Putnam Action Committee

Introduction

The City of Monterey and several local community groups are currently working to develop the Meadow Creek Park, using grant money from various sources. The park and the lake are located in a woodland valley several miles east of the city.

In addition to boating and fishing on the lake, planned development includes a swimming area and an extensive trail system around the lake for hiking, biking, and rock climbing. The steep bluffs and rock climbing areas are located on the east side of the lake, near the dam. See area maps.

While planning for these park activities, several issues regarding park safety and security also need to be considered, as described below.

The "Friends of Meadow Creek Park" group was chartered to "advance and encourage understanding, enjoyment, and public use" of park facilities, and to "work in conjunction with the elected officials and staff of the town of Monterey to acquaint the community with the needs of the park, and to help improve their facilities."

In the spirit of working with the elected officials to help improve park facilities, a summary presentation on the subject of park safety and security was made to the Monterey City Council on 5-Aug-2019.

Rock Climbing Safety and Liability

Rock climbing is an inherently dangerous sport, which requires training and skill. Policies and procedures are necessary to control this activity in order to minimize risks for park visitors and liability issues for the City. Promoting and allowing this activity without having effective procedures in place is neither reasonable or prudent.

To underscore this point, there was a recent rock climbing accident in the park with very serious injuries. A large team of emergency responders was required to extract the victim from the base of the cliff (see photo) and transport him to the hospital, at considerable cost:

"Climber Falls From Cliffs at Meadow Creek Park"

News Talk 94.1 2019-07-07

"The team leader for the Putnam County Rescue Squad's Mountain Rescue Team said the unidentified man fell approximately 25 feet while 'free climbing' in a remote area. The man received treatment at Vanderbilt Medical Center for multiple fractures and a spinal injury.

About 20 people took part in the three hour operation [with] four agencies involved. 'We did request an aircraft from the highway patrol, but it was going to take over two hours, so we had to move him out by ground', Haynes said."

Where was he from? Which group was he with? Why was he allowed to climb "at Meadow Creek Park" with no safety rope? Where exactly did the accident occur? Was it on park property or private property? How did the climbers get to that location?

UPDATE: An on-site inspection based on rescue scene photos and GPS shows that this "free climbing" accident occurred on private property just outside the park boundary, see map below.

Here's another story about a climbing accident at Bee Rock, before the City of Monterey acquired the property. It was fortunate for the victim that a paramedic "happened to be in the area":

"Woman Falls at Bee Rock" (2015)

Cookeville Herald-Citizen 2015-12-28

"A 54-year-old woman was airlifted to U.T. Medical Center following injuries she sustained after falling from Bee Rock while 'rappelling'. A Putnam County paramedic who happened to be hiking in the area with his family at the time witnessed the fall and was able to assess injuries of the victim before other emergency responders arrived."

The City could be subject to a lawsuit brought by an injured person or the family to cover the costs for medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost work time, etc. If a jury could be convinced that the City was negligent, punitive damages might also be awarded. For example, consider this story about a recent drowning accident at the Cummins Falls Park:

"Parents May Sue Over Cummins Falls Death"

Cookeville Herald-Citizen 2019-07-02

"The parents of a child who died at Cummins Falls State Park in June have sent notice to state organizations that they plan to possibly sue...[for] events that constitute negligence and gross negligence, including keeping the park open despite a call from the National Weather Service and failing to install a warning system. Pierce drowned in June following a flash flooding event in which more than 60 people had to be helped out of the park."

Monterey is a small town with a small budget. If any rock climbing accident results in a major lawsuit, it could have a serious impact. The City might win the case, but at what cost? If the City lost, what effect would it have on insurance coverage? What would happen to all the other park activities if the insurance becomes too expensive?

Over a year ago, a sales pitch was made by rock climbing enthusiasts to convince the City to "establish climbing access to the existing bluff line adjacent to the park property" which would "inspire climbers from all over the southeast to visit Monterey, boosting the economy."

This was accepted at face value. Has anyone done an actual risk/benefit analysis? Does the alleged benefit outweigh the proven risk? Can the risk be effectively managed? Will the rock climbers obey the rules? Will they really "boost the economy"? At what cost?

Do the climbing groups provide insurance to cover their members in case of injury? If not, why not? What about climbers who don't register? Why should a town of 2500 people, most of whom are not rock climbers, take on this risk?

