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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Dec 21, 2016 - 09:49am PT
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Maybe next year they will work on Williamson Rock
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Dec 21, 2016 - 01:38pm PT
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Batrock.... my thoughts exactly.
The AF runs from the hard fight.
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otis
Trad climber
Lake Arrowhead, Ca
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Dec 21, 2016 - 05:58pm PT
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Get Williamson Rock open!!!! thx access fund
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Splater
climber
Grey Matter
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Dec 21, 2016 - 06:29pm PT
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I see the ANF SOPA page says for Williamson Rock:
Next Milestone: Comment Period (est. 02/01/2017)
Last Updated: 09/13/2016
so maybe there is some planning progress.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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Dec 21, 2016 - 06:53pm PT
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Awesome that we have an organization like this! Like preserving our wildlife, we Must take time to be involved with Access Fund.
Thanks for all who contribute in any way they can. Work, funding, ideas....it's all good. Cheers!
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Dec 28, 2016 - 11:39am PT
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The Access Fund is an outstanding non-profit and the list of climbing areas that it has preserved access to grows by leaps and bounds each year. I am very proud to have been involved with it for over 25 years.
The Access Fund has not won every access issue, but it has won most of them. And idea that it “runs from a hard fight” is absurd. The lawsuits it has brought against the federal government to open access to public lands attest to this.
However, some access problems present particularly thorny issues,and land managers are legally required to protect endangered species while at the same time managing recreational use.
This is a great time to do an end of the year donation. If you call yourself a climber, you should be supporting the Access Fund.
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Dec 28, 2016 - 12:45pm PT
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Gnome-Sure, there is a lot of work to be done still, at Williamson and elsewhere, but The Access Fund is the best hope for opening any of the areas you mention.
Breaking news! Outdoor Research has announced that it will match every dollar donated from now until the end of the year up to $20,000.
So you can effectively double your contribution if you act this week.
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Dec 28, 2016 - 01:27pm PT
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The Access Fund is working on re-opening Williamson Rock.
http://www.accessfund.org/take-action/campaigns/ongoing-campaigns/williamson-rock-california
Williamson Rock was Southern California’s premier summer sport climbing destination until it was closed in 2005 to protect the endangered Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (MYLF). The Angeles National Forest restricted access to Williamson as a result of successful lawsuits brought by the Center for Biological Diversity and other conservation organizations. Williamson Rock remains closed to climbing, but the Access Fund and local climbing advocates remain focused on reopening this area. Incremental progress was made in the summer of 2014 when the US Forest Service initiated a process for evaluating alternatives for opening the climbing area. After initial project scoping, the Forest Service postponed the project citing lack of funding. In the spring of 2016 the Forest Service set aside $250,000 dollars to complete the environmental review and is hopeful to start the assessment in 2017. Access Fund is awaiting a management planning decision that may consider limited climbing. The final planning decision could take several more years due to the environmental review process that still needs to be conducted.
One way to do something to help with that effort is to contribute this year and effectively double your donation.
Then you can share some of the credit if Williamson Rock is listed next year as a top ten access victory for 2017!
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Dec 29, 2016 - 03:57pm PT
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Still time to get this year's charitable deduction.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly...
T. Roosevelt
The AF is in the arena, striving valiantly to keep us climbing. We should be in its corner, lending support.
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clarkolator
climber
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Dec 30, 2016 - 08:08am PT
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I'm a big fan, but looking at the web page it seems like the organization is suffering from mission creep.
The only two access victories that I see on the annual report are Homestead and Donner, and Donner was mostly done by Truckee Donner Land Trust.
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COT
climber
Door Number 3
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Dec 31, 2016 - 07:17am PT
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Rick A - way to keep it positive! Go!
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clarkolator
climber
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Dec 31, 2016 - 08:39am PT
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Thanks COT and Rick - positive is better. This org is great. Made my first donation ever, suggest others do the same!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Outside the Asylum
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Dec 31, 2016 - 01:25pm PT
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The Access Fund has a 25 year record of success. Not unbroken - that's not realistic. But it has accomplished many things, and stayed focused on results.
If it has had fewer successes east of the Mississippi, it comes down to human geography. Population density is higher there, and a much higher percentage of land is privately owned. Which means that purchase is often the only option.
Canadians can also consider donations to:
Climbers' Access Society of BC: http://www.access-society.ca/ (A registered charity.)
Climbers' Access Society of Alberta: http://climbersaccess.ab.ca/
Ontario Access Coalition: https://www.ontarioaccesscoalition.com/
There are also local climber organizations to support.
And, please also join these organizations. Numbers = credibility.
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Dec 31, 2016 - 02:14pm PT
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There is one area where the Access Fund has consistently under-performed for all of its 25 year history.
It has never been good about touting its numerous successes. It seems like once an access fight is won, it is forgotten.
That's why the 25th anniversary newsletter listing 25 examples of significant access victories is so important. If you want to measure concrete results, take a look at the list beginning on page 8:
https://www.accessfund.org/uploads/Summer-16_Vertical-Times_Final_LR.pdf
Note that many have occurred East of the Mississippi, including at the Gunks, Rumney, Foster Falls-Tennessee, and many others.
Aspirational? The numerous volunteers and local climbing organizations who have spent their free time making these hard-won victories and numerous others possible would beg to differ.
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Dec 31, 2016 - 02:39pm PT
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Here is a quote from President Obama's proclamation establishing the Bears Ears National Monument, which includes the crack Mecca of Indian Creek.
The area contains numerous objects of historic and of scientific interest, and it provides world class outdoor recreation opportunities, including rock climbing, hunting, hiking, backpacking, canyoneering, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
The inclusion of rock climbing as one of the activities protected by the new designation is no accident. The AF worked for years on this.
Here is the AF press release about this huge public lands victory.
https://www.accessfund.org/news-and-events/news/obama-declares-bears-ears-national-monument
Entire proclamation here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/12/28/proclamation-establishment-bears-ears-national-monument
Thanks to those who joined up. You're making a difference.
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Crazy Bat
Sport climber
Birmingham, AL & Seweanee, TN
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Dec 31, 2016 - 06:48pm PT
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Denny Cove is a big deal in Tennessee. It is 30 minutes from my father's house and a big contribution to keeping the Firey Gizzard area pristine.
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other
Trad climber
San Diego CA USA
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Apr 30, 2017 - 09:17pm PT
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15 years after Williamson Rock in south California was closed by animal rights fanatics with no proof that climbers did harm it's still closed. The Access Fund solution is to start a limited permit system in more years. That's not advocacy. That's not money well spent. That's why climbers don't see value and don't pay.
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