Tampa Area Buildering Guide

chris_brown — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:48:01 +0000

Are you a rock climber stuck in Florida? Are you in desperate need of vertical terrain to challenge your bluff scaling needs?

Look no further because here’s your holy grail:

Tampa Bay Area Online Buildering Guide

chris_brown — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:44:33 +0000

Much thanks to Ard over at buildering.net for pioneering the groundwork necessary for this online guide.

Check it out: Bay Area Buildering Guide.

Storming the fort.

chris_brown — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:13:28 +0000

Climbing is where you find it. Some people have marvelous crags a mere stone’s throw from their homes, while others (namely us Floridians) may not be so fortunate. Those not blessed with the presence of rocks nearby have taken to the streets in search of human creations upon which to feed their hunger. Skyscrapers, freeway overpasses, and municipal buildings all lead second lives as virtual El Caps, Columbia Boulders, and Endless Walls for those with the vision. Here in St. Petersburg, we have Fort Desoto.

Bouldering at Fort Desoto.

Climbing is dangerous!

In 1898 construction began on Fort Desoto. Made from a shell, stone and concrete mixture, the walls of this fort have weathered many storms almost flawlessly. Those few flaws that do exist provide a perfect playground for climbers trapped in Florida. Small crimps and thin cracks have been pieced together by locals to create a handful of surprisingly quality boulder problems.

The Iron Seagull.

The Trash Can Arete.

Fort Desoto has a sibling named Fort Dade, located on Egmont Key.

Chris Brown's Blog » fort desoto

Tampa Area Buildering Guide

Tampa Bay Area Online Buildering Guide

Storming the fort.