coming to a close Rosselot surprised us by stopping by one more brewery. Our final stop would be Bad Jimmy’s, one of Seattle’s newest breweries. Located across the street from Hale’s Ales; Bad Jimmy’s was opened in December 2013, and it is already fairly popular because of its Habanero Amber.
As we concluded our tour, still sweating from the Habanero Amber, Rosselot summed up the Seattle beer scene for us.
“We’re just kind of up here on this island drinking really good beer,” he said.
Fun Facts
Food Trucks:
While some of the breweries serve food, or pub snacks, many are so small that they cannot afford to. Food trucks cater to the ones that don’t instead. The food trucks and craft breweries of Seattle have a unique and delicious symbiotic relationship. Most of the time the food trucks will park either across the street from the breweries, or even in the parking lots themselves. Offering everything from hotdogs and pizza, to Mexican cuisine, customers can usually find some delicious food to pair with their delicious craft beer.
Growlers:
Many of the breweries in the area only provide their beer on tap, and don’t bottle or can their products. Growlers are the means with which customers can take their favorite brews home with them. They are large, refillable glass jugs that are filled by the tap. With Growlers everyone wins, the brewers get to sell more beer and the customers get to enjoy their favorite craft beers in their own homes.
By Collin Curry
April 2014
Seattle, Washington sits in a very unique location on a narrow strip of land between Lake Washington and the Puget Sound. It is less than three hours away from 3 national parks, and on a clear day visitors can see the Olympic Mountains in the west, the Cascade Mountains in the East, and the 14,410 foot Mt. Rainier, towering over everything. This combined with three professional sports teams, including the reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks, and all the amenities of a major city make Seattle a unique vacation destination. Apart from the typical tourist attractions like the Space Needle and Pikes Place Market, the city also has a huge craft brewery scene. With over 250 breweries in the Seattle area, it is daunting task for visitors to get the full Seattle beer experience. Road Dog’s Seattle Brewery Tours gives them a fighting chance.
Lane Rosselot, a guide for the company, hopped out of the 14-passenger Road Dog’s van to greet the other customers and myself. Rosselot’s job was to ferry us around to the many breweries of Seattle. All the while spouting off his seemingly infinite knowledge of Craft Beer and the Seattle brew scene. An avid home brewer, who aspires to own a brewery himself one day, Rosselot is full of fun facts. For instance, that you always want to pour craft beer into a glass before drinking it.
Road Dog’s offers daily tours at 10:30 am, 2:30 pm, and 6:00 pm. Each tour takes the customers to three different breweries, where they can learn about the history of each one and, of course, sample the beer. The tours cost $79 per person, which includes transportation to and from the breweries, a Road Dog’s Seattle Brewery Tours t-shirt, a souvenir pint glass, and plenty of craft beer samples. Non-drinkers can also enjoy the brew scene for $20 and private tours can be arranged as well for $575. All customers must be at least 21 years old.
As we climbed into the van, Rosselot revealed our itinerary for the evening. We would be going to Hilliard’s Brewery and Taphouse, Outlander Brewery and Pub, and finishing up at one of the oldest breweries in Seattle, Hale’s Ales.
“If you like drinking beer, Seattle is a pretty awesome place to be,” Rosselot said. “I do a lot a lot of R & D, and by R & D I mean research and drink.”
With so many craft and microbreweries in the Seattle area, there is a lot of R & D to be done. In the Ballard neighborhood alone, there are ten breweries in just five square miles. Each and every one has its own unique setting and atmospheres.
Opened by Ryan Hilliard and Adam Merkl in October 2011, Hilliard’s Brewery and Taproom was our first stop on the tour. Hilliard had been home brewing since before he could legally drink, and in 2009 his home brew Pale Ale made it all the way to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. He was one of only 75 home brewers among 450 national breweries present. Two years later Hilliard and Merkl opened their brewery in a former auto service garage. The unique setting was large, open, and had high ceilings, which meant there was plenty of room for expansion. This was important because Hilliard’s has doubled in size every year since it opened. Hilliard’s brews 4,000 barrels of beer per year now, including the 12th Can. Brewed for the Seattle Seahawks’ famous “12th man” fans, it is the perfect game day beer according to the brewery’s website. Hilliard’s is also the first local brewery to start canning its beer. Customers can purchase all of the beers brewed at Hilliard’s for $4 per can. Four-packs and cases are also available for $10 and $50 respectively.
As we prepared to leave Hilliard’s to go to brewery number two of the tour, Rosselot explained how it was possible that so many breweries could operate in the same place and still remain successful. He said that most of the owners don’t view each other as competition.
“It’s a very incestuous beer environment. Everybody is connected to everybody, and you get a lot of collaboration.” Rosselot said. “On one hand someone says it is a flooded market. On the other hand it is just a market where everyone can flourish.”
