New Access Society Website, other B.C. Climbing Ac

[Zoran]

Hello! Apologies for the broadcast e-mail. If the news in this message is useful or interesting, please forward to friends and associates, and post it. It contains news about:

The Access Society's new website.

Some current closures in the Squamish area, some on June 19th & 20th (this weekend).

Highlights of other current news.

 

New Website

The Climbers' Access Society of B.C. is pleased to announce that it's new website is now operational.

 

A. The new website is now visible at our old address - http://casbc.bivouac.com - and at www.casbc.ca.

B. The new website - www.access-society.ca - is visible now, or should be in the next day or two (the usual technical glitches). This is the Access Society's new permanent web address.

 

If you formerly went to our old website, it may take your server a day or two to learn that it should now look for www.access-society.ca instead - use http://casbc.bivouac.com or www.casbc.ca in the interim. The latter two addresses will eventually be discontinued, but for now all three will lead to www.access-society.ca.

 

The website contains a great deal of information on public access to the cliffs and mountains of B.C., as well as about the Access Society. Please have a look at it. (Not all at once, perhaps!) We welcome:

Corrections, additions, and new information.

Suggestions on organization and content.

Ideas on improving the site.

We hope to eventually add a listserve for distributing information, a map-based system for finding information, on-line memberships and donations, gradual improvements to design and content, more photos, and other useful things. However, just maintaining the site and keeping it current may be a challenge - please remember that the site is designed and looked after by volunteers!

 

The Access Society would particularly like to thank Mike Hengeveld, Conor Reynolds and Brock Wilson for their work in creating the new website, Phil Hollman for logo help, and Adrian Burke for his work on maintaining the old site. It may be a few days before the new e-mail addresses are functioning - info(at)access-society.ca, etc.

Vertical Challenge – Grand Wall – June 19th & 20th

 

This weekend Brad Zdanivsky, the first quadriplegic ever to return to climbing after a spinal cord injury, will attempt to climb the entire Grand Wall. He will be accompanied by volunteers from the Vertical Challenge Team. The line of ascent will largely be to the right of Grand Wall, but will cross over and use the last anchors on the Grand Wall before Bellygood Ledge, and the anchors where the Grand Wall reaches Bellygood. There will also be fixed ropes across Bellygood before and during the climb. This is necessary because a lot of equipment and volunteers are required, and a weekend is the only workable window.

 

Brad’s ascent may affect other climbers on Grand Wall. If you plan to climb it this weekend, the Vertical Challenge Team apologizes for any inconvenience. They ask that climbers plan their ascents appropriately, and respect any gear that is fixed for Brad’s climb. They also recommend that climbers avoid the final two pitches of Grand Wall (before Bellygood) on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

 

 

Brad plans to begin climbing at 9:00 AM on Saturday, bivouac on Bellygood Ledge that evening, and on Sunday climb the wall above Bellygood to the top, before rappelling. More information on the climb is at www.verticalchallenge.org/news.htm, or (604) 730-2723. Fit, energetic volunteers are needed to help with the ascent, both during the week before, as well as Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. If you can help, contact Brad at vertical(at)intergate.ca, or the number above. Volunteers need not be climbers or have climbing equipment. There will be a barbeque on Sunday afternoon for volunteers.

 

Smoke Bluffs (Squamish) & Test of Metal (June 19th)

 

The annual Test of Metal mountain bike race will be on Saturday June 19th. The route will include Loggers’ Lane and at least part of the Smoke Bluffs parking lot. Both Loggers’ Lane and the parking lot may be closed to all use that day, until the race is over. Climbers would have to park a short distance away and walk. There are continuing discussions as to how usage, safety and other issues can best be balanced - if you're climbing at the Bluffs this weekend, there may be parking restrictions.

 

There will also be a climbing-related fundraiser at Squamish this weekend. The Edge Climbing Centre has loaned it’s mobile climbing wall to Valhalla Pure Outfitters. The wall will be open to anyone who wants to try climbing, for $2.00/person, all proceeds to Squamish Search & Rescue. Saturday (19th) at the Loggers’ Sports Grounds, Sunday (20th) at Squamish Station mall. Volunteer belayers are needed both days. Call Murray Sovereign at (604) 892-9092, or squamish(at)vpo.ca if you can help.

 

Sea-to-Sky Highway – Culliton-Cheakamus

 

Work on the Culliton-Cheakamus section of the highway continues, and should be finished in autumn 2004. Climbers using the Conroy Creek forest service road should comply with all posted restrictions on use of the road and the parking area. They may be closed during the week (including evenings), due to blasting, storage, and use by heavy machinery. If so, please park where permitted off the highway, and walk from there. Make sure workers know you’re there, do what you’re asked, be polite, and don’t get in the way. The road may be open on weekends, though it may be rough, and there are restrictions at the parking area.

 

If you climb anywhere in the Culliton-Cheakamus project area, there are significant public safety concerns, at all times. The risks include blasting and heavy equipment use, as well as crews having to manage climbers while work is underway. If you are climbing anywhere in the work section, or nearby, please obey all posted restrictions, and heed what workers ask. Those big, freshly blasted rocks didn’t land on and near the Gorge, the Gym, Rehab Project, and Sport Temple by chance.

 

 

There are frequent short daytime/weekday closures in the Culliton-Cheakamus section, and many evening and night time closures – check for updates at 1-877-472-3399, or at www.seaktoskyimprovements.ca. Much but not all of the blasting occurs at night – evening climbing at Chek this summer may not be the best idea, especially in the Gorge/StarChek area - workers may not know you're there when blasting, or be able to find and warn you.

 

The Access Society is quite concerned about possible damage to cliffs, and deposition of blasted (loose) rock on or near cliffs. We are discussing these issues, and management of climbers' access to the area, with the project managers.

 

Access Society Address

Access News #38, our newsletter, was recently mailed, together in many cases with membership application or renewal forms. The Access Society's address was omitted from some. It is:

 

Box 72013 - 4479 West 10th

Vancouver, B.C.

Canada V6R 4P2

 

In the Shadow of the Chief - Television Premiere

The television premiere of the award-winning documentary, "In the Shadow of the Chief", will be on Thursday July 8th at 7:00 PM on CBC British Columbia. The film is about the first ascent of the Grand Wall on the Stawamus Chief in 1961. More information at www.fringefilmworks.com.

 

Thank you!

 

Anders Ourom (president)

(604) 228-1798

 

ps It's not access-related, but Arc'Teryx's annual sale of seconds and discontinued products will be this Saturday and Sunday, June 19th & 20th, 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM, at it's outlet store at 2770 Bentall Street in Vancouver.