Climbing Forecast › Sand Mountain › Horse Pens 40

SAND MOUNTAIN · CUMBERLAND SANDSTONE

Horse Pens 40 weather & climbing conditions

Good — dry and climbable

Right now

Temp68°F
Wind7 mph
Gusts11 mph
Humidity97.8%
Rain 48h0.01 in
Last rain12h ago

Assessment

Should be dry
Humidity 97.8% — expect greasy holds and possible surface dampness (Cumberland sandstone tolerates humidity better than soft sandstone)

7-day forecast

Scroll through each day — hourly detail is shown inline.

Today Monday 5 October
Good
Temp75°F
Rain0.01 in
Wind8 mph
Gusts11 mph
Humidity70%
Should be dry
  • Cumberland sandstone climbs well when dry — check no dampness in cracks or pockets
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
08:00 68° dry 7 — 97.8%
09:00 69° dry 9 — 95.1%
10:00 71° dry 9 — 85%
11:00 73° dry 8 — 76.4%
12:00 75° dry 8 — 71.2%
13:00 76° dry 8 — 66.5%
14:00 76° dry 7 — 66.4%
15:00 78° dry 7 — 63.5%
16:00 77° dry 8 — 63.5%
17:00 76° dry 8 — 62.2%
18:00 73° dry 6 — 70%
19:00 69° dry 8 — 75.2%
20:00 67° dry 10 — 71%
21:00 66° dry 10 — 63.2%
Tue Tuesday 6 October
Good
Temp73°F
Raindry
Wind9 mph
Gusts—
Humidity55%
Should be dry
  • Cumberland sandstone climbs well when dry — check no dampness in cracks or pockets
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
06:00 59° dry 7 — 97.2%
07:00 60° dry 8 — 99%
08:00 63° dry 9 — 95.6%
09:00 66° dry 9 — 85.4%
10:00 69° dry 10 — 69.6%
11:00 71° dry 10 — 63%
12:00 74° dry 9 — 56.3%
13:00 75° dry 8 — 52%
14:00 76° dry 8 — 48.5%
15:00 77° dry 7 — 47%
16:00 76° dry 7 — 46.9%
17:00 75° dry 7 — 51.5%
18:00 71° dry 6 — 61.4%
19:00 67° dry 8 — 66.1%
20:00 65° dry 9 — 69.3%
21:00 63° dry 8 — 75.2%
Wed Wednesday 7 October
Good
Temp73°F
Raindry
Wind5 mph
Gusts—
Humidity51%
Should be dry
  • Cumberland sandstone climbs well when dry — check no dampness in cracks or pockets
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
06:00 55° dry 8 — 95.6%
07:00 55° dry 8 — 96.2%
08:00 58° dry 8 — 90.1%
09:00 62° dry 7 — 79.2%
10:00 66° dry 7 — 69.8%
11:00 69° dry 7 — 59.9%
12:00 72° dry 5 — 52.7%
13:00 74° dry 4 — 47.4%
14:00 76° dry 4 — 44.1%
15:00 76° dry 3 — 41.7%
16:00 76° dry 3 — 42%
17:00 75° dry 3 — 46.7%
18:00 70° dry 4 — 62.6%
19:00 67° dry 4 — 62.7%
20:00 65° dry 4 — 63.7%
21:00 64° dry 4 — 65.2%
Thu Thursday 8 October
Good
Temp79°F
Raindry
Wind5 mph
Gusts—
Humidity43%
Should be dry
  • Cumberland sandstone climbs well when dry — check no dampness in cracks or pockets
  • Hot — Southern humidity and heat make holds greasy
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
07:00 56° dry 2 — 88.6%
13:00 79° dry 5 — 43.1%
19:00 70° dry 2 — 57.9%
Fri Friday 9 October
Good
Temp81°F
Raindry
Wind7 mph
Gusts—
Humidity47%
Should be dry
  • Cumberland sandstone climbs well when dry — check no dampness in cracks or pockets
  • Hot — Southern humidity and heat make holds greasy
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
07:00 60° dry 6 — 83%
13:00 80° dry 7 — 46.5%
19:00 71° dry 6 — 59.6%
Sat Saturday 10 October
Poor
Temp79°F
Rain0.05 in
Wind16 mph
Gusts—
Humidity58%
1.3mm rain forecastCumberland sandstone — wait until fully dry
  • Do not climb wet Cumberland sandstone — even hard SE sandstone breaks holds when saturated
  • Hot — Southern humidity and heat make holds greasy
  • Breezy — helps drying
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
07:00 60° dry 9 — 78.3%
13:00 78° 0.01 in 16 — 58.1%
19:00 68° 0.04 in 13 — 86.2%
Sun Sunday 11 October
Poor
Temp70°F
Rain0.7 in
Wind6 mph
Gusts—
Humidity97%
18.7mm rain forecastCumberland sandstone — wait until fully dryHumidity 97% — greasy holds likely
  • Do not climb wet Cumberland sandstone — even hard SE sandstone breaks holds when saturated
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
07:00 64° 0.3 in 16 — 98.8%
13:00 69° 0.2 in 5 — 96.6%
19:00 68° 0.09 in 5 — 99.2%
Mon Monday 12 October
Poor
Temp77°F
Rain0.02 in
Wind3 mph
Gusts—
Humidity74%
0.4mm rain forecastCumberland sandstone — wait until fully dry
  • Do not climb wet Cumberland sandstone — even hard SE sandstone breaks holds when saturated
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
07:00 67° 0.01 in 2 — 99.7%
13:00 77° dry 3 — 73.7%
19:00 71° dry 4 — 85.2%

About Horse Pens 40

Horse Pens 40 is Alabama's iconic sandstone bouldering venue — 200+ problems on atmospheric Pottsville sandstone atop Chandler Mountain in St. Clair County, an hour northeast of Birmingham. Boulders sit in scattered mature-hardwood woodland with open glades; plateau drains well; Cumberland/Pottsville wet-rock ethic still applies. Privately owned (Schultz Family); day-use fee and waiver at the camp store on arrival — no sneaking in. Night climbing permitted Thursday–Sunday until midnight. NO dogs; fires in designated rings only. On-site restaurant, bathrooms with showers; tent camping and cabin rentals (transitioning to reservation-only — call 256-458-3545). Hosts three annual comps including a Triple Crown of Bouldering stop.

Region
Sand Mountain
Rock type
Cumberland sandstone
Aspect
mixed-facing
Altitude
1417 ft
Exposure
medium
Seepage
low

Other crags in this region

Cherokee Rock Village (Sand Rock)Hospital BouldersLittle River CanyonNoccalula FallsPalisades Park (Oneonta)Griffin FallsYellow Bluff