Preserving Climbing Access Fall 2014

Another fall season is in the history books, and along with some great days spent rock climbing, Mid Atlantic Climbers were busy preserving climbing access through stewardship events, education, and outreach. Thanks to the amazing efforts of our volunteers, Mid Atlantic Climbers hosted three Adopt-a-Crag events showing the climbing community’s continued commitment to the stewardship of public lands. Mid Atlantic Climbers also launched a new Climbing+Access page featuring info, links and access alerts for local climbing areas. And our membership has also grown, thanks to all the folks who signed up to become joint members of the Access Fund and Mid Atlantic Climbers.

Volunteers at the first Harper's Ferry National Historic Park  Adopt-a-Crag
Volunteers at the first Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park Adopt-a-Crag

Stewardship:
Besides continuing our efforts with Adopt-a-Crags at Great Falls National Park and Northwest Branch Park, this was our first year coordinating an event at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. Events like Adopt-a-Crags, help the parks with trail work and conservation projects and they show that the climbing community is committed to preserving these areas. Harpers Ferry is unique park with a wide variety of climbing in several disciplines spread out across three states. Working with Harpers Ferry National Park will help protect this climbing area for years to come.

Access:
Behind the scenes, Mid Atlantic Climbers has been working with land managers to keep climbing areas open. We’ve also been staying in touch with other local climbing organizations across the region from Pennsylvania to West Virginia to coordinate efforts to preserve climbing access.

Our new Climbing+Access page will help to communicate access alerts to the climbing community as well as help new climbers connect to info about climbing in the region.

Mid Atlantic Climbers also help spread the word about responsible recreation by participating in the #ROCKProject. Along with the Access Fund, local climbing organizations and climbers across the country, we’re promoting low impact climbing practices and positive behaviors at our crags.

Next Year:
Looking forward to 2015, we’re excited to coordinate more events with our parks and our partners, and continuing to educate and advocate for climbing access. We’re very excited to be planning Rockfest at Coopers Rock again in 2015! Click here to see details from last year’s event.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone!

Sincerely,

 

-Chris Irwin, President Mid Atlantic Climbers