OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM CLIMBING MAGAZINE
RE: INCIDENT IN JOSHUA TREE
NATIONAL PARK
Carbondale, CO-Yesterday details of an incident and charges involving Climbing magazine editor Jonathan Thesenga and the National Park Service in Joshua Tree National Park first came to the attention of Climbing’s management team.
We immediately undertook action and conducted an internal investigation. Based on the results of those efforts, Climbing magazine this morning terminated Thesenga’s employment effective immediately. A successor will be named later.
For 33 years Climbing’s editorial content has been a constant refrain to climbers to act as environmental stewards. We have encouraged the climbing community to employ minimum impact climbing practices, and have strived as employees and representatives of Climbing and the community to maintain even higher standards for ourselves. Violations of that obligation are dealt with swiftly
and deliberately.
Climbing magazine has supported the Access Fund since its inception in 1989, through financial sponsorship, marketing assistance, and editorial coverage of their efforts. Climbing’s long-time editor, publisher, former owner and current editorial consultant, Michael Kennedy, served as a volunteer on the Access Fund board of directors from 1993 through 2002 and as Access Fund president in 1999 and 2000.
Climbing magazine supported climbing specific efforts of the Conservation Alliance with corporate sponsorship from 1992 through 1998. And more recently, the magazine has supported the Utah Open Lands’ Castleton Tower Preservation Initiative, a community and industry supported effort to save Castle Valley from development. Environmental awareness and activism are the core tenets of Climbing’s philosophy - - past, present and future.