Todd Skinner, free-climbing pioneer and hero to many was killed in a climbing accident on Monday, October 23, 2006 in Yosemite. Our most heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.

A memorial fund has been set up for Todd’s wife Amy and children Hanna, Jake, and Sarah: Skinner Memorial Fund, Atlantic City Federal Credit Union, 704 West Main St., Lander, WY 82520

2006 Access Fund Sharp End Award Recipients

Each year the Access Fund recognizes individuals and businesses that volunteer their efforts and shine above the rest in their commitment and work on behalf of the American climbing community for preserving climbing access and the climbing environment. This year’s awards and recipients are:

Sharp End Award: For leadership and activism in preserving climbing access and the climbing environment.

Doug Colwell

Doug is a long time activist for the climbing community in Idaho and has spent countless hours helping with the efforts to reopen famed Twin Sisters to climbing. Doug’s climbing advocacy has included numerous meetings with Idaho’s Congressional delegation, organizing climber meetings, and putting together successful letter writing campaigns. Doug has also worked closely with park managers at Castle Rock State Park representing climber interests on various climbing management policies and park development plans. Doug was also instrumental in obtaining an insurance policy where all others had failed allowing the Access Fund to complete a user license on behalf of the climbing community with Resolution Copper Company in Arizona allowing the use of significant private climbing resources in Oak Flat and Queen Creek.

Randall Leavitt

During his 30+ years of being at the forefront of American climbing, Randy has always done his all for access and protection of climbing resources. In short, Randy makes things happen. As a long time member and supporter of the Access Fund he is often the leader of cooperative climbing agreements and religiously alerts the Access Fund to new issues, be they questions with migratory birds or the potential sale of climbing resources. His leadership in his local climbing community is strong and steadfast helping to keep what could have been an explosive situation at El Cajon into one that the community could tackle. Randy is a standout Access Fund Ambassador, member, and volunteer on behalf of the entire climbing community.

Christopher Spatz

Chris’s first foray into climbing activism was in the early 1990’s working to save Princeton, New Jersey’s Cradle Rock from a land development threat. He has since served on the first steering committee for the Gunks Climbers’ Coalition (GCC) and is currently a director-at-large. In his role has director, Chris has acted as the preliminary liaison for the GCC with Minnewaska State Park, the Open Space Institute, the Mohonk Preserve, the NY-Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Town of Rosendale. Most recently, he has played a significant role in the negotiations to open the Rosendale Water Works bouldering area and in the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding between Mohonk Preserve and the GCC.

prAna

Recognized for above and beyond contributions of staff time, resources and financial support of the Access Fund’s advocacy work.

prAna proactively pushes the mission of the Access Fund through their own corporate identity and channels. They provide resources above and beyond their annual contribution, which directly impacts the effectiveness of Access Fund staff time and resources. Examples include subsidizing the Access Fund office’s wind energy offset credits through their groundbreaking Natural Power Initiative showing corporate responsibility by encouraging consumers to think about their energy consumption which directly effects our climbing environments. Streamlining the Access Fund’s apparel program by drastically reducing associated product costs and staff time. Donating the proceeds of a tee-shirt from their own product line that communicates the message of the Access Fund

prAna has been instrumental in the development and growth of the boulderProject helping to raise money and awareness, offering guidance and direction on the conception and development of the program from the beginning, and encouraging their athletes to get involved in the Access Fund.

Urban Climber Magazine

Recognized for above and beyond contributions of staff time, resources and financial support of the Access Fund’s advocacy work.

Urban Climber Magazine has taken a lead role in delivering the boulderProject message of minimum impact climbing and importance of understanding how climbers, the environment, and access are all connected to the new generation of climbers. By contributing significant time and financial resources to provide a platform for the Access Fund’s message and interweaving that message throughout all aspects of their publication, they deliver the Access Fund mission to an audience that would otherwise be difficult for the Access Fund to affect.

Of their many contributions from ideas, support, and directly affecting Access Fund financial resources necessary to further the mission, the following stand out: Integration of the Access Fund message throughout every single issue of the magazine from in-kind advertising, Access Fund controlled editorial content, to Urban Climber Magazine editorial content that directly underscores the mission of the Access Fund and responsible climbing. Further and significantly, Urban Climber Magazine underwrote the development of the boulderProject website at a crucial time in the expansion of the program. Without this support, the message of the boulderProject would not be reaching its audience.

