FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2006
Contact:
Robb Shurr, Access Fund
robb@accessfund.org
303.545.6772 x100
Access Fund Awards 100% of Applicants in Second Climbing Preservation Grant Cycle
The Access Fund continues its support of grassroots climbing advocacy and conservation projects by awarding 100% of the applicants in its second Climbing Preservation Grants cycle of 2006 for trail improvements, preservation of private lands from development, and Affiliate educational initiatives. This year, 12 grants have been awarded for a total just shy of $30,000. Presented three times annually, these grants provide financial assistance for local climber activism and protection of the climbing environment in the United States.
The following grants were awarded this round:
Piano Boulders Preservation and Improvement Project, Fort Collins, Colorado
A grant was awarded to the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program, for erosion control and fence construction work at the Piano Boulders, outside Fort Collins, Colorado. The Piano Boulders are located in Pineridge Natural Area (PRN), which was acquired by the City of Fort Collins through a series of purchases starting in 1978 and is managed City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program. The bouldering area, first visited sometime in the late 1960’s, is officially off limits. PRN is an on-trail only site and the trail(s) up to the bouldering area are not officially sanctioned trails. Instead of enforcing this violation the City of Fort Collins Natural Area Program decided to recognize bouldering as a legitimate activity and to officially designate a trail up to the Piano Boulders.
Youtlkut Pillars Restoration, Oregon
The Forest Service was awarded a grant to help pay for a toilet construction project at a popular climbing destination in the Umpqua National Forest. Because the pillars are so easily accessed by road, this area has a history over the past 25 years of attracting large climbing groups such as local Search & Rescue, Boy Scouts, ROTC, and the local Job Corps Center. Heavy use at this site has resulted in erosion and vegetation loss at the base of the rock and outlying areas and the need for an outhouse facility.
New River Gorge Viewshed and Climbing Access Protection, Kentucky
A grant was awarded to the New River Alliance of Climbers to conduct modeling research on the potential climbing viewshed impact of proposed housing developments on the rim of the New River Gorge. The National Park Service’s viewshed analysis shows approximately 20% of the lots will be visible from highly utilized areas in the park, including areas used for climbing such as Beauty Mountain. The Park Service analysis is limited by its inability to definitively model the impact of the development when the leaves have fallen. An independent third party with the ability to model the vegetative cover is needed to validate the park service analysis. This modeling will include viewshed impacts from popular climbing areas.
Friends of Indian Creek Brochure, Utah
The Friends of Indian Creek received a grant to produce an Indian Creek informational and educational brochure. The brochure will focus on providing concise information on camping, private lands issues within the area, and the BLMs management plan for Indian Creek.
Grant Information Contact:
Deanne Buck, Access Fund
303.545.6772 x112
deanne@accessfund.org
Since 1991, the Access Fund has been the only national advocacy organization that keeps climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. The Access Fund supports and represents over 1.6 million climbers nationwide in ALL forms of climbing; rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and bouldering. Five core programs support the mission on national and local levels: public policy, stewardship & conservation (including grants), grassroots activism, climber education, and land acquisition. For more information visit accessfund.org or boulderproject.org