Letter to the Editor of Climbing Magazine from the Access Fund July 28th, 2005. Appearing in September issue
Thank you for providing a forum showcasing the issues at Oak Flat, Arizona [Off the Wall, September, page 44]. John Sherman, as an employee of Resolution Copper Company (RCC), provided a view which unfortunately fell short in honesty, accuracy, and, sadly, conviction to truly make the climbing community stronger.
Contrary to Sherman's suggestion, the Access Fund is in the business of helping to acquire access to new climbing areas as well as keeping existing areas open. We have funded many land acquisitions with our grants program: Castle Rock Ranch, Idaho; Quartz Mountain, Oklahoma; and Jamestown, Alabama are just a few of the many examples.
We also take issue with Sherman's contention that he is working in the interest of climbers, and the Access Fund is not. If no climbers had opposed the Oak Flat land swap, there would be no concessions to the climbing community. It is opposition by the climbing community -- represented by groups such as Friends of Queen Creek and the Access Fund -- that prompted RCC to hire Sherman in the first place. Employing Sherman's involvement now provides RCC with the opportunity to convince key politicians that the climbing community is divided and perhaps OK with losing access to Oak Flat.
RCC has tried to exploit this perceived division, to stall negotiations, convince legislators that climbers approve of the land swap, and to place doubt on any message the climbing community states in opposition. Sherman has done much for the climbing community over the years and deserves respect for those things. Sadly, his current involvement with RCC is not among those things.
The Access Fund and Friends of Queen Creek continue to work with members of Congress to assure the land exchange bill protects the climbing on public lands now threatened by a foreign-owned billion-dollar mining company. As a non-profit organization that exists solely to serve the U.S. climbing community, we ask you to think about who really has climbers' best interest in mind.
— Steve Matous
Executive Director, Access Fund