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Billy McCollough boulders at Donner Summit, CA. ( photo by Eric Pearlman)
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The Access Fund is working to preserve climbing and camping at Castleton Tower, UT. (photo by Jeff Widen)
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The National Park Service has concerns about increase impact at Grandmother Mountain, NC. (photo by John Heisel)
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The
Access Fund:
1. Access Fund Grant Helps Save Bouldering at Donner Summit, CA A $5,000 grant by the Access Fund will support a land acquisition by the Truckee Donner Land Trust to preserve bouldering. This acquisition will double the size of Donner State Park and preserve access to the Saddle Park boulders near Donner Summit, one of the state's more popular summer climbing areas. The grant is one of many outcomes already realized by the Access Fund's Bouldering Campaign, which seeks to: Raise awareness about bouldering among land managers and the public; Promote care and respect for natural places visited by boulderers; Mobilize the climbing community to act responsibly & work cooperatively with land managers; Protect and rehabilitating bouldering resources; Preserve bouldering access. For more information, contact Shawn Tierney, access and acquisitions director, at shawn@accessfund.org. 2. Castleton Tower Preservation Initiative The Castleton Tower Preservation Initiative (CTPI) is making substantial progress. This collaborative effort, led by Utah Open Lands (UOL) and the Castle Rock Collaboration, and supported by the Access Fund, seeks to protect the integrity of Castleton Tower and its surrounding landscape. Castleton Tower is one of the most famous and spectacular climbing landmarks in North America, and its Kor-Ingalls route is one of the Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. For over 40 years, climbers have traveled to climb and camp at Castleton Tower. The acquisition and preservation of land adjacent to Castleton will preserve access to Castleton Tower and permanently protect the historic climbers' bivy site. 3. Indian Trust Litigation Prevents Public Access to DOI Websites & Networks Access to all Department of Interior (DOI) websites and email addresses has been cut-off to comply with a court order issued to secure individual Indian trust data. On Wednesday December 5, 2001, District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered the DOI to "immediately disconnect from the Internet all information technology systems that house or provide access to individual Indian trust data; and disconnect from the Internet all computers within the custody and control of the Department of the Interior, its employees and contractors, that have access to individual Indian trust data." The following agencies are within the DOI: National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Geologic Survey, Minerals Management Service, Office of Surface Mining and US Fish & Wildlife. The upshot of this Order is that all Interior agencies have disconnected their computer Internet access and external network connections, therefore, the public can neither access any DOI websites, nor email any DOI employee via their government email addresses. Phones are still working, so until the Order is lifted you can phone your local DOI agency office to obtain information or assistance. You can also check out http://www.doi.gov/ to obtain other limited information. The US Forest Service, under the Department of Agriculture, is not affected by this order. The ability of DOI agencies to conduct a large portion of their daily business has been impacted. Many DOI employees have even begun using hard-copy time cards again. The agencies are working with their information technology staff to seek an acceptable way to restore operations, while ensuring compliance with the court's Order. Until further notice, continued compliance with the Order is required. 4. BLM Asks for Voluntary Closure of Western Chalk Bluff Steve Addington, field manager for the Bureau of Land Management in Bishop, CA, is asking the public to honor a voluntary seasonal closure of public lands along the western part of Chalk Bluff, north of Bishop, to protect raptor habitat. This action closes climbing from the northern edge of Chalk Bluff Road to the northern boundaries of Sections 19, 20 and 21, and from the eastern edge of Section 21 (touching the uppermost tip of Happy Boulders canyon) west to the edge of the power line road above Pleasant Valley Reservoir. This voluntary closure to foot, equestrian and vehicle traffic will be in effect from January 1 to July 31, 2002. The closure applies only to BLM-managed public lands (does not include the foot trail in the middle of Section 21). There will be signs posted in the area asking visitors to respect the closure, with additional notices at information kiosks and local businesses. As a result of public input and environmental analysis, the BLM decided on a voluntary closure for the 2002 raptor-breeding season. Visitors who do not respect the voluntary closure will not be penalized, but the Access Fund urges all climbers to honor this effort, as it will preserve climbing access in the future. The completed environmental analysis document is available at the Bishop library or from the BLM office in Bishop. BLM is continuing to study the situation and will begin a public planning effort to guide long-term management of the area. The process will be completed by September 30, 2002. Climbers can obtain more information contact Doug Dodge, Joe Pollini or Joy Fatooh at the BLM's Bishop office at 760-872-4881. 