Rosselot said that he thinks that all of these breweries can be successful because they all brew different, unique products.
Located in a small, 100-year-old, blue house in the Freemont neighborhood, Outlander Brewery and Pub is one of the more unique breweries in the Seattle area, and it was the next stop on our tour. Outlander is a very small-scale operation that specializes in foreign and unique beers. Nigel Lassiter, the founder, and his team brew their beer one barrel at a time in the basement of the 100-year-old house-turned-brewery. Their system is based on experimenting with different ingredients, and they usually don’t make the same beer more than once.
“ Nigel is sort of like the mad scientist of craft beer,” Rosselot said.
In the year and a half that Outlander has been open, Lassiter and company have brewed 180 different beers, including Cilantro Sriracha Pale Ale, Butter Scotch Brown, Oatmeal Saison, and a Cricket Stout (yes, made with real crickets).
“We just make random stuff,” said Lassiter. “We kind of just brew what we want.”
After visiting one of the most unique breweries in Seattle, our next stop was one of the original breweries in the area, Hale’s Ales.
Mike Hale had the idea for Hale’s Ales while bicycling through the small villages of Southern England, according to the brewery’s website. He developed a strong appreciation for the traditionally brewed ales of the small breweries there. He spent several months learning the local trades and techniques, before bringing them back to Colville, Washington and opening Hale’s Ales in 1983. He eventually moved the brewery to its present location in Seattle’s Freemont neighborhood, to keep up with the growing demands for his beer. Now Hale’s brews 20,000 barrels every year and distributes its products throughout Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.
As we left Hale’s Ales, Rosselot explained that the craft beer scene in Seattle could be seen throughout every aspect of the city. From the super market beer aisle, which is 90 percent local craft beer, to the local sports franchises.
“The culture for beer in Seattle is unique,” he said. “ Especially in the stadiums.”
He explained that Safe-Co. Field and Century Link field, homes of the Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks respectively, are the best craft beer stadiums in the country. Safe-Co. field has 32 different beers on tap and Century Link has 26.
“Why do you think Seattle fans are so loud,” he asked.
When Rosselot was explaining why the brewery scene was so big in the area, he joked that Seattle is a town where you spend a lot of time indoors, so you might as well drink good beer.
One of the reasons that the beer scene has taken off in Seattle is the city’s unique location. The Yakima Valley region of Washington is the largest producer of hops in the United States and the second largest producer in the world, and it is only two hours outside the city. The Yakima Valley region produces 80% of the country’s hops and 30% of the world’s. Hops grow on vines like grapes and are one of the main ingredients in beer. According to Beeradvocate.com, they help to keep the beer from spoiling by protecting it from bacteria, as well as transferring their unique flavors to the beer. If you combine the access to fresh, world-class hops with the proximity to the fresh spring water from the Cascades Mountain range, it is the ideal brewing location.
With the tour coming to a close Rosselot surprised us by stopping by one more brewery. Our final stop would be Bad Jimmy’s, one of Seattle’s newest breweries. Located across the street from Hale’s Ales; Bad Jimmy’s was opened in December 2013, and it is already fairly popular because of its Habanero Amber.
As we concluded our tour, still sweating from the Habanero Amber, Rosselot summed up the Seattle beer scene for us.
“We’re just kind of up here on this island drinking really good beer,” he said.
Fun Facts
Food Trucks:
While some of the breweries serve food, or pub snacks, many are so small that they cannot afford to. Food trucks cater to the ones that don’t instead. The food trucks and craft breweries of Seattle have a unique and delicious symbiotic relationship. Most of the time the food trucks will park either across the street from the breweries, or even in the parking lots themselves. Offering everything from hotdogs and pizza, to Mexican cuisine, customers can usually find some delicious food to pair with their delicious craft beer.
Growlers:
Many of the breweries in the area only provide their beer on tap, and don’t bottle or can their products. Growlers are the means with which customers can take their favorite brews home with them. They are large, refillable glass jugs that are filled by the tap. With Growlers everyone wins, the brewers get to sell more beer and the customers get to enjoy their favorite craft beers in their own homes.
Alabama Climbing Culture
By Collin Curry
October 2012
John Hudson reaches into his bag of climbing chalk and coats his hands with a thin layer of white chalk. He then proceeds to climb up a predetermined route. His movements are smooth and decisive as he follows strips of brightly colored tape, until he reaches the top of the wall, about seven feet above the ground. He reaches the top of the route and hangs with just his arms for a few seconds before dropping back down to the floor below.
Hudson was rock climbing at the indoor climbing gym in the Recreation Center of the University of Alabama. Hudson, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering said he started climbing his freshman year.
