Ok guys, as promised - here's the big event! Ta-da!! (gong sound)

Summary:

This is a two day climbing adventure on the sandstone at Jackson Falls, IL. Though this meetup is only listed for one day, some of us will be camping there Saturday night and climbing all day Sunday. You can camp and get a second day in if you feel up to it, or just head back in Saturday evening. If you can only do one day, I would much rather you show up Saturday - I am going to organize Sunday's climbing based on the consensus of what everyone there feels like doing.

This is the ideal first trip if you've never climbed outside before! We will be breaking up into groups of 3 to 4 after meeting up in the main parking/camping area. Dez (my climbing partner) and I will be rotating between the groups and setting up top ropes for you. If you have gym climbing experience, you already have all the know-how you need for this trip. If you have never climbed, you won't be belaying, but will be paired up with those who can.

Tentative schedule:

We will meet in the parking lot at 9am Saturday morning, do a quick round of introductions, and break into either 2 or 3 subgroups by ability. Maybe a couple of 5.6-5.7 groups and a 5.8-5.9 one. You can switch groups as the whim strikes. After getting situated and setting up camp, we will head down into the valley. We will have 2 top ropes going, and hopefully 3. All the groups will stay in the same general vicinity at any given time, but we will explore different areas.

After climbing all day Saturday, we will retreat to camp for dinner and beer around the campfire. Then sometime after 9pm those interested can strap on the headlamps and follow me down into the canyon for some night-time bouldering or climbing. Moon will be about three-quarters full that night.

On Sunday we will stay flexible and see what routes everyone feels like doing. I will stay out there until 4pm before heading back to St. Louis. If you've had enough climbing, you can always spend the day bouldering.

What you need to bring

These items are mandatory: you must beg, borrow, or steal them if you want to come along!

Harness
ATC device
Climbing shoes
Chalk and chalk bag
Helmet (bike helmet is OK)
Gear to carry at least 2L water
Snacks to eat during the day
Headlamp and extra batteries (only if you want to come along at night)

These are recommended, but up to you:

Camping gear - tent, sleeping bag, etc.
Sunblock
Insect repellent
Toilet paper
Cooking utensils (I will bring a 2 burner stove)
Camera

I am assuming everyone reading this has plenty of camping experience, but if not, contact me and I'll send you a hideously detailed packing list of everything you could possibly need.

Directions
Look at the bottom of this post under Additional Resources for a good overview PDF. When you drive in along the gravel road, you will come directly to the main camping area which is right by the creek. Regular cars can make it that far quite easily. If you want to go further up the road to camp, four wheel drive and high clearance are recommended. The parking area is not huge - you will be able to spot us quite easily.

FAQ

1. How safe is this?
About as safe as you can be outside the gym. All anchors will be on bolts, redundant, and completely bomber. Both my climbing partner and I are very picky about our gear - you won't be climbing on anything even remotely questionable.

2. Can I lead/rap/clean the route?
No. Unless your outdoor climbing resume makes me genuflect, you will be on toprope the whole time. The only time you will be tying or untying any type of knot is with both feet on the ground. I am paranoid when it comes to safety - there are going to be zero accidents on this trip.

3. What are the car pooling arrangements?
We will use the discussion thread attached to this meetup to work that out.

4. What are the rain plans?
Unless we have heavy, sustained rain, the meetup will be a go. Keep checking this meetup page as the date draws near.

5. What other equipment can I contribute to the effort?
We need a third rope, and could probably use another bouldering crashpad just in case.

6. Can I bring kids?
Not on this trip. Children have special safety needs (full body harnesses etc), and we are not qualified to evaluate or address those needs. If there is interest, I will try to make it happen on a future meetup.

7. Can I try a 5.10 or something even harder?
Absolutely. But remember that one of us has to lead a nearby route to get a toprope anchor up there, so we might not be able to give you the exact route you want. If there's a 5.5 right next door that I can lead, you'll have a 5.10 coming right up!

8. Do you have extra camping gear?
I have limited extra stuff. Ask and I will see what I can rustle up.

9. Most of these terms (toprope, lead, anchor, crashpad) make no sense to me. Am I getting in over my head?
Doesn't matter one bit. If you've never climbed before you'll be paired with someone who has. A lot of this will make sense once you get out there.

Please post questions and suggestions, and I will edit this post as we go along.

Additional resources

This is the definitive guidebook for the area. If you plan on climbing outside regularly, it's worth the money.

A free overview booklet of the routes and driving directions are available here.