Land Manager of the Year: Given to a professional resource manager who has demonstrated a commitment to preserving climbing opportunities and a progressive approach to public lands management.

Cal Hite, Park Superintendent New River Gorge

Cal Hite, who is retiring in 2007, is recognized for his recent work with climbing activists and his effective and cooperative management style over the last several years. Nominated by the local New River Alliance of Climbers for this award, Cal deserves this acknowledgement for his outspoken advocacy against proposed rim developments (sentiments shared by climbers) that could forever impair the unique view shed at the New River Gorge.

Cal Hite was instrumental in maintaining climbing access when the NPS proposed a mandatory closure of Endless Wall to support a speculative nesting program for undocumented peregrine falcons. He has further reached out to the West Virginia climbing community by helping out with various Adopt-A-Crag events and supporting the New River Rendezvous climbers’ festival.

Reese Martin Memorial Award Regional Coordinator of the Year: For leadership and activism in preserving climbing access and the climbing environment, and specifically for their volunteer work as an Access Fund representative.

Kellie Rice

As a Regional Coordinator for the Access Fund, Kellie Rice has always gone above and beyond the expectations of the position. Not only is she a leader as an activist, she enthusiastically and it seems innately, promotes the Access Fund at all times. Her specific efforts include advocating tirelessly for the successful opening of Madrone Wall near Portland as a County Park, hosting and attending numerous Adopt-a-Crags, promoting the Access Fund and organizing membership drives and fundraisers at numerous events around Oregon, involvement with access issues in southern Oregon at Sprague River and Williamson, and expanding the Access Fund’s reach throughout all of Oregon. For climbers in Oregon and across the country, we have all benefited from the passion and work of Kellie Rice.

The Bebie Leadership Award: Presented to America’s outstanding activist(s) for the cause of preserving climbing access and the climbing environment.

Ken Yager

Three years ago Ken took his lifelong passion for climbing and his love for Yosemite Valley and combined them into one big dream: the Yosemite Facelift, where climbers take the lead and clean trash off the routes, cliffs, and all the environs of the National Park to make it a better place and more enjoyable environment for climbers and the public. The Yosemite Facelift was born and has now grown into the largest climber led stewardship event (and Adopt-A-Crag) in the nation. Over five days this fall 1100+ volunteers contributed 9,000+ hours of time to remove over 25,000 pounds (five tons) of trash from Yosemite National park. Beyond the physical contribution, the amount of goodwill with park managers, other park users and the leadership shown by this event is without comparison.

Menocal Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented periodically to individuals who have demonstrated remarkable commitment to the cause of preserving climbing access and the climbing environment, and who have contributed substantially to the progress of the Access Fund over many years.

Sean Cobourn

Sean was one of the founding members of the Access Fund and served on the first Board of Directors. Since 1991 he has been an Access Fund volunteer Regional Coordinator and only recently stepped down as president of the Carolina Climbers Coalition.

In the early 1990’s Sean negotiated the opening of Table Rock State Park, South Carolina to rock climbing and helped draft the park’s climbing regulations. This was the first time that climbing was allowed in South Carolina State Parks. In 1994 a possible closure at Crowders Mountain State Park in North Carolina was preempted by a meeting arranged by Sean in which over 100 climbers were in attendance. This meeting catalyzed the formation of the Carolina Climbers Coalition in 1995.

Perhaps some of his finest work has been accomplished in the last two years with the creation of Hickory Nut Gorge State Park in North Carolina which forever protects the climbing at Rumbling Bald. Sean’s leadership was crucial in bringing together a coalition of land trusts and other partners to find the money and the political will to create this new state park. In 2006 Sean was successful in raising over $250,000 to purchase the privately held Laurel Knob, saving it from land development. At 1200 feet high Laurel Knob is the largest piece of granite east of the Mississippi and an incredible climbing resource which the Carolina Climbers Coalition will now own and manage, protecting climbing and its environment forever.

Michael Kennedy Award: Presented periodically for outstanding leadership and commitment to the Access Fund mission as a Board member of the Access Fund.

Dan Nordstrom

Since taking over as board president in 2005, Dan has quickly put his mark on the Access Fund asserting his positive presence at public events, trade shows, activist summits, fundraising events, and just about every venue the Access Fund participates in. His commitment to actively understand the day-to-day challenges of the Access Fund has strengthened the work between the Board and staff and the Access Fund as a whole.