“A friend of mine, who was a sophomore at the time, invited a group of us to go climb at the Rec. Center. I had heard about the climbing wall, and thought it sounded fun, but didn't really feel like going on my own, so when my friend invited me I jumped at the chance,” Hudson said. He explained that the creative aspects of climbing really appealed to him.
“It’s one more way to express creativity,” said Hudson. “You have to figure out how to get from the ground to the top of this rock. There is no right or wrong way to do it you just have to use your mind and be creative.”
Hudson also said that he enjoys the physical side of climbing.
“It's great for fitness,” said Hudson. “Climbing works core, upper and lower body strength as well as builds endurance and balance, and it's more goal oriented and satisfying than just lifting weights or running.”
The state of Alabama is full of great places to enjoy the sport of rock climbing, indoors and out. Including the facilities at the University of Alabama Recreation center, there are a number of indoor climbing gyms in the state including a gym in Black Warrior Outdoors store located on University Blvd. in Tuscaloosa, and First Avenue Rocks in downtown Birmingham.
First Avenue Rocks is located at 2417 First Ave. South in downtown Birmingham, and offers 4,000 square feet of world class indoor climbing. Owned by climber Joseph Ortega, it opened in August 2002.
Ortega said that he gets all kinds of customers from beginners to experienced climbers.
“We get serious climbers who come to train and people who want to learn how to climb, but most of our customers, three years ago, didn’t climb,” Ortega said.
He explained that business depends a lot upon the weather.
“We get a lot of people that come in when it is either really cold or really hot,” Ortega said.
Sarah Johnson, an employee at First Avenue Rocks said that a big part of indoor climbing is creating a route.
“It’s a creative process,” said Johnson. “We visualize what we want the route to be like, and then we put up tape where we want hand and foot holds to go, then we add the holds.”
She said that sometimes people build routes to mimic ones that they have climbed outside, but that most of the time they just create something totally new.
“Usually climbers have a set of moves that they can do and you want to set a route that forces them to use certain moves,” Johnson said.
She explained that if the route isn’t set exactly right people are able to by-pass the moves you wanted them to make.
Climbing is more than indoor gyms, though. From Horse Pens 40 in Steele, Ala., to Little River Canyon near Fort Payne, Ala., to Sand Rock near Centre, Ala., there is world class climbing all over the state.
“People from all over the world come to climb in Alabama, at places like Horse Pens 40 and Little River Canyon,” Johnson said.
“Gym climbing is great for just climbing for the afternoon, but nothing can beat climbing outside on a real rock,” said Ben Lowe.
Lowe is a senior at the University of Alabama who is also the manager of the climbing gym at the University Rec. Center.
“The main difference is that when you climb outside there are so many more variables,” said Lowe. “In a gym you are climbing in a controlled area that is premade safe.”
Lowe said that when you climb outside there is a real risk of serious injury if you are not careful or you don’t know what you’re doing. That is not to say that climbing can’t be fun.
“There was a guy I use to climb with that said, ‘the most dangerous part about going climbing is the drive there and the drive back, if you do it right,’” said Lowe. “If you do it right and safe, climbing can be a ton of fun, but if you do it wrong it can be very dangerous.”
While there is world class climbing all over the state that is open to the public, there are plenty more places that aren’t open to the public. Climbing in Alabama is riddled with access issues. The Southeastern Climbers Coalition is the organization that is attempting to remedy that.
The Southeastern Climbing Coalition, or SCC, was started in 1993 by a group of climbers who banned together to protect a climbing area called Sunset Rock near Chattanooga, Tenn. The SCC protects areas and helps climbers in Ala. Tenn. and Ga., but most of the climbing areas are in Alabama.
Michael Wurzel was recently hired as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Climbers Coalition. He said that the main goal of the SCC is to empower climbers to take on different issues in the sport. For instance, access to climbing areas.
“The major difference between climbing out west and climbing here in the Southeast is that out west most of the climbing is on public property like national parks,” said Wurzel. “Here in the southeast a lot of the good climbing areas are on private property.”
Wurzel said that the SCC and similar organizations work with property owners to open these areas for climbing.
“Some property owners like climbers and see us as assets, but others just see us as a nuisance,” said Matthew Gant, the President of the SCC. “We try to work with property owners. We say ‘what can we do for you?’”
Gant said that trail days are the SCC’s bread and butter.
“We put up steps where trails are steep, we work to prevent erosion near boulders and rocks, and we clean graffiti when its present,” said Gant. “We basically just give love to the area.”
Another way the SCC opens areas for climbing is that they purchase areas that are good for climbing.
“In 2009 we purchased a climbing cliff known as Yellow Bluff, near Huntsville, Ala. and it’s now open for climbing,” Gant said.
The SCC is a non-profit organization, so it gets most of its funds from members and donations. A large part of their funds come from the proceeds of the Triple Crown Bouldering Series.
