Speak Up: Harpers Ferry Proposes Permanent Parking Closure at Maryland Heights

2 Comments / Access, Harpers Ferry /

This month, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park proposed to permanently close the Maryland Heights parking areas, citing safety issues from illegally parked cars along Sandy Hook Road at busy times when legal parking was full. These parking areas have been temporarily closed since March 2020 due to COVID-19 safety protocols. The public can submit comments […]

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Shenandoah Park Implements Old Rag Ticketing Pilot Program

Access, Old-Rag-Ticket Program /

In August of 2021, Shenandoah National Park released a proposal to make several changes for visitors: 1) Increase the campground nightly fee from $15-20 to $30, 2) Begin charging a fee for backcountry camping, and 3) Establish a pilot program for Old Rag visitor access.   In January, the park officially announced the final details of

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Catoctin Trail Plan is an Opportunity to Improve Access to Popular Boulders

2 Comments / Access, Catoctin Mountain Park /

Last year, Catoctin Mountain Park began developing a plan to enhance the Park’s trail system and visitor experiences, while balancing recreation with natural and cultural resource protection. Since 2016, when Catoctin Mountain Park restored bouldering access, Mid Atlantic Climbers has been working with National Park Service staff to steward climbing areas and improve the climbing

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Access Update: Catoctin Mountain Park Bouldering

3 Comments / Access, Catoctin Mountain Park, climbing /

Since 2016 when Catoctin Mountain Park restored bouldering access, Mid Atlantic Climbers has been working with National Park Service staff to steward climbing areas and develop educational materials for the climbing community. In recent years, Park resource experts have expressed concerns about the impact of climbing on the sensitive natural resources the Park seeks to

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Help shape the future of Harpers Ferry climbing

Access, Harpers Ferry, raptors /

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, located on the border of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, is important to providing access to the outdoors for the DC metro region. It is a significant climbing resource in the mid-Atlantic, providing unique opportunities for multi-pitch traditional climbing, top roping, and bouldering. Mid Atlantic Climbers (MAC), Access Fund (AF),

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We want to hear from you: Incorporating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion

Uncategorized /

Throughout 2020, MAC’s board continued discussions about how the organization can better incorporate justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) into our goals of stewardship, education, and ensuring climbing access. We recognize that our current leadership team would be better equipped to address this issue with additional perspectives at the table. The mid-Atlantic climbing community is

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Coming Together: Stewardship and the Climbing Community in the Midst of COVID-19

Adopt-a-Crag, Guest blog posts /

  Blue paint is hard. So is black. Don’t get the paint remover on your skin, it burns. After a certain point, expect diminishing returns. Is the paint coming off? Or are we just making it brighter in cleaning off one layer at a time? Climbers are generally bullheaded people, and none of this seemed

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Mid-Atlantic Climbing Community Provides Input on Upcoming Climbing Management Plan for Monongahela National Forest

Access, Monongahela Climbing Management Plan /

  This past summer, the U.S. Forest Service started to seek public input on an upcoming climbing management plan for the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, part of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The plan intends to cover management of some of the most outstanding trad and sport climbing opportunities in the

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Volunteer for Graffiti Cleanups at Great Falls!

Access, Adopt-a-Crag /

As many of you may be aware, Great Falls Park has seen a significant outbreak of graffiti vandalism this season. Thankfully, the National Park Service is partnering with the climbing community to support multiple small cleanup events throughout the fall…and we need volunteers! The NPS has agreed to facilitate volunteer cleanup events every week between

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