5. Bishop Camping Information The BLM in Bishop, CA expects that the Pleasant Valley Winter Campground may get filled with campers during the major holiday periods this winter/spring. Holidays such as Martin Luther King's weekend, Presidents' Weekend, and Easter break usually see many climbers visit the Bishop area. If you plan on climbing and camping around Bishop at these times and the BLM winter campground is full, check with Colin and Molly, campground hosts, to see if they can accommodate you. Otherwise, plan on camping at other nearby campgrounds or sites listed below: A. The Bardini Foundation House: this is a climbers' hostel located at 515 Sierra St. in Bishop. $10 per night. B. Pleasant Valley County Campground: located on Pleasant Valley Road about a 1/4 mile beyond the turnoff to the BLM winter campground. This campground charges $10 per night, is open year round and contains facilities. D. The Pinion Site: free dispersed camping location above the gorge. No facilities. E. Buttermilk Country: free dispersed camping on Inyo National Forest land. 28 day limit. Take Hwy. 168 west from Bishop to the Buttermilk Road. Turn right and look for dispersed campsites about a mile after the turnoff. F. Millpond Campground: full service, commercial campground. $12 per night for up to four people. Open March 1 to December 1. Showers. Please do not camp on the Volcanic Tableland. This sensitive desert environment is vulnerable to camping related impacts and is easily damaged by camping use. Camp at one of the areas described above. 6. North Carolina Update (Report submitted by Aram Attarian, Access Fund Regional Coordinator) During the past few months, the climbers in North Carolina formed the Pisgah Commercial Climbers Association and met with National Park Service personnel of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The PCCA was created to address many issues at climbing areas utilized by camps and schools in the Pisgah National Forest of Western North Carolina. The group's mission is to "Protect the future of climbing areas in the Pisgah Ranger District by addressing issues facing commercial climbing such as group impact, minimizing the impact large groups have on climbing areas, providing trail work, and promoting safe climbing practices." Representatives of camps, schools, outfitters, guides, and the USFS met in October and agreed the group would include a wide representation of climber interests and discuss climbing issues in the Pisgah Range District of the Pisgah National Forest. Check the Southeastern Climbers Coalition website for more information at http://www.seclimbers.org. 7. Bridalveil Falls, Colorado Bridalveil Falls, one of the most sought-after ice climbs in this country, will be closed at least for the 2002 winter season. Idarado Mining Company, owner of the property where the falls is located, did not renew their year-to-year recreational access easement with the Town of Telluride. The Access Fund is working with Regional Coordinator Steve Johnson and local climbers to explore all options for restoring access to this historic climb. 8. In Memory of Jason Hunt Rock climber and friend of the Access Fund Jason Hunt died on October 13 from a climbing accident in Vancouver, British Columbia. Jason distinguished himself as a climber and instructor of youth in a therapeutic wilderness challenge program. He sought to instill the ideals of accomplishment, compassion, responsibility, and friendship in all of his students. Memorial donations to the Access Fund have been made by Liza Wilson, Kellie Thomas, Allison Johnson, Matt Shove, Michele Palma, and Don Pelletier. Climbers can honor Jason's memory by sending donations to the Access Fund at PO Box 17010, Boulder, CO 80308. Contact Kerry Cowan at kerry@accessfund.org for more information. 9. Wanted: Database Consultant The Access Fund needs a consultant to help us part-time with our Microsoft Access 2000 Database. If you are proficient with this software, or know someone who is, please contact Kerry Cowan at 303.545.6772 x106, or kerry@accessfund.org. Virtual Times Policies: 1. The Access Fund office in Boulder is the only source of outgoing messages to the lists. 2. The AF will not sell or give away email addresses for the V-Times. 3. V-Times is an announcement-only e-mail list; therefore, you cannot reply to any of the list members. 4. All e-mail addresses will remain confidential with every mail sent. TOP OF PAGE
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