The Triple Crown Bouldering Series, which started in 2002, is a series of three bouldering competitions. Bouldering is a type of rock climbing where climbers climb shorter distances up and around boulders, focusing more on technique and strength than endurance. The competitions take place in three climbing areas known as Hound’s Ears in Boone, N.C., Stone Fort in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Horse Pens 40 near Steele, Ala.
According to the Triple Crown Bouldering Series website, the series has two main goals. The first is to raise funds for the Carolina Climbers Coalition and the Southeastern Climbers Coalition, both of which are dedicated to maintaining climbers’ access to climbing areas. The second is to give vendors an opportunity to promote the sport of bouldering, a growing part of the climbing community.
The series’ first leg this year was completed on Oct. 6 at Hounds Ears, while the second leg is scheduled for Oct. 13 at Stone Fort, and the third is scheduled for Nov. 3 at Horse Pens 40.
Gant said that he loves the Triple Crown Series.
“The series is awesome, it’s a great atmosphere and it’s just pure fun,” Gant said.
“The best part is that it’s not just some money making machine,” said Gant. “Everything goes back to the climbers. Whatever money the SCC gets from the series, is immediately put back into the local communities and climbing areas.”
Alabama is filled with opportunities to find the sport of rock climbing. The state has everything from indoor gyms to world class, outdoor climbing areas. People of all skill levels can find a place to climb and enjoy the sport. A good place to start would be to attend the final leg of the Triple Crown Bouldering Series at Horse Pens 40, in Steele Ala. on Nov. 3.
Competition details can be found at triplecrownbouldering.com.
By Collin Curry
October 2012
John Hudson reaches into his bag of climbing chalk and coats his hands with a thin layer of white chalk. He then proceeds to climb up a predetermined route. His movements are smooth and decisive as he follows strips of brightly colored tape, until he reaches the top of the wall, about seven feet above the ground. He reaches the top of the route and hangs with just his arms for a few seconds before dropping back down to the floor below.
Hudson was rock climbing at the indoor climbing gym in the Recreation Center of the University of Alabama. Hudson, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering said he started climbing his freshman year.
“A friend of mine, who was a sophomore at the time, invited a group of us to go climb at the Rec. Center. I had heard about the climbing wall, and thought it sounded fun, but didn't really feel like going on my own, so when my friend invited me I jumped at the chance,” Hudson said. He explained that the creative aspects of climbing really appealed to him.
“It’s one more way to express creativity,” said Hudson. “You have to figure out how to get from the ground to the top of this rock. There is no right or wrong way to do it you just have to use your mind and be creative.”
Hudson also said that he enjoys the physical side of climbing.
“It's great for fitness,” said Hudson. “Climbing works core, upper and lower body strength as well as builds endurance and balance, and it's more goal oriented and satisfying than just lifting weights or running.”
The state of Alabama is full of great places to enjoy the sport of rock climbing, indoors and out. Including the facilities at the University of Alabama Recreation center, there are a number of indoor climbing gyms in the state including a gym in Black Warrior Outdoors store located on University Blvd. in Tuscaloosa, and First Avenue Rocks in downtown Birmingham.
First Avenue Rocks is located at 2417 First Ave. South in downtown Birmingham, and offers 4,000 square feet of world class indoor climbing. Owned by climber Joseph Ortega, it opened in August 2002.
Ortega said that he gets all kinds of customers from beginners to experienced climbers.
“We get serious climbers who come to train and people who want to learn how to climb, but most of our customers, three years ago, didn’t climb,” Ortega said.
He explained that business depends a lot upon the weather.
“We get a lot of people that come in when it is either really cold or really hot,” Ortega said.
Sarah Johnson, an employee at First Avenue Rocks said that a big part of indoor climbing is creating a route.
“It’s a creative process,” said Johnson. “We visualize what we want the route to be like, and then we put up tape where we want hand and foot holds to go, then we add the holds.”
She said that sometimes people build routes to mimic ones that they have climbed outside, but that most of the time they just create something totally new.
“Usually climbers have a set of moves that they can do and you want to set a route that forces them to use certain moves,” Johnson said.
She explained that if the route isn’t set exactly right people are able to by-pass the moves you wanted them to make.
Climbing is more than indoor gyms, though. From Horse Pens 40 in Steele, Ala., to Little River Canyon near Fort Payne, Ala., to Sand Rock near Centre, Ala., there is world class climbing all over the state.
“People from all over the world come to climb in Alabama, at places like Horse Pens 40 and Little River Canyon,” Johnson said.
“Gym climbing is great for just climbing for the afternoon, but nothing can beat climbing outside on a real rock,” said Ben Lowe.
Lowe is a senior at the University of Alabama who is also the manager of the climbing gym at the University Rec. Center.