The City was persuaded to "integrate climbing" into the park development plan, but effective rules and procedures to control this activity are still not in place. Unregulated rock climbing cannot be allowed to continue.

According to TCA 70-7-102, a private land owner generally does not have a "duty of care" for people who are injured during outdoor activities such as hunting, etc. However, a park operator does have a "duty of care" and additional responsibility for ensuring the safety of park visitors. In either case, nothing would prevent the possibility of a costly lawsuit which could drag on for months or years.

Adjacent Property

The eastern side of Meadow Creek park is bordered by a residential subdivision, see maps below. The City recently purchased one of the subdivision lots (Connar Dr, lot 10) to create a new park entrance and trail access. Rock climbing promoters said that this would provide "safe and legal access" to the bluffs and "promote economic growth":

"Before, the climbing area wasn't accessible through the park. Now we can bring more climbers in and offer a wide variety of access to different levels of climbing. Using 'our' natural resources to help promote economic growth is great for everybody."

This lot, which was acquired for this purpose, is no longer private land. It is now part of the park property, and the City has the same "duty of care" to regulate park visitor activities to ensure their safety.

Much of the "existing bluff line" is still located on private land beyond the park boundary. If park visitors decide to "access" the adjacent property for reckless activity such as climbing without a safety rope, those land owners also face the risk of being sued, with the cost and stress of defending themselves.

How will the City ensure that park visitors remain on park property? How will the climbing rules be enforced? If they fail to do so and someone gets seriously hurt, some land owner might try to sue the City for promoting a dangerous activity without adequate controls. The City might win the case, but at what cost?

Imagine you live in town with a big oak tree in your backyard. A few local kids like to climb your tree, and you think the risk is acceptable. One day, a new neighbor moves in, builds a new trail leading right up to your backyard, and starts inviting strangers from all over everywhere to climb the trees. Now the risk has greatly increased and you are far more likely to be sued. What would you do?

Other Activities

None of the other activities enjoyed by most of the park visitors such as boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and cycling have nearly the same risk of serious injury as rock climbing. And visitors will be doing those other activities inside the park boundary, with no risk at all to other property owners.

However, all of these activities need to be properly regulated. Even bicycle riding involves a fair amount of risk. Here's a recent story about a "mountain bike" accident at the Cane Creek Park in Cookeville:

"Man Suffers Severe Injuries in Bike Accident"

Cookeville Herald-Citizen, 2019-08-13

"A Cookeville man suffered neck and spinal injuries in a mountain bike crash at Cane Creek Park last week (8-Aug). [He] was bicycling on a mountain bike trail at Cane Creek Park when the injury occurred. He was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center from the scene. His daughter said: 'The spinal injury is very serious and he is looking at months of rehabilitation at a specialized facility. There are no guarantees he will regain feeling or the use of his limbs.'"

Was he wearing a helmet? Was he riding normally? Was the trail safely constructed? Did the trail include jumps, steep rocks, or other features to encourage reckless activity? Similar issues must be considered at Meadow Creek Park also.

Here's another recent example of local park visitors failing to follow the safety rules:

"Man injured after falling at Cummins Falls"

Cookeville Herald-Citizen, 2019-08-20

"A man was severely injured Saturday afternoon at Cummins Falls State Park after falling approximately 50 feet from a bluff into a rocky area. He ignored directions from park rangers and jumped over a wooden railing before he fell. Jackson County EMS responded, and the man was airlifted to a level one trauma center.

The gorge area of the park reopened with added safety precautions and additional staff last week for the first time in two months... The TDEC Cummins Falls Website now contains the new safety rules at the park."

At least the State Parks have a ranger on duty to enforce the safety rules. Imagine what it would be like if the park was unsupervised.

UPDATE: On July 16, 2020, a man drowned while kayaking with his son on Meadow Creek Lake. Several days later, the City of Monterey voted to leave the gates to this unsupervised park open 24 hours.

"Man drowns after kayak overturns"

Cookeville Herald-Citizen, 2020-07-17

"An Overton County man died after his kayak overturned on Meadow Creek Lake Thursday afternoon. Derek Lee Wilson, 41, was kayaking with his six-year-old son on the lake when the kayak overturned."

