Local Advocacy

[g orton]

MEMBERSHIP: https://www.kintera.org/site/c.tmL5KhNWLrH/b.4917803/k.BEA7/Join/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=tmL5KhNWLrH&b=4917803&en=kfIKISOuG5IFLNPnGbIOJZPIJjLOKYPuFeIPLTMxHcJOKaK

 

This is a plug for becoming an Access Fund member.

Most climbers would be supprised by the amount of behind the scene advocacy for rock climbing that goes on both Nationally and in Oregon. Our ability as climbers to continue to self-manage climbing in our local areas is no accident.

 

I think most climbers would be supprised at how many ongoing issues there are currently being address in Oregon. And, you may be supprised by what a long process it becomes to resolve or mitigate these issues. Over the past 20 years the Access Fund has played a critical role behind the scenes of Oregon climbing.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2010 by g orton

[111]

This is rather well timed, as I (I'm sure theres a number of you too) just received an Access Fund email regarding the Skull Hollow closure last(?) weekend. There is a letter writing campaign to the USFS to keep the campground open longer or ideally, year round. Below is the text from the email:

 

With little notice and no public input, the US Forest Service-owned Skull Hollow Campground near Smith Rock was closed on October 31st for five months. Your help is needed to keep Skull Hollow Campground open for Smith Rock climbers year-round.

 

Because the USFS failed to post no camping signs and failed to provide any public notice of the campground closure, the weekend of November 6-7 saw dozens of climbers camped just outside the closed gate. There was zero public input or consultation about the 5 month closure with local climbers or the Smith Rock Group who have historically helped to fund the pumping of the toilets and cleanup of the site.

 

After several calls and e-mails from local climbers, the local USFS office agreed (for this winter only) to keep the site open longer. However, the USFS only agreed to add the months of November and March on either side of a 3 months closure (Dec/Jan/Feb)—months when climbers typically frequent the campground.

 

Forest Service staff says that if they hear from enough people in support of keeping Skull Hollow open more of the year they might change the closure period. But they are about to sign a new 5-year contract with the campground host—so we need your comments as soon as possible!

 

Please use our easy letter-writing tool to urge the USFS to protect the camping opportunities at Skull Hollow.

 

Thank you,

 

Your Friends at the Access Fund

 

This is something that is very relevent to many of us, help Access Fund so we can all have an organized voice!

[Checat]

The issues of Madrone Wall and the impending issues of Skull Hollow are certainly issues that Oregon's branch of the Access Fund should and will deal with.

 

I have been a due paying and card carrying member of the Access Fund since 2000, when I began climbing and frankly I have some frustrations with the Access Fund Oregon.

 

For as long as I've been a member my local branch has hardly represent me. Maybe it has always been the distance between myself and my local climbing crags to Portland and Bend, maybe I'm not a climber well suited to be an Access Fund member?

 

On multiple occasions, through multiple representatives I have attempted to get the Access Fund involved with areas that interest and are local to me with zero success. The efforts, time and money of the Oregon Access Fund has been squarely focused on high interest crags in larger population places.

 

I don't live in Timbuktu. I live in the Southern Valley and used to live in the Rogue, and have never felt an Access Fund presence. The crags I climb at run the gambit of access issues from ownership issues, trail development needs, fixed protection ethical concerns etc...

 

In all my letter writing, emailing and phone calls I have had little traction in getting the Access Fund to work for me.

 

Does that mean I think you shouldn't pay your dues and be a member of the Access Fund? No. You should, especially if you climb out of the state, you'd be surprised at the Access Funds influence elsewhere.

 

But what I will promote is, if you pay your dues, and you do the right thing by joining the Access Fund - Make sure the AF is working for you. If you feel less than represented or even worse misrepresented, voice this.

 

You don't have to be penalized in access management just because you don't climb at the climbing areas receiving major attention.

 

 

[billcoe]

I've noticed that a lot of the work that gets done...even at those major population areas and major climbing spots, is done via donations of time by volunteers.

 

If anyone is thinking that they don't have the scratch to pony up, an alternative, and often more valuable contribution, is your time. Call them up and go to work.

 

Thanks for anyone and everyone who has done this.

[g orton]

Bill is right on.

The Access Fund's effectivness in Oregon can only be a reflection of Oregon climbers williness to be involved.

If I was to make a list of areas in Oregon that I'm aware of that the AF has had some level of involvement it would include: Madrone Wall, Beacon (pseudo OR), Pilot Rock (Rogue), Greensprings, McKinley Rock, Acker Rock, Callahans, Youtlkut Pillars, Williamson Cliffs (Klamath), and The Menagerie. I'm sure others are aware of other efforts up North or the east side over the years.

Just last week I was on the phone with them on access issues to The Menagerie, Williamson Cliffs, and Peregrine monitoring.

http://status.accessfund.org/

 

Other local efforts such as Adopt A Crag Days offer effective ways to begin advocating for your area http://www.accessfund.org/site/c.tmL5KhNWLrH/b.5000889/k.166C/AdoptaCrag.htm Adopt A Crag Day is an easy way for ANYONE interested in donating their time to a crag.

 

While the AF officially only has one Regional Coordinator in OR they also afiliate with several organized climbing groups in OR http://www.accessfund.org/site/c.tmL5KhNWLrH/b.5052157/k.4F44/Whats_Happening_in_Your_Backyard.htm, and then there are behind the scenes more cloak and dager conections with OR climbers that help represent that rogue climbing element that has always been a part of Oregon's more remote and lesser known sites.

 

They have a strong Grants Program that has beeen very responsive to funding needs at our smaller crags in W OR. http://www.accessfund.org/site/c.tmL5KhNWLrH/b.5023595/k.98A2/Grants_Program.htm

 

I encourage everyone to become a member to help support climbing as a self-managed sport. Your donations will help support AF efforts at both the State and National level. http://www.accessfund.org/site/c.tmL5KhNWLrH/b.4992345/k.BC76/Mission_and_Vision.htm

Edited November 15, 2010 by g orton

[Checat]

The access battle for the Sisters -Mariah lane region boulders came down to ponying up a large portion of cash. I believe it was the Access Fund that stepped in for that particular climbing area.

 

Maybe someone living in Sisters can attest to the local advocacy and combined (or independent) efforts with Access Fund to purchase the 2 real estate properties that this quality bouldering area sat on?

Edited November 14, 2010 by Checat