“The main difference is that when you climb outside there are so many more variables,” said Lowe. “In a gym you are climbing in a controlled area that is premade safe.”
Lowe said that when you climb outside there is a real risk of serious injury if you are not careful or you don’t know what you’re doing. That is not to say that climbing can’t be fun.
“There was a guy I use to climb with that said, ‘the most dangerous part about going climbing is the drive there and the drive back, if you do it right,’” said Lowe. “If you do it right and safe, climbing can be a ton of fun, but if you do it wrong it can be very dangerous.”
While there is world class climbing all over the state that is open to the public, there are plenty more places that aren’t open to the public. Climbing in Alabama is riddled with access issues. The Southeastern Climbers Coalition is the organization that is attempting to remedy that.
The Southeastern Climbing Coalition, or SCC, was started in 1993 by a group of climbers who banned together to protect a climbing area called Sunset Rock near Chattanooga, Tenn. The SCC protects areas and helps climbers in Ala. Tenn. and Ga., but most of the climbing areas are in Alabama.
Michael Wurzel was recently hired as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Climbers Coalition. He said that the main goal of the SCC is to empower climbers to take on different issues in the sport. For instance, access to climbing areas.
“The major difference between climbing out west and climbing here in the Southeast is that out west most of the climbing is on public property like national parks,” said Wurzel. “Here in the southeast a lot of the good climbing areas are on private property.”
Wurzel said that the SCC and similar organizations work with property owners to open these areas for climbing.
“Some property owners like climbers and see us as assets, but others just see us as a nuisance,” said Matthew Gant, the President of the SCC. “We try to work with property owners. We say ‘what can we do for you?’”
Gant said that trail days are the SCC’s bread and butter.
“We put up steps where trails are steep, we work to prevent erosion near boulders and rocks, and we clean graffiti when its present,” said Gant. “We basically just give love to the area.”
Another way the SCC opens areas for climbing is that they purchase areas that are good for climbing.
“In 2009 we purchased a climbing cliff known as Yellow Bluff, near Huntsville, Ala. and it’s now open for climbing,” Gant said.
The SCC is a non-profit organization, so it gets most of its funds from members and donations. A large part of their funds come from the proceeds of the Triple Crown Bouldering Series.
The Triple Crown Bouldering Series, which started in 2002, is a series of three bouldering competitions. Bouldering is a type of rock climbing where climbers climb shorter distances up and around boulders, focusing more on technique and strength than endurance. The competitions take place in three climbing areas known as Hound’s Ears in Boone, N.C., Stone Fort in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Horse Pens 40 near Steele, Ala.
According to the Triple Crown Bouldering Series website, the series has two main goals. The first is to raise funds for the Carolina Climbers Coalition and the Southeastern Climbers Coalition, both of which are dedicated to maintaining climbers’ access to climbing areas. The second is to give vendors an opportunity to promote the sport of bouldering, a growing part of the climbing community.
The series’ first leg this year was completed on Oct. 6 at Hounds Ears, while the second leg is scheduled for Oct. 13 at Stone Fort, and the third is scheduled for Nov. 3 at Horse Pens 40.
Gant said that he loves the Triple Crown Series.
“The series is awesome, it’s a great atmosphere and it’s just pure fun,” Gant said.
“The best part is that it’s not just some money making machine,” said Gant. “Everything goes back to the climbers. Whatever money the SCC gets from the series, is immediately put back into the local communities and climbing areas.”
Alabama is filled with opportunities to find the sport of rock climbing. The state has everything from indoor gyms to world class, outdoor climbing areas. People of all skill levels can find a place to climb and enjoy the sport. A good place to start would be to attend the final leg of the Triple Crown Bouldering Series at Horse Pens 40, in Steele Ala. on Nov. 3.
Competition details can be found at triplecrownbouldering.com.
McCollum wins Probate Judge Race
By Collin Curry
December 2012
In the Shadow of President Obama’s victory over Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, another Democratic candidate won re-election in Tuscaloosa County. Judge Hardy McCollum defeated Ted Sexton, the longstanding Tuscaloosa County Sheriff, in the race for Probate Judge of Tuscaloosa County.
McCollum was re-elected, winning a convincing 61% of the votes. McCollum was already the longest standing probate judge in Tuscaloosa County History, when he won his seventh term on Nov. 6. He was first elected probate judge in 1976, at the age of 28, and has served continuously since then.
Using his Facebook page, McCollum thanked all of his supporters for their continued support throughout his campaign.
“We are so blessed! I am looking forward to continuing my service to our great county,” he said. “Thank you for putting your trust in me.”
McCollum’s opponent in the probate judge was not lacking in political experience. Ted Sexton has served as Sheriff of Tuscaloosa County for six terms, he was elected President of the National Sheriffs’ Association in 2005, he was selected as the Nation’s Outstanding Sheriff in 2007, and he was appointed the Assistant Secretary for State and Local Law Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2008.
