COMP DETAILS - HOUND
EARS
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL TRIPLE CROWN
AND HOUND EARS COMPETITORS!
As a competitor you are guaranteed a good time and a ton
of cool swag in the competitor bags. You also have a
great chance of winning one of the tons of door prizes
our sponsors have generously provided. What follows is
important info regarding the event. Please read
thoroughly!
DIRECTIONS TO HOUND EARS CAMPING/LAUNCH SITE
The Grandfather Campground is the camping/launch site
for the Hound Ears Competition. It is located 7.5 miles
south of Boone, NC on Highway 105 or 7 miles north of
Linville on Highway 105. For a map, visit the
Grandfather Campground website.
SPECTATORS
Due to limited space, everyone planning to attend this
event must register/pay as a competitor.
IF YOU'RE UNDER 18…
You MUST download the
waiver form and have a parent fill it out. You must
then bring it with you to the check-in at the
Grandfather Campground on the day of the event, or at
pre-registration on the evening before the competition.
You must have someone 18 or older to accompany you as
your guardian.
Dogs
Absolutely No dogs allowed at this event! Please be
respectful of the land-owners and leave your animals at
home! You will not be allowed to bring them in.
PARKING
There is ample parking at the Grandfather Campground.
However, PLEASE carpool when possible. Park only in the
designated area and completely off the gravel road,
otherwise your car may be towed.
REGISTRATION
Important Note: La Sportiva and Bluewater are sponsoring
a free barbeque dinner beginning at 5 pm on Friday
October 3 (afternoon/evening before the comp) at the
Grandfather Campground. Competitors will be able to PICK
UP THEIR COMPETITION PACKET AND T-SHIRT at this dinner.
This will give everyone a chance to look at the
competition map, AND it will speed up the busing on
Saturday morning! Come join us at the dinner for some
good food, and also get a chance to look at the comp map
to make your “plan of attack” for the next day!
THE MORNING OF THE EVENT (Saturday, October 4)
You will need to be at the Grandfather Campground NO
LATER than 8:00am to check-in. Check-in will take place
at the Grandfather Campground on Saturday morning.
ALL competition participants must ride one of the
competitor’s buses to the competition. NO ONE will be
allowed to drive to the boulderfield. Cars without
appropriate passes will not be allowed into Hound Ears.
We will begin loading buses at 8:00am and the first bus
will depart from the Grandfather Campground once it is
loaded. Please board the buses as early as possible so
we can begin the event as early as possible.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
Make sure to check out
www.triplecrownbouldering.org for up-to-date
information, articles, and great pictures from each of
the competition venues in our galleries. Also see
www.seclimbers.org the website for the Southeastern
Climbers’ Coalition where you will find even more info
on the Triple Crown and lots of information on regional
climbing issues.
Once Again, Marmot is the Presenting Sponsor for the
2008 Triple Crown!
Drop by the Marmot booth to pick up a raffle ticket for
some FANTASTIC custom Marmot/Triple Crown gear! Proceeds
from the raffle tickets will benefit the Southeastern
Climbers’ Coalition! Marmot was one of the founding
sponsors of the Triple Crown! Without their ongoing
support, this event would not be possible. Come by the
booth, score a chance at a great prize and let these
guys know how much you appreciate their support of the
Triple Crown and your climbing access!
Once again, in a major effort to help raise funds for
direct-action causes, Chaco has “teamed up” with
Rock/Creek Outfitters, and The Triple Crown Bouldering
Series. See below for details:
Long recognized as major contributors to
environmental/outdoor causes, Chaco, in conjunction with
Rock/Creek Outfitters will provide unique Custom
Performance Sandals for competitors to purchase at the
2008 Triple Crown Bouldering Series. In 2005, 2006, and
2007similar efforts from Chaco, Rock/Creek and the
Triple Crown raised over $20,000 toward the purchase of
Laurel Knob— a 1,200 ft granite dome in Cashiers Valley
located in the Highlands of North Carolina; Boat Rock—a
beautiful greenspace and boulderfield located inside the
metro of Atlanta and many other direct action causes. A
portion of the proceeds from the sales of the 2008
Custom Chaco sandals will go toward helping the
Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition in their ongoing effort
to gain and maintain access to southeastern climbing
areas.
