For those of you who have been to Medicine Wall in San Antonio, TX, this crag should feel very familiar. Ijam’s is a repurposed quarry in Knoxville, TN with GREAT climbs and GREAT people (and crag dogs). I’m not saying this is a premier location that will attract climbers from around the world, but if you’re in Knoxville or the Smokies, this is definitely a great choice for a quick and convenient climb.
In a park in Knoxville, there are a bunch of walking and biking trails. As labeled by the trail markers, some of these trails lead to Ijam’s crag (I know…labeled signs to a crag? Since when?). The approach is an easy 20 minutes at most. Once you get there, you’ll be surrounded by wall on one side and forest on the other. From there, you’ll have your pick of grades to climb!
There is a good amount of vertical and overhanging routes, which are all very fun, but the prize at Ijam’s is the slab. Once the workday is over, the weekend warriors flock to the slab to get in some fun sends. The slab is great, but the community is rather unique. It feels like a close gym community where everyone meets after work on certain days. People show up without partners because they know their friends will be there. When you work in a city during the week, what more could you ask for?
Well, you could ask for crag dogs, and indeed your wish might be fulfilled. Ijam’s is still being developed by Kelly Brown, the writer of the guidebook for The Obed. So, when people come to climb or help develop the crag, they bring their adorable pups. Of course I met many good dogs there, but I also had the pleasure of meeting Kelly, who is very kind, accomplish, and down-to-earth. He sets the tone at Ijam’s, and so everyone is extraordinarily helpful and supportive.
If you’re ever in the Knoxville area, don’t hesitate to check out Ijam’s crag! It’s got a great balance of accessibility, routes, people, and dogs. Find the Ijam’s website here for more details!
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thedihedral.com 