The Candidates ran hard fought campaigns; there were signs for each all over Tuscaloosa. Both campaigns were well funded according to the Alabama Campaign Finance Reports that were filed, which are required by state law. McCollum filled 22 reports between Jan. 30, 2012 and Nov. 2, 2012, and Sexton filled 26 reports between Jan. 1, 2012 and Nov. 2, 2012. The reports revealed that the contributions to McCollum’s campaign totaled $208,600, and contributions to Sexton’s campaign totaled $209,600. McCollum’s campaign expenditures totaled $188,700, where as Sexton’s totaled $329,600. The documents that contain this information are public records and can be viewed at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse. Contributors to each respective campaign were listed by their names, under five general categories. These categories are individuals, partnerships, corporations, unions, and Political Action Committees.
These reports show that the campaign that spends the most amount of money doesn’t necessarily come out on top. Sexton’s campaign expenditures were $140,900 more than McCollum’s. Sexton also had significant resources that come from being sheriff, one of which is the use of a helicopter.
In an interview with a reporter from the University of Alabama’s local radio and TV station, WVUA, McCollum joked that he didn’t have a helicopter to take him around the county while he was campaigning.
The campaign strategies for the two candidates were very different from each other.
Sexton ran an aggressive campaign, as the challenger, trying to get many things changed.
On Oct. 25, Sexton spoke to a group of students in the Ferguson Center at the University of Alabama. He spoke about what qualified him for the office of probate judge and about why he was running.
“There are issues and challenges that are ongoing that have not been faced,” Sexton said.
He explained that there were four main issues that he wanted to deal with; open government, the state of the economy, accountability and integrity, and 911 policies in the county.
When he spoke to the students, it was clear that Sexton was the candidate attempting to gain office instead of retaining it, and it was clear that he believed that there was a real need for change. He energetically and emphatically drove home points on numerous issues that he found important.
Sexton gave a similar performance in the Debate that was held between the two candidates on Nov. 2. He was aggressive throughout and put McCollum on the defensive for most of the debate.
McCollum’s campaign strategy was less aggressive and focused more on his experience in the position according to his wife Juanita McCollum.
“In all of Hardy’s six terms we have never run a negative campaign. We think that a campaign should be more about what you have to offer the people rather than trying to tear down the other opponent. People don’t like a lot of mudslinging,” McCollum said.
The slogan of the campaign was “Proven performance.” Juanita McCollum played a major role in her husband’s campaign. She ran McCollum’s campaign office, oversaw the volunteer team, and worked with the media. She explained how the campaign called attention to McCollum’s experience and accomplishments throughout his previous six terms as probate judge.
“We drew upon the fact that Tuscaloosa County is one of the very few counties in the state that is debt free and has money in the bank,” she said. “We also wanted to call attention to his experience in industrial development and his ability to continue bringing good paying jobs to the county.”
McCollum said that they focused a lot on advertising, using TV and radio, direct mail, yard and roadway signs, and door-to-door advertising.
“He spoke to civic organizations, we had people with signs at every major intersection for three days before the election, we had some of our people sending personal notes to their friends endorsing him and asking for support,” McCollum said.
Judge McCollum’s wife was not the only member of his family to help out in the campaign. She has been campaign chairman more than once for her husband, her brother was McCollum’s first campaign chairman, and both of his sons have also held that position.
“It has always been a family thing with us,” she said.
Joy Collins, McCollum’s daughter, also helped out her father’s campaign by running the social media aspects. In this new age of Facebook and Twitter, where people can communicate over long distances as if they are standing next to each other, social media can be a very useful tool for candidates.
McCollum’s wife and campaign chairperson said that the judge would answer questions that people would send him on Facebook everyday.
“We would post some of the activities that he was doing throughout the campaign and people would post questions that he would respond to,” McCollum said.
Sexton’s campaign did not use social media as much as McCollum’s.
The Tuscaloosa Republican Party Chairman, Jim Zeanah, said that they did a lot of campaigning for Sexton like they do for all their candidates. He explained how they kept up a general Facebook page for the Tuscaloosa GOP where people could find information about candidates, ask questions, and find out where they could volunteer.
“I would say we had a moderate response to the FB page,” said Zeanah. "There's really no way to tell how helpful it was for the campaign, but I would say probably not very, especially when looking at the results of the election."
Jenny Ryan, the Chairperson for the Tuscaloosa Democrats, said that they also kept up a Facebook page and a Twitter account.
“I think it was very helpful to our campaign,” said Ryan. "Younger people were able to find us through Facebook and Twitter when they wanted to volunteer or needed information."
She also explained that even when people couldn’t show up daily to volunteer in person, they could still be involved in the campaigns because of social media.