"Monterey board affirms unlimited park hours"

Cookeville Herald-Citizen, 2020-07-22

"The Monterey Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Monday to provide essentially unlimited access for visitors to Meadow Creek Park.The board voted 7-1 to keep the gates to the park unlocked..."

Risk Management Plan

However the City decides to proceed, there needs to be a "risk management" plan including rules and enforcement in place before the next accident happens. This is not just a small city playground across the street from the police station. This is a major public park in a remote, unsupervised area, with greater risk and greater responsibility.

The City should consult with the professionals at the State Parks department for advice on park planning and risk management. See the book "Risk Management for Park, Recreation and Leisure Services", 7th edition (2019). The table of contents and first chapter are available online:

"A risk management program...is a necessity for the survival of private and public recreation and leisure service providers. Risk management must be entwined into every aspect of their operations.

The objective of risk management is to efficiently conserve the assets and financial resources of the organization and to achieve financial stability by reducing the potential for financial loss... The primary goal is minimizing the risk of injury, and the secondary goal is reducing the potential for legal claims that could lead to litigation. This means scrutinizing the offered programs and activities to ensure that their organization cannot be held liable for negligence.

People are likely to sue recreation providers for any type of injury received through participation, because they are perceived as able to pay for the medical expenses the injured cannot afford... Courts also expect service providers to proactively reduce unreasonable risks."

-- from Chapter One (pdf)

On 6-Aug-2019, the day after the safety presentation to the City Council, a woman tripped and fell while walking across the top of Meadow Creek dam. A park visitor called 911, and the entire Monterey police department responded. Fortunately, she was only slightly injured.

If she had fallen down the face of the dam, or into the lake, it could have been fatal. A warning sign was posted, but there was no barrier. If the injuries were serious and a lawsuit was filed, would the court find that the City had not done enough to "reduce unreasonable risks"?

The City should consider handing over the park administration to the County, which has adequate resources to handle the risk and the responsibility. Local residents would still have the benefit of using the park, and the City would avoid the high cost for personnel, maintenance, insurance, lawsuits, etc.

The City will get the same amount of potential tourist dollars even if the County runs the park. So why should City taxpayers be stuck with the costs and the risk of managing a county park 5 miles from town?

The park is only 20 minutes from Cookeville or Crossville. Most visitors, including the rock climbing and bicycle clubs, will pack a picnic, come up for the day, play in the park for a few hours, then head down the hill for pizza and beer. How will this "boost the economy" in Monterey?

Rock Climbing Rules and Procedures

The TDEC State Parks Rock Climbing Regulations and Climbing Management Plan should be used as a model for the climbing policies at Meadow Creek Park.

Note that the TDEC access policy states that the park boundary should be respected, and that climbing activities on "private land" must be with "the express permission" of the property owner. This is especially true at Meadow Creek Park, as described above.

V. General:

3.) Existing Climbing Routes:

a. Routes: Climbing involving ropes, harnesses, and other equipment will be allowed on existing established routes as defined by State Park staff.

b. Replacement of Existing Fixed Anchors: Climbers must contact Park Management prior to replacing existing fixed anchors.

c. Establishing New Climbing Routes: TDEC has the sole discretion to determine whether a new climbing route is appropriate. Bolts, fixed anchors, and new climbing routes will be allowed only by TDEC permit. Permits for new routes will be based on whether sensitive natural or cultural features exist in the area, the recreational opportunity, the quality of the climbing experience, and the density of the routes in the area. TDEC may terminate permits for any reason.

VI. Policies:

1.) Fixed Anchors and Hardware:

A TDEC permit is required to install a new bolt, fixed anchor, or establish a new route that requires new bolts or anchors. Climbers must contact Park Management prior to replacing existing fixed anchors. TDEC requires all bolts and other fixed anchors, slings, quick draws, and any other piece of equipment that will be left on the wall for an extended period to be of a color that blends with the rock in the area. Park Management may require removal of any hardware at any time.

4.) Prohibited Activities:

The following activities will be prohibited:

a. Climbing, rappelling, or bouldering outside designated climbing routes and areas;
b. Climbing, rappelling, or bouldering on, under, or within a restricted area closed for protection as determined by Park Management;
c. Chipping or gluing;
d. "Gardening" or the intentional removal of vegetation to "clean" a route;
e. Using trees as climbing anchors without ensuring nominal impact on the tree;
f. Fires and camping anywhere other than a designated campsite; and
g. Leaving fixed ropes for extended periods for the purpose of ascending and descending (rappelling) rock walls.