As soon as the custom 2008 Triple Crown Sandals become
available, we will let you know!!
Triple Crown and the Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition
want to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to
Chaco and Rock/Creek Outfitters. These guys have quietly
gone about the business of gaining and maintaining
access to outdoor recreation areas for years. Chaco,
with help from regional outdoor retailers, will once
again, place over $20,000 into direct action causes in
2008 here in the Southeast alone; special thanks to
Chaco for supporting access to the many outdoor
resources here in the southeast and throughout the
United States.
Competition T-shirts
You will be given one free Hound Ears T-shirt the
morning of the event (or at pre-registration at the BBQ
dinner). As always, there are several cool designs for
Hound Ears and Triple Crown! — There will also be some
“old school tees” from years past too. If you wish to
buy extra tees they will cost $15 each.
Concessions
There will be concessions available for purchase during
the event courtesy of the Watauga Rescue Squad--so bring
cash. Proceeds will benefit the Rescue Squad.
Camping
Grandfather Campground is our official launch/awards
site for the Hound Ears Bouldering Competition. You
must check in with the campground management when you
arrive. Climbers are responsible for their own camp
fee for the 2008 event. If you don’t want to
camp-out, there are tons of great hotels in nearby
Boone. Call soon for reservation, though—they will
fill-up fast!!
Dinner
Dinner will be catered—the cost for dinner is $5/plate.
Climbing Harness
Hound Ears has TONS of great problems, many of which
require a top rope. Make sure to bring your harness so
you can enjoy all that Hound Ears has to offer.
The Access Fund, Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition and
the Carolina Climbers’ Coalition
There will be an Access Fund and SCC raffle after the
competition. Sign up and take a chance on walking away
with even more booty, and support "the cause" at the
same time. There will also be an opportunity to join the
Southeastern Climbers' Coalition and the Access Fund--if
you are not a member, stop being just a lame chach and
join! Yearly membership is just $25. Make it your goal
to become proactive this year. See the SCC website for
more information at
www.seclimbers.org.
Awards Ceremony
The AWARDS CEREMONY will begin immediately after dinner.
There will be tons of door prizes! So if you didn't do
so good at the comp don't miss it. You could still win
BIG! We give out many more door prizes than we do
competitor prizes. This event will be a ton of fun. We
hope everyone has a safe trip and that you find your
visit with us to be a good and memorable one. Keep
checking the website for updates as well. New photos and
competition results will be posted on the Triple Crown
website shortly after the event.
Now, for the really important stuff.
REMEMBER CLIMBING/BOULDERING IS A DANGEROUS SPORT. There
is nothing we, or you can do to eliminate all the risks.
You are ultimately responsible for your own safety. DO
NOT do anything you feel is hazardous to your health.
Make sure you have a competent spotter or belayer before
you begin to climb any boulder problem or route.
Exercise caution when hiking as well. There are many
dangerous drop offs and other hazards that may endanger
you while simply walking around the boulderfield. In the
event that you or a friend is injured please notify the
closest judge or rescue squad member.
If a judge sees you attempting something they feel is
dangerous or outside the bounds of this friendly
competition they have the right to disqualify you from
the event. You can even be banned from any future
events. Please remember that while the judges are there
primarily to help all the participants they are all just
volunteering there time.
Also remember that Hound Ears is a gated community. They
receive no proceeds from this event. They are allowing
us to use their private club out of the kindness of
their hearts. Please be respectful and as quiet as
possible whenever you’re near any of the homes at Hound
Ears. This is a rare opportunity to climb at a great
boulderfield that is closed to the public every other
day of the year.
This all being said, we hope you have a blast at Hound
Ears.
Thanks, Jim Horton and Chad Wykle (The suckers who are
putting this together… again!) |