She said that this election showed that Tuscaloosa voters don’t just vote straight ticket.
“Many Tuscaloosa voters marked their ballot for Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat Hardy McCollum,” said Ryan. "I think that shows that the people of Tuscaloosa are willing to look past the party and really look at the candidate."
With McCollum winning 61% of the vote, it seemed like a lopsided victory, but it may not have been as lopsided as the statistics show. Sexton has held the office of Tuscaloosa County Sheriff for six terms and there are many Tuscaloosa County residents that believe he is an indispensible resource to the county.
One Tuscaloosa resident, a 35-year-old man who did not want his name published said that he voted for McCollum because he is experienced, but mostly because he wanted Sexton to remain the county sheriff.
“He does such a wonderful job as our sheriff, that I didn’t want him to give up that office,” the man said.
This may not have been an isolated incident either. In an interview with the Tuscaloosa News, Sexton said that during the course of his 21-month campaign, people repeatedly told him that they liked the job he was doing as sheriff, and the vote may have reflected those feelings.
According to the Tuscaloosa News at around 9 P.M. on election night, Sexton drove over to McCollum’s campaign headquarters to shake hands and congratulate the incumbent probate judge. This was very important because, the county sheriff has to work closely with the county probate judge.
In an interview with the Tuscaloosa News, Sexton said that the morning after the election he would be back at his job as sheriff.
“I will work with all the commissioners and I will work with Judge McCollum to make this county better,” he said.
A group of students may not have been surprised by the results after hearing McCollum speak on Oct. 11 in Graves Hall at the University of Alabama. After a laid back and casual half hour in which McCollum spoke about his duties as Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge and the path he took to get to that position, the students might have gotten a rare glimpse into what has made him such a successful politician. When asked about his feelings on the upcoming election, McCollum had suddenly become more serious.
“I feel good about my chances,” he said. “I don’t run to lose.”
By Collin Curry
December 2012
In the Shadow of President Obama’s victory over Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, another Democratic candidate won re-election in Tuscaloosa County. Judge Hardy McCollum defeated Ted Sexton, the longstanding Tuscaloosa County Sheriff, in the race for Probate Judge of Tuscaloosa County.
McCollum was re-elected, winning a convincing 61% of the votes. McCollum was already the longest standing probate judge in Tuscaloosa County History, when he won his seventh term on Nov. 6. He was first elected probate judge in 1976, at the age of 28, and has served continuously since then.
Using his Facebook page, McCollum thanked all of his supporters for their continued support throughout his campaign.
“We are so blessed! I am looking forward to continuing my service to our great county,” he said. “Thank you for putting your trust in me.”
McCollum’s opponent in the probate judge was not lacking in political experience. Ted Sexton has served as Sheriff of Tuscaloosa County for six terms, he was elected President of the National Sheriffs’ Association in 2005, he was selected as the Nation’s Outstanding Sheriff in 2007, and he was appointed the Assistant Secretary for State and Local Law Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2008.
The Candidates ran hard fought campaigns; there were signs for each all over Tuscaloosa. Both campaigns were well funded according to the Alabama Campaign Finance Reports that were filed, which are required by state law. McCollum filled 22 reports between Jan. 30, 2012 and Nov. 2, 2012, and Sexton filled 26 reports between Jan. 1, 2012 and Nov. 2, 2012. The reports revealed that the contributions to McCollum’s campaign totaled $208,600, and contributions to Sexton’s campaign totaled $209,600. McCollum’s campaign expenditures totaled $188,700, where as Sexton’s totaled $329,600. The documents that contain this information are public records and can be viewed at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse. Contributors to each respective campaign were listed by their names, under five general categories. These categories are individuals, partnerships, corporations, unions, and Political Action Committees.
These reports show that the campaign that spends the most amount of money doesn’t necessarily come out on top. Sexton’s campaign expenditures were $140,900 more than McCollum’s. Sexton also had significant resources that come from being sheriff, one of which is the use of a helicopter.
In an interview with a reporter from the University of Alabama’s local radio and TV station, WVUA, McCollum joked that he didn’t have a helicopter to take him around the county while he was campaigning.
The campaign strategies for the two candidates were very different from each other.
Sexton ran an aggressive campaign, as the challenger, trying to get many things changed.
On Oct. 25, Sexton spoke to a group of students in the Ferguson Center at the University of Alabama. He spoke about what qualified him for the office of probate judge and about why he was running.
“There are issues and challenges that are ongoing that have not been faced,” Sexton said.
He explained that there were four main issues that he wanted to deal with; open government, the state of the economy, accountability and integrity, and 911 policies in the county.
When he spoke to the students, it was clear that Sexton was the candidate attempting to gain office instead of retaining it, and it was clear that he believed that there was a real need for change. He energetically and emphatically drove home points on numerous issues that he found important.