Driving forward new initiatives, finding the right mix of new Board members and leading the Access Fund through new strategic plans are a result of Dan’s forward-thinking leadership. These efforts have required diplomatic bridge-building skills and the willingness to tackle hard issues while maintaining focus on the Access Fund’s core mission.

AREA UPDATES

Farley Ledge, MA

By Jeff Squire, Regional Coordinator and President Western Massachusetts Climbers’ Coalition

The Western Massachusetts Climbers’ Coalition is in the early stages of acquiring a 9-acre property abutting Farley Ledge, arguably the best piece of rock between Rumney and the Gunks. The purchase would be for the creation of a permanent parking lot, approach trail, protection of natural buffers, and to prevent potential development close to the cliffs.

Farley Ledge is largely owned by Northeast Utilities, but their site license contains a recreational stipulation requiring that they provide recreational opportunities. As a result, access issues have always been over the parking and approach trails.

Farley has already been closed four times due to growing crowds and abutting landowner concerns. The WMCC’s goal is to put an end to this cycle permanently through the acquisition of this property. The goal is to raise $75,000 by spring when the current landowner would like to close.

We will need everyone’s support for this project. This is likely the best thing to happen for western Mass climbing. Visit our website to learn more or to donate (www.westernmacc.com). It would be a shame to loose this opportunity and be faced with new homes less than 100’ from the cliff!

Lawsuit Derails Yosemite National Park Management Plans, CA

On November 3rd a federal judge ruled on a lawsuit filed by the Friends of Yosemite Valley (http://www.bigwalls.net/climb/camp4yosemite/pages/2COMPLAI2.html) resulting in a stoppage of "all ground disturbing projects in Yosemite" except for some minor road maintenance on the Valley Loop Road. What this means is that the National Park Service (NPS) is prevented from continuing the Lodge redevelopment project or Camp 4 expansion until a new Merced River Plan is developed and survives any future litigation. Last Friday's decision ruled that the NPS must prepare another plan that protects the wild and scenic Merced River before proceeding with any construction activities. The NPS had argued that it should be allowed to proceed with multiple construction projects within the river corridor.

Under the Wild and Scenic River Act, Yosemite National park must have a plan to regulate development near the banks of the Merced. In 1997 the Merced River Plan became the central focus of the debates about Yosemite’s future when it flooded and wiped out campgrounds, lodging and parking areas. The Friends of Yosemite Valley felt the Merced River Plan failed to adequately protect the river corridor, and sued. In 2004 the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals directed NPS officials to revise their Merced River plan, but according to the recent court ruling Yosemite National Park failed to redraft the plan in a way adequately protects the river.

For more, see www.fresnobee.com/263/story/11668.html or www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2006/11/10/sports/outdoors/doc4553fbe214436934670931.txt. Another hearing is scheduled for next January but it looks likely that it might take the NPS another two years to finish their latest Merced River Plan before they may commence work on the Lodge redevelopment or Camp 4 expansion. For more information, contact AF Policy Director Jason Keith at jason@accessfund.org.

Last Chance Canyon, NM

By Jason Fields, Regional Coordinator
The US Forest Service is currently developing a recreation management plan for Last Chance Canyon and as such has requested that all climbing route development be halted until they have time to draft the plan. The restrictions include no new bolting and no new trails or campsites. They also request that while you are in the canyon you refrain from entering “the Hermit's Cave” and “Solstice Cave” because of the possible archaeological resources located within.

Other than the above mentioned restrictions all other climbing remains open.

Please direct any questions to Jason Fields at v15wannabe@yahoo.com

Park Service Begins Management Plan Affecting Climbing and Bouldering Near Newhalem, WA

The National Park Service (NPS) recently announced that it will begin the process of crafting a General Management Plan (GMP) for Ross Lake National Recreation Area which lies adjacent to North Cascades National Park 1 ½ hours north of Seattle. This updated GMP will describe the general path that the NPS intends to follow in managing the Ross Lake NRA over the next fifteen to twenty years. For planning details and to submit your own comments see http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkID=337&projectId=16940

