To win the 2025 Boulderfest - Lookout Mountain Conservancy’s annual enduro-style bouldering competition - Allison Dandar knew she needed a plan. Last year, the Atlanta-based climber finished second, completing 59 routes. (Local teacher Haley Graham won with 64.) Over the last 12 months, Allison trained, got stronger, her eyes clearly on the prize: first place.
She had a hunch: winning would take 80 problems, or routes.
But, she also had a problem: logistics. How do you solve 80 routes when the clock is ticking?
“I can show you,” she said, unrolling out a folded map of the bouldering park, marked up with routes and colors.
Then, she called over her secret weapon.
“Yo! Dad!” Allison - a 15-year-old homeschooler and amateur climber - shouted.
On Saturday, March 22, Allison and her dad Alan used a “churn-and-burn” strategy - a preplanned route penciled in on a bouldering course map.
As she climbed, he hustled the gear to the next boulder.
“We were running scared,” he said. “Literally.”
It worked. Allison became the women’s champ, completing 81 boulder problems for first place. Lauren Rattenbury won second place with 65 routes solved, with Kimberly Casey winning third (59).
“I’m super proud,” said Alan Dandar of his daughter. “She puts in a lot of work.”
The sixth annual Lookout Mountain Conservancy’s BoulderFest was held under blue spring skies on Saturday, March 22, at LMC’s Old Wauhatchie Boulders, the largest urban bouldering park in the South.
The event is a timed competition: dozens of climbers race against the clock to complete as many routes, or problems, as possible within 3 hours and 40 minutes.
In the men’s division, Zachary Quigley turned in a champion performance by finishing 108 routes. Tied for second? Jackson Cowden and Michael “Red” Powell each with 97.
Apparently, Allison and her dad weren’t the only ones with a plan.
“Me and the other guy - we tied for second - we had the same strategy,” said Powell.
To start the day, he snuck down to the Cliffhanger boulder, figuring nobody would be there. Turns out: one other competitor was. Jackson Cowden. The two men tied for second place.
“We just met down there,” he said, “coincidentally.”
Carter Schoeneck won the youth male division with 52 problems solved. In second place, Sylas Miranda (47) and Henry Kelly (31) won third.
Persephone Cox finished 15 routes to win the youth female division, while Rosemary Cox finished second with 13 problems and Laura Oehmig (8) finished third.
Some 60 climbers competed. At the after-party, held overlooking the beautiful skyline, folks enjoyed food trucks and donated Hutton & Smith beer while talking with multiple vendors: Teren, Four Bridges Outfitters and Black Diamond.
Lookout Mountain Conservancy (LMC) is a 34-year-old land trust that conserves and protects more than 1500 acres of Lookout Mountain as it stretches 93 miles into Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.
The annual Boulderfest is held at the Old Wauhatchie Boulders in St. Elmo, the LMC urban bouldering park with some 27 boulders. It’s the largest urban bouldering park in the South and was renovated and currently maintained and stewarded by our Leadership Program interns from The Howard School.
“We are proud of this day and our work,” said Hector Domingo, a leadership intern.
“Super great vibes. It’s awesome,” Powell said. “It’s a great way to support the Conservancy, which keeps making this place better. I’ve been climbing here since it opened.”