We’re excited to introduce our 2026 field teams: a dedicated group of trailbuilders, conservation specialists, and on-the-ground educators working across the country to protect the places we love to climb. From building sustainable infrastructure at heavily trafficked crags to connecting directly with climbers in the field, these teams are helping ensure that climbing areas not only remain accessible—but thrive for generations to come.
Conservation Team Crew Members
Jeff Luton: West
Crew Leader
Welcome back, Jeff! Jeff returns to the Conservation Team as our Crew Leader. Jeff brings a deep knowledge of technical stewardship work and a passion for life on the road and climbing. He's also a great mechanic, so if you break down in the Creek, chances are he'll help you get back up and running in exchange for a volunteer day on the trail.
James Horne:
West Crew Member
Welcome back, James! James comes to us from Florida, but his passion for climbing and volunteering has led him to travel all over the country. He brings a breadth of experience in climbing area stewardship from volunteering for Adopt-a-Crags in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Utah. He just loves that sandstone climbing!
Jonna Frayer:
West Crew Member
Jonna is from Kalamazoo Michigan and grew up climbing in the Red. In 2024 he joined the Rocky Mountain Conservation Corps and worked with Access Fund at the Thumb and Needle in Estes Park. After the 2025 trails season in Colorado he went to the creek and helped out on the Tenderloins trail. He is stoked to be a part of the team this year.
Geoff Luoma : West Crew Member
Geoff comes from the granite guts of the Sierra Nevada along Hwy 50 in Northern California. After years in outdoor education, he’s psyched to give back to the climbing community through land stewardship. Rumor has it he travels with a hacky sack at all times, just in case civilization breaks out.
Lili Stapel: West
Crew Member
Lili joins us from North Carolina, where her work with state and nonprofit outdoor organizations sparked a passion for conservation. She’s no stranger to tough outdoor work and is excited to spend the season supporting the climbing community and snapping a few photos along the way.
Wesley Anderson: East Crew Leader
Wesley joins the Access Fund after many years of conservation experience working on trails crews and wildland firefighting. Wesley considers himself a jack of all trades, if he is not working on trails or climbing you can find him biking, slacklining, or making a cup of espresso.
Janfel Bacho:
Summer Crew Member
Welcome back, Janfel! Janfel has a Texas-sized heart—the state he comes from. He’s a dedicated conservationist and rock climber who brings a wealth of professional trails experience and dirt-bagging know-how. He’s a boulderer who loves to travel and when he’s off you’ll most likely catch him in Hueco Tanks.
Sarah Hurt: East Crew Member
Sarah lives in Tennessee and has been involved in trail-building with various organizations for the past 11 years in the Southeast. A favorite quote of hers is "Into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul, for going to the woods is going home."
Cadence Rogers: East Crew Member
From Texas, Cadence is beyond excited to dive into the world of climbing conservation, and experience all that life on the road has to offer. Having grown up climbing in Arkansas, The Red, and New River George, she brings her passion for East Coast climbing to our Conservation Team.
Lainey Sikes: East Crew Member
Lainey is from Texas but has been all over the west building trails and climbing on America's public lands. They are passionate about doing technical trail work and increasing access outdoors and can't wait to be at your local crag this summer!
Fall Climber Stewards
Asa Grey Curnutte: Red River Gorge Climber Steward
Welcome back, Asa Grey! Originally from Louisville Kentucky, Asa Grey returns to the Red River Gorge for his sixth season living and working in the area. This is his third season working as a RRG Access Fund Climber Steward. He is passionate about outdoor policy and teaching climber ethics. With his knowledge of the local crags as well as flora and fauna, Grey is excited to share and connect with the community in the Red this season. His first crag was Practice Wall in Muir Valley back in 2017.
Liz King: Red River Gorge Climber Steward
Liz's climbing journey began in the Red, and it's where their heart still lives. For the past five years, they have moved back and forth across the US, from the Red to the Southwest, chasing desert tortoises and stoke for sandstone. With advocacy for conservation at their core, they're excited to build community, share stories, and make memories this fall. Whether you want to talk routes, wildlife, or how to protect the places we love to climb, stop and chat with them about your favorite critter at the crag.