At issue in this plan will be the future of climbing access to extensive climbing resources in the Skagit River Gorge which climbers had begun developing in 2001. After the NPS became aware of the new climbing and bouldering activity they asked climbers to stop developing new routes and bouldering areas pending a specific climbing management plan (CMP) that has yet to materialize. This GMP will address all aspects of ecosystem management and public uses of the NRA and thus the GMP will take several years to plan for and implement. Local climbers are hoping for a quicker result, especially after five years waiting for a CMP. In late October, the NPS completed a series of public “workshops” in Washington State and British Columbia to assess public opinion on the direction of the plan and what specific values should be protected. These meetings were well-attended by Access Fund representatives and members of the Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC) (www.washingtonclimbers.org). For more information about the details of the plan and climbing resources near Newhalem, contact the WCC or email Access Fund Policy Director Jason Keith at Jason@accessfund.org.

Shelf Road: Cactus Cliffs Road Closure, CO

Liz Nichol, Outreach Coordinator, Rocky Mountain Field Institute

Beginning November 2006 the road leading to the Cactus Cliffs climbing area from Shelf Road will be closed. The BLM has decided to close this steep, un-maintained road due to liability issues and the requests of private property owners along the road.

Cactus Cliffs, Spiney Ridge, and The Gymnasium are still open to climbing.

There is a new trail leading to Cactus Cliffs from The Bank. This is now the fastest, most convenient way to approach the area. The trail was built in August by the Rocky Mountain Field Institute with the help of AmeriCorps volunteers and a grant from the Access Fund. It is approximately 1.5 miles long.

Please park in the newly expanded parking area at The Bank.

PLEASE DO NOT PARK ALONG SHELF ROAD.

For more information contact BLM at 719-269-8500 Thank you for your cooperation.

Indian Creek Update, UT

Human Waste -Thanks in part to a Patagonia Environmental Grant, the pilot program for self management of human waste at Indian Creek nears the end of its 3^rd climbing season. For details see the new Friends of Indian Creek (FOIC) website (www.friendsofindiancreek.org) which was made possible by generous support from Trango). The success of this trial program is key to maintaining the unique primitive camping and climbing experience found at Indian Creek and stave off view-killing “improvements” by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). See Timmy O'Neil taking care of business the right way at the Creek: www.accessfund.org/extras/tic.php

Camping - During an Access Fund Adopt-A-Crag in early September, the Friends of Indian Creek assisted Dugout Ranch tenant Heidi Redd to close approximately 10 campsites along the Bridger Jack Road that are on Dugout Property. This work, in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and the BLM, was part of a FOIC compromise with Heidi for continued climbing access across Dugout Land (such as access trails to Super Crack, Scarface and several other popular buttresses). Over thirty designated BLM campsites remain 1.5 miles further down the Bridger Jack Road, and nearly all other established Indian Creek campsites remain open for use.

Parking - there is no parking at the former Way Rambo parking area. This area has been posted as closed by the state but apparently someone has removed the sign. The final 500 yards of that road is now closed to vehicle access so please park back at the triangle junction where the road goes to Pistol Whipped Wall. Moving this parking area will limit conflict with the Indian Creek Cattle Company's seasonal work moving cows and only add a few minutes of extra walking for climbers headed to Way Rambo.

Information Brochure - With financial help from the Access Fund the Friends of Indian Creek have also produced an informational brochure that will guide visitors to camping, climbing and parking locations throughout Indian Creek. An online version of this guide can be found here http://friendsofindiancreek.org/ICbrochure.pdf. The brochure will also explain low-impact practices, the new human waste project and other specifics of the new Indian Creek Management Plan (http://friendsofindiancreek.org/agencies.php). For more information, join the Friends of Indian Creek by emailing info@friendsofindiancreek.org or contact Jason Keith at jason@accessfund.org

Climbing Still Closed at Cave Rock No Change On Pending Access Fund Lawsuit, NV

Nearly 1 ½ years ago the Access Fund filed its most recent legal brief at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the on-going attempt to keep climbing open at Cave Rock, a popular and important climbing area on the shore of Lake Tahoe in Nevada. For more background see www.accessfund.org/pdf/CRbackgrounder3-28.pdf

In January 2005 at the district court level in Reno a judge upheld the US Forest Service (USFS) decision to ban climbing at Cave Rock; however, the district court prevented the USFS from removing any climbing bolts pending the Access Fund’s challenge. The AF Board subsequently voted unanimously