Cragies and Snackies

Welcome to Atlanta where the players play
And we ride on dem thangs like ev-ery day
Big beats, hit streets, see gangsters roamin’
And parties don’t stop ’til eight in the mornin

– Jermaine Dupri, Welcome to Atlanta

The ATL is one of the greatest cities in the US.  The history is rich, the music scene thriving, the night life is unreal, and the surrounding areas are gorgeous.  Perhaps the most underrated aspect of the 404 is the rock climbing, but we’ll get to that in a minute.  First, let’s do a quick who’s who from Atlanta, Georgia!  The list is long, but here are a few highlights, Martin Luther King Jr., Kanye West, Chloe Grace Moretz, Spike Lee, T.I., Future, Gladys Knight, Kenan Thompson, Ed Helms and Brian Baumgartner (Andy and Kevin from The Office) Kelly Rowland, CeeLo Green, Killer Mike, Nipsey Russell, Lil Baby, Raven-Symone, Soulja Boy, Lil Jon, John Mayer, Andre 3000, and a million others.  Atlanta turns out artists like Atlanta turns out Coca-Cola.  Coke headquarters are also in Atlanta.

In addition to Coke and Nipsy Russell, Atlanta is known far and wide as the strip-club capital of the world.  As I was scouring reviews, a piece from Thrillist author Mike Jordan stood out.  Jordan does a great job of reviewing the ins and outs details of some of Atlanta’s more popular lounges here is his list if you’re interested.  My favorite review is for the Clermont Lounge at 789 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Jordan writes…

At Clermont you’ll find “affordable” drinks, women who are glad to be the age of your aunt, and some liberal hygiene standards.  This place is an Atlanta institution, though, and if you live in ATL you need to go at least once.

Get this, just about 25 minutes west of the Clermont, you’ll find an outstanding bouldering crag called Boat Rock.  I’m not sure how many major cities worldwide can claim a natural rock climbing destination within the jurisdiction, but Atlanta is one of them.

Boat Rock has over 200 established routes in what looks like a boulder field of glacial retreat but is actually the remains of a mammoth deposit of igneous rock hardened below ground for hundreds of millions of years.  Luckily for urban climbers, erosion has revealed this massive climbing playground.

Boat Rock is primarily granite slab but it does offer some overhanging routes and some cracks as well.  The most densely populated area is called Paint Can, it offers 57 routes including two sport routes.  Paint Can Arete is a popular 4-Star V5, so named because line developer Bob Cormany used a paint can to reach the first hold in order to get the first ascent (as legend has it).

Boat Rock has some history behind it as well, not only was it one of the first areas purchased and protected by the storied Southeast Climbers Coalition (SCC), but it was also home to one of the first bouldering competitions in the U.S. back in 1985. 

As you know Clermont Lounge is just 25 minutes away, and while they may offer snackies, we’re looking for something with a little more bite.  Maybe a little less bite?  Let’s just say we’re looking for something with a different type of bite.

There are over 12,000 restaurants in Atlanta, so climbers will have lots of options after a day of wreaking havoc on their fingertips at Boat Rock.  However, not just any food will do, we’re in the ATL, and so we gotta play where the players play.  By play where the players play, I just mean that we have to eat at a delicious local staple.  Perhaps the most iconic vegan restaurant in the world is Atlanta’s own Slutty Vegan!

Slutty Vegan was created by entrepreneur Pinky Cole.  She started slinging vegan burgers out of her apartment on Instagram back in July of 2018. By October she opened her first restaurant.  There are now 10 locations throughout the US, and Pinky has attained celebrity status.  Slutty Vegan has been featured on Today, The New York Times, TMZ, CNN, Forbes, Bravo, Fox, Essence, and now theDIHEDRAL (not sure we’ll make the publicity page on the website, but we understand, we wouldn’t want the competition to feel bad either).  The Slutty Vegan now has a line of retail products, food trucks, clothes, a vegan cookbook, and a foundation for giving back to the community called The Pinky Cole Foundation.

Specializing in burgers and dogs, The Slutty Vegan offers these hallmarks sprinkled with some WOW!

In addition to vegan burgers and dogs, there is also vegan shrimp, chicken, and bacon.  All sandwiches come with Slutty Fries, but additional sides include sweet potato fries and fried pickles (Skinny Dippers).  You can find Slutty Drinks, Sweet Potato Pie, Popsicles, and Banana Pudding on the menu as well.

My advice would be to go with at least four other climbers/friends and split everything into equal parts so you can try as many things as possible.  However, if you’re looking for a recommendation, here’s what I would do.  Get the Fussy Hussy (Plant-based patty loaded with pickle, vegan cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, and Slut Sauce on vegan Hawaiian bun), get a side of Seamoss Banana Pudding, and a Slutty Slush to wash it all down.

Boat Rock and The Slutty Vegan…welcome to Atlanta, where the players play!

Location: Atlanta Georgia “Wisdom, Justice, Moderation”

Crag: Boat Rock

Restaurant: Slutty Vegan

Distance: 10.3 miles