Colleen Roberts: Indian Creek Climber Steward
Welcome back, Colleen! Colleen is stoked out of her gourd to be a Climber Steward in Indian Creek this fall. A proud dirtbag, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, and backpacking guide, she’s convinced that living in a van and pooping in bags makes her cool. Beneath the humor is a deep reverence for the land and the people who care for it. Her endless curiosity drives her to learn from every interaction, and she’s always up for a long walk to the pit toilet to swap stories about the best splitter you’ve ever climbed.
Gerry Egbalic: Indian Creek Climber Steward
Welcome back, Gerry! Born and raised in the Philippines, Gerry moved to the U.S. in his teens and rekindled his passion for the outdoors in his 30s. Indian Creek has since become his seasonal home—a place where he learned to jam and discovered that advocacy matters more to him than grades. An AMGA Assistant Rock Guide, Gerry pays forward the knowledge he’s gained by teaching clinics, mentoring at affinity events, and championing diversity and representation in the climbing community.
Celeste Breeden Blankenship: Joshua Tree Climber Steward
Celeste’s climbing journey began on the beautiful sandstone of Moab, Utah, while working for the Utah Conservation Corps. She believes that climbing is one of the most fulfilling ways one can feel connected to themselves and the Earth. With a background in Biology, she’d be happy to chat with you about the unique desert ecology or the epic rocks in the park. Celeste is super stoked to connect with the climbing community in Joshua tree and climb some rocks.
Chloe Huggins: Joshua Tree Climber Steward
Chloe grew up exploring the outdoors and eventually found climbing, which quickly became a way to connect with wild places and the people who love them. Her work as a wilderness ranger and EMT has deepened her appreciation for public lands, Leave No Trace, and the responsibility climbers have to care for the places we recreate. She loves sharing beta, teaching others, and building community around climbing and stewardship. Chloe is excited to spend her time in Joshua Tree helping climbers enjoy the park while protecting it for the future.
Amanda Miller: Red Rock Climber Steward
Amanda fell in love with climbing in Seneca Rocks West Virginia. They have spent the past several years exploring crags across the country, but the desert sandstone keeps calling them back. Amanda is excited to get to connect more with the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the incredible climbing community that calls this crag home.
Cassie Petersons: Red Rock Climber Steward
Originally from Wisconsin, Cassie moved to Las Vegas to be able to enjoy outdoor climbing. She is all in on preserving our desert playground while volunteering for local organizations such as being an Assistant Naturalist with Friends of Red Rock and serving on the Southern Nevada Climbers Coalition Board as the Events Coordinator. She is excited to bring a fresh Midwest perspective and to give back to the climbing community.
Spring Climber Stewards
Lillian Marino: Indian Creek Climber Steward
Lillian loves all the types of rock but is continually drawn back to Indian Creek. She is stoked on climbing splitters and connecting with the amazing people in the Creek. With a background in outdoor education, she is excited to give back to the climbing community.
Shea Allen: Indian Creek Climber Steward
Shea learned to climb on sharp Front Range granite, but quickly fell in love with desert splitters. With a background in conservation through the Utah Conservation Corps, she is stoked to give back to the places that shaped her including Indian Creek.
Asa Grey Curnutte: Red River Gorge Climber Steward
Welcome back, Asa Grey! Originally from Louisville Kentucky, Asa Grey returns to the Red River Gorge for his sixth season in the area. He is passionate about outdoor policy and teaching climber ethics. With his knowledge of the local crags as well as flora and fauna, Grey is excited to connect with the community.
Kayla Vasarhelyi: Red River Gorge Climber Steward
Welcome back, Kayla! Kayla moved to the Red River Gorge in spring 2025 after falling in love with the area’s sandstone cliffs, forested hollows, and vibrant climbing community. When she’s not trying her hand at the Red’s steep routes, you can find her running through the woods, exploring hidden overlooks, or soaking up the sounds of the forest. She’s excited to return for another season to share her deep appreciation for this special place.
Adrien Regelbrugge: Washington Climber Steward
Adrien grew up climbing in Index, Leavenworth, and Mazama, where he first fell in love with the Cascades. After going to college in Montana and a bit of time traveling, he’s returned to the region and is excited to give back to the places that shaped him. Whether at the crag or on the trail, he’s always eager to connect with fellow climbers, share beta, and help foster a welcoming community while protecting access to the areas we all depend on.