7.) Trails, Parking, and Access:

TDEC discourages parking, crossing, camping, climbing, or bouldering on private land. Use of private land for these or any other activity must be with the express permission of the landowner. Climbers are encouraged to respect private land, private property rights, and TDEC (park) boundaries.

8.) Closures:

TDEC discourages multiple social trails and heavily impacted zones at the base of climbs and will employ signs, barriers, revegetation, and possible specific route closure as a means to prevent these impacts. TDEC reserves the right to close any area, rock feature, or climbing route to protect wildlife, natural or cultural resources, and visitor experiences. Permanent closures will result in site restoration by TDEC.

9.) Safety and Liability:

Using the park is not a risk-free experience, and climbing is an inherently dangerous activity. TDEC cannot guarantee the safety of climbers or other park visitors. TDEC will not maintain any climbing routes or associated climbing hardware and software. TDEC makes no warranty as to the suitability or safety of climbing routes or using the Parks for climbing. TDEC will not assume responsibility for the condition of climbing terrain, routes, or the acts or omissions of climbers. TDEC explicitly disclaims all responsibility for the safety of equipment, bolts, or other anchor systems in the park. See TCA 70-7-101 through 104.

(Note that a park operator could still be liable for "gross negligence" and "failure to warn" as specified in TCA 70-7-104).

Some of the State parks, including Fall Creek Falls, require registration and a permit for all rock climbing activity. They also have park personnel on duty to verify that climbers obey the rules:

All climbers should register online or with park management prior to each time they climb in Tennessee State Parks. Once you have registered, you will recieve a confirmation email with your unique registration number, site rules and other helpful info. Please keep the registration number with you while climbing. At some locations you may be asked to leave a piece of paper with your regsitration number on your car dashboard.

Rock climbing at Fall Creek Falls State Park is by permit only. Permits are free and available at Park Headquarters. Also please comply with the following:

• All individuals planning to participate in climbing or rappelling activities must check in at Park Headquarters before and after the activity.
• Permits must be carried by the individual at all times during the activity.
• Bolting of routes and installations of safety equipment is only allowed with permission from park staff.
• All climbers must be off the rocks one hour before sunset. No overnight camping allowed except at designated areas.
• Any incidents resulting in personal injury or damage to property must be reported to the Park Manager or other park official.

Rock Climber Training and Registration:

* Designate one or more of the recognized rock climbing clubs to provide a safety training course and a certificate of competency.

* Require all rock climbers to register with the City Parks office, provide a copy of the training certificate, and sign a waiver form.

* Issue a registration card that must be carried while climbing in the park, including name, address, club membership, emergency contact info, etc.

* Post warning signs on the trails leading up to the bluffs from below, and down to the bluffs from above.

* Revoke the registration of any climber who violates the rules and require them to go through the training course again to be re-certified.

Rock Climbing Rules:

* Only registered club members are allowed to climb on the bluffs, with a stiff fine for violators.

* At least two persons required for any climbing activity, no individual climbers allowed.

* Safety rope required for all climbing activity, no "free climbing".

* All climbers must wear a helmet with strap to protect against head injury.

* Climbing allowed only in designated areas, within the park boundary.

* All minors under age 16 must be accompanied by a responsible, qualified adult.

General Safety and Security

The "Friends of Meadow Creek" should have a working group which meets regularly to discuss planning issues, including safety and security. All interested group members should be invited to participate. All plans developed by contractors, interest groups, and others should be available for review. Any concerns raised should be shared with the City council members.

As the Meadow Creek Park becomes more well-known and visitor traffic increases, additional safety and security measures will be needed. The park has already experienced problems with vandalism, theft, drug use, and other criminal activity. Park patrols, security cameras, access control and other measures should be implemented.

A "park ranger" position should also be added. The ranger should be on duty at the park during the day, especially on the weekend, to enforce the park rules and to keep watch on swimmers, rock climbers, etc. The City should consider a park entrance fee or annual pass to help cover operating costs.

Park Entrance Safety and Security:

The highway connection for the main park entrance is currently inadequate. The entry/exit is very dangerous for visitors because of high speed traffic, including large trucks, coming down the hill from both directions.