Sexton gave a similar performance in the Debate that was held between the two candidates on Nov. 2. He was aggressive throughout and put McCollum on the defensive for most of the debate.
McCollum’s campaign strategy was less aggressive and focused more on his experience in the position according to his wife Juanita McCollum.
“In all of Hardy’s six terms we have never run a negative campaign. We think that a campaign should be more about what you have to offer the people rather than trying to tear down the other opponent. People don’t like a lot of mudslinging,” McCollum said.
The slogan of the campaign was “Proven performance.” Juanita McCollum played a major role in her husband’s campaign. She ran McCollum’s campaign office, oversaw the volunteer team, and worked with the media. She explained how the campaign called attention to McCollum’s experience and accomplishments throughout his previous six terms as probate judge.
“We drew upon the fact that Tuscaloosa County is one of the very few counties in the state that is debt free and has money in the bank,” she said. “We also wanted to call attention to his experience in industrial development and his ability to continue bringing good paying jobs to the county.”
McCollum said that they focused a lot on advertising, using TV and radio, direct mail, yard and roadway signs, and door-to-door advertising.
“He spoke to civic organizations, we had people with signs at every major intersection for three days before the election, we had some of our people sending personal notes to their friends endorsing him and asking for support,” McCollum said.
Judge McCollum’s wife was not the only member of his family to help out in the campaign. She has been campaign chairman more than once for her husband, her brother was McCollum’s first campaign chairman, and both of his sons have also held that position.
“It has always been a family thing with us,” she said.
Joy Collins, McCollum’s daughter, also helped out her father’s campaign by running the social media aspects. In this new age of Facebook and Twitter, where people can communicate over long distances as if they are standing next to each other, social media can be a very useful tool for candidates.
McCollum’s wife and campaign chairperson said that the judge would answer questions that people would send him on Facebook everyday.
“We would post some of the activities that he was doing throughout the campaign and people would post questions that he would respond to,” McCollum said.
Sexton’s campaign did not use social media as much as McCollum’s.
The Tuscaloosa Republican Party Chairman, Jim Zeanah, said that they did a lot of campaigning for Sexton like they do for all their candidates. He explained how they kept up a general Facebook page for the Tuscaloosa GOP where people could find information about candidates, ask questions, and find out where they could volunteer.
“I would say we had a moderate response to the FB page,” said Zeanah. "There's really no way to tell how helpful it was for the campaign, but I would say probably not very, especially when looking at the results of the election."
Jenny Ryan, the Chairperson for the Tuscaloosa Democrats, said that they also kept up a Facebook page and a Twitter account.
“I think it was very helpful to our campaign,” said Ryan. "Younger people were able to find us through Facebook and Twitter when they wanted to volunteer or needed information."
She also explained that even when people couldn’t show up daily to volunteer in person, they could still be involved in the campaigns because of social media.
She said that this election showed that Tuscaloosa voters don’t just vote straight ticket.
“Many Tuscaloosa voters marked their ballot for Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat Hardy McCollum,” said Ryan. "I think that shows that the people of Tuscaloosa are willing to look past the party and really look at the candidate."
With McCollum winning 61% of the vote, it seemed like a lopsided victory, but it may not have been as lopsided as the statistics show. Sexton has held the office of Tuscaloosa County Sheriff for six terms and there are many Tuscaloosa County residents that believe he is an indispensible resource to the county.
One Tuscaloosa resident, a 35-year-old man who did not want his name published said that he voted for McCollum because he is experienced, but mostly because he wanted Sexton to remain the county sheriff.
“He does such a wonderful job as our sheriff, that I didn’t want him to give up that office,” the man said.
This may not have been an isolated incident either. In an interview with the Tuscaloosa News, Sexton said that during the course of his 21-month campaign, people repeatedly told him that they liked the job he was doing as sheriff, and the vote may have reflected those feelings.
According to the Tuscaloosa News at around 9 P.M. on election night, Sexton drove over to McCollum’s campaign headquarters to shake hands and congratulate the incumbent probate judge. This was very important because, the county sheriff has to work closely with the county probate judge.
In an interview with the Tuscaloosa News, Sexton said that the morning after the election he would be back at his job as sheriff.
“I will work with all the commissioners and I will work with Judge McCollum to make this county better,” he said.
A group of students may not have been surprised by the results after hearing McCollum speak on Oct. 11 in Graves Hall at the University of Alabama. After a laid back and casual half hour in which McCollum spoke about his duties as Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge and the path he took to get to that position, the students might have gotten a rare glimpse into what has made him such a successful politician. When asked about his feelings on the upcoming election, McCollum had suddenly become more serious.
“I feel good about my chances,” he said. “I don’t run to lose.”