Sharon Birchfield: Washington Climber Steward
Originally from California, Sharon has called the Pacific Northwest home for over 20 years. She learned to rock climb in Leavenworth with a local mountaineering club, and spent years volunteering and building community through a shared love of the mountains. After a decade of professional rock and alpine guiding across the West, she is honored to give back—working to protect and sustain the landscapes and communities that have given her so much.
Meghan Braley: New River Gorge Climber Steward
Welcome back, Meghan! Originally from Massachusetts, Meghan moved to the New River Gorge to follow her passion for climbing. From hosting community meetups and working with local nonprofits to using education as a tool for empowerment, her advocacy has taken many forms. She’s inspired by how climbing brings people together and provides space for growth, and she’s psyched to return for her second season.
Alex Hansen: New River Gorge Climber Steward
Welcome back, Alex! Alex first visited the New River Gorge in 2011 and loved it so much he returned every chance he got. He believes that the more you learn about a place, the more you’ll invest in caring for it—whether that’s through stewardship, education, or advocacy. Alex looks forward to sharing his knowledge, connecting with visitors, and giving back to the landscape for his second season.
2026 Field Teams Schedule
Conservation Team Schedule
March 10 - April 19: Indian Creek, UT; Improvements to the Supercrack approach trail
March 18 - April 12, June 23- 27: Red River Gorge, KY; Constructing sustainable staging areas at Chaos Wall in the Coal Bank area alongside the Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition (RRGCC)
April 20 - June 20: Mt. Charleston, NV; Restoring the Mary Jane Falls Trail following Hurricane Hilary damage alongside Humboldt-Toiyabe Forest Service and Southern Nevada Climbers Coalition
April 22 - June 14: Foster Falls, TN; Constructing stone staircases and retaining walls to improve climber access trails and reduce erosion with Southeastern Climbers Coalition
June 29 - August 6: Delta Lake, WY; Establishing sustainable access to Delta Lake with Grand Teton National Park, Grand Teton National Park Foundation and Teton Climber’s Coalition
July 16 - August 2: Index, WA; Improvements to the approach trails in the Lookout Point area with Washington Climbers Coalition
August 17 - September 18: The Thumb, CO; Continuing to improve trail accessibility and sustainability to the Thumb and Needle with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Youth Group Corps
August 20 - September 20: American Fork, UT; Creating sustainable access to the hard rock area with Salt Lake Climbers Alliance
October 1 - October 18: Mill Creek, MT; Building a more sustainable approach trail with Western Montana Climbers Coalition
October 1 - November 22: Indian Creek, UT; Improvements to the Battle of the Bulge access trail.
November 2 - December 4: Linville Gorge, NC; Reconstructing the approach trail to the Amphitheater as a part of Hurricane Helene restoration efforts with Carolina Climbers Coalition and the US Forest Service
Fall Climber Stewards Schedule
October 1 - December 6: Indian Creek, UT; Beef Basin bathrooms Friday & Saturday, Supercrack parking lot Sunday
September 17 - November 15: Red River Gorge, KY; Martins Fork Friday, Muir Valley Saturday, RRGCC properties Sunday
October 17 - March 28: Joshua Tree National Park, CA; Hidden Valley Campground Saturday and Sunday
October 29 - May 25: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV; Kraft Boulders Friday, First Pull-Out Saturday, Pine Creek Sunday
Spring Climber Stewards Schedule
March 5 - May 10: Indian Creek, UT; Beef Basin bathrooms Friday & Saturday, Supercrack parking lot Sunday.
March 26 - June 7: Red River Gorge, KY; Martins Fork Friday, Muir Valley Saturday, RRGCC properties Sunday.
April 9 - October 4: Washington; Leavenworth (April-May), Mazama (May-June) at various alpine trailheads, TBD (July-October).
April 30 - September 20: New River Gorge, WV; Kaymoor Friday, Sandstonia Saturday, Summerville Lake Sunday.
Volunteer with the Conservation Team
These hardworking crews are always looking for volunteers to pitch in and lend a hand. Sign up for volunteer opportunities at www.accessfund.org/event-alerts-sign-up and we’ll send you an email when a team is headed your way and needs help.
And if you’re already psyched, but not sure what volunteering entails, check out the five things every first-time conservation volunteer needs to know.