* Ask TDOT to install "Caution, park entrance" signs on both sides of Hwy 62 well before the main entrance. Install "Meadow Creek Park" turnoff signs closer to the entrance.

* Ask TDOT to widen the highway connection at the entrance to provide a safer, two-lane entry/exit with adequate turnout lanes.

Park entrance gates should be closed and locked after dark to deter nighttime activity, including rock climbing, swimming, etc. If the gates are not closed, rock climbing or drowning accidents after dark would demonstrate negligence on the part of the City. This would also deter nighttime criminal activity including theft, vandalism, drug use, etc.

* Post a "Park closed after dark" sign at the main entrance gate, and the new entrance at Connar Dr lot 10. Send a security patrol soon after sunset to ensure all visitors and vehicles are out of the park, then close and lock the gates. Re-open in the morning.

* Mountain and lake rescue equipment should be stationed at the new fire station on Hwy 62. The nighttime closure and re-opening of the park gates could be handled by the personnel there, and the security cameras could be monitored from there.

Park Boundary and Trail Markers:

* Have a surveyor locate and mark the existing survey pins for the park boundary, starting on the east side of the park above the dam, see maps.

* Clearly mark the park boundary line using purple blaze paint on the trees every 20 feet or so, with small "park boundary" signs every 100 feet or so. The purple blaze is legally equivalent to a "no trespassing" sign, as specified by TCA 39-14-405 (c)(2).

* Post "no hunting" signs along the park boundary to protect park visitors.

* Make sure that all trails are also properly marked, and located well inside the park boundary limit.

Park Rules and Signs:

See the "Tennessee State Park Rules and Regulations" document. This provides state-wide rules for various park activities which can be adapted for use at Meadow Creek Park.

* Install a covered display board at the parking area near the dam. Post a large topo map of the park, showing all trails and features. Post a copy of all park rules, policies, and emergency contact info.

* Print a tri-fold brochure with the park topo and trail map on one side, and the park rules on the other. Stock these at the info board.

* General rules: park closed after dark, children must be supervised, no alcohol, no guns, no hunting, no ATVs, no fires, no littering, no loud music, no fireworks, no loose dogs, pickup dog waste, etc.

* Lake activity rules: life jackets required, no gas motors, fishing license required, no swimming at the ramp, boats off the lake before dark, etc

* Swimming area rules: no lifeguard on duty, children must be supervised, use restroom in parking area, no horseplay, no glass containers, no dogs on beach or in the water, etc.

* Trail user rules: hikers and bicycles only, stay on marked trails, hikers allow bikers to pass, use restroom in parking area, dogs on leash only, pickup and pack out dog waste, no fires, no tree cutting, no plant collecting, etc

* Bicycle rider rules: keep right, ride single file, yield to pedestrians, all trail riders must wear a helmet, etc

* Rock climbing rules: registered climbers only, at least two persons per group, safety rope and helmet required, stay inside park boundary, do not damage rock face, emergency phone number, etc

Safety and information signs designed for park activities are supplied by several vendors. Signs are available with many stock designs and customized wording, in metal or plastic:

Signs in the park should be adequate, but not overwhelming. The goal is to remind visitors of rules they should already be aware of, at locations where specific activities occur, without detracting from the natural character of the park. They should be easy to install, and inexpensive to replace when needed.

Neighborhood Safety and Security

The new park entrance at Connar Dr lot 10 is in a residential area, see maps below. Converting this lot to public use will increase outside traffic, noise, littering, and other problems. Daytime activity on the property needs to be controlled. Nighttime activity, including rock climbing, drug use, vandalism, etc must be prevented.

The new entrance should be properly equipped with a small off-street gravel parking area for the trailhead, signs with the park rules, a lockable gate, and a security light. This can be done at low cost, and with minimal impact to the residential character of the neighborhood.

No public use of the new park entrance should be allowed until these improvements are made, the park boundary has been clearly marked, climber registration procedures are established, and security measures are in place. Until then, the City should post "private property, no trespassing" signs on the lot.

A security camera to monitor the area would also be desirable. Earlier this year, a gang of meth dealers were living in a storage building and running a drive-thru business on the adjacent lot 9. Meth and rock climbing are a bad combination, increasing the risk of accidents and lawsuits.

Other residents in the subdivision, which borders the entire east side of the park, also like to shoot their guns. Several are deer hunters. They are used to thinking of their large lots as "safe" for this activity. However, stray gunfire could pose a hazard for park visitors, especially during hunting season.

Communication with Property Owners:

* Mail a copy of the park brochure, including the map and park rules, with a cover letter to all property owners in the adjacent subdivision, especially the ones bordering the park.

* Explain that the park boundary will be clearly marked to avoid trespass by park visitors, and that the park entrances will be secured at night to deter criminal activity.

* Emphasize the need for gun safety to protect park visitors on the trails and on the lake. Remind owners that park visitors could be present at any time during the day, and that hunting is not allowed in the park.

* Invite all property owners to participate in the Friends of the Park group.

Other Suggested Improvements

* Install a physical barrier to prevent people from walking on top of the dam.

* Install a dispenser for dog waste pickup bags at the picnic area and trailhead. Keep it stocked with bags.

* Install a secure donation box at the park info board for Friends of the Park contributions.

* Expand the parking and turn-around area near the boat ramp to accomodate trucks with boat trailers.

* Provide throwable flotation devices with ropes near the boat ramp and swimming areas.

* Install a rope and buoy system to keep boats a safe distance from the dam.

* Keep a small "rescue boat" and motor on site or at the new fire station for use by emergency responders or security patrol.

Major Improvements

* Install a portable building as a "park office" and visitor check-in station, with electricity and wifi service.

* Install a fishing pier and boat tie-up near the boat ramp and dam.

* Install a pedestrian bridge across the dam, wide enough for bicycles, as part of the trail network.

* Ask TDOT to install a "scenic overlook" and parking area in the old Hwy 62 roadbed above the dam. Connect the overlook to the park trail system.

Meadow Creek Park Annex

(Connar Drive, lots #9 and #10)

Jan 2019: Lot #9, owned by developer. Gang of meth dealers living in storage bldgs and motorhome. No septic or utilities. Complaints ignored by developer. County claims "no authority" regarding portable bldg as dwelling. Gang leader shot and killed in Mayland. Others evicted by developer.

Apr 2019: City of Monterey purchases lot #10 from developer for access to rock climbing bluffs on east side of Meadow Creek lake. No consultation with other lot owners.

Jun 2019: Speech to County Commission on housing issues and lack of code enforcement. (see PutnamAction.org/SafeHousing)

Jul 2019: Rock climber falls 25 ft from bluffs while "free climbing" just outside park boundary. Severe injuries, 3-hour rescue operation by County. Not reported by Herald-Citizen.

Aug 2019: Speech to City council on park safety and liability issues. No risk management plan. No cost/benefit analysis. (see PutnamAction.org/MeadowCreek)

Jul 2020: Man drowns in daytime boating accident at Meadow Creek Park. City council votes to keep unsupervised park open 24 hrs, mainly for nighttime fishing.

Dec 2020: City purchases lot #9 from developer. Speech to City council on proposed "park annex" development and impact on neighborhood.

May 2021: Meeting with City officials to propose small, gated parking area for lot #9 to be closed after dark.

Aug 2021: City presents draft "master plan" for park project. Produced by out-of-state contractor. No public input. Map incorrectly includes lot #8 in park annex. Shows public "camping area" on lot #9.

Lots in County subdivision were purchased by City and converted from "residential" to "public" use without consulting other lot owners. Violates "residential use only" SD restriction. May violate procedure for annexing County property (see TCA 6-58-111). Loss of County tax revenue.

The "park annex" may be of some benefit, but only if properly managed. City has been repeatedly asked to respect the residential character of the neighborhood, to prohibit nighttime public activity in the annex area, and to avoid creating a nuisance for other lot owners.

Maps of Meadow Creek Park

Area map showing Meadow Creek lake and park boundary. Colored areas indicate different sections of the adjacent subdivision. Red rectangle on Hwy 62 indicates new fire station. Red dot in green section indicates City owned lot 10. Click to enlarge:

Aerial photo of Connar Drive area. City owned lot 10 is highlighted. The bluff line is shown by the evergreen trees curving from left to right through lots 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 15 and 16. A large white rock outcrop can be seen on lot 15. The small red dot near the southeast corner of lot 13 indicates where the "free climbing" accident occurred (GPS coordinate: 36.1151114,-85.1801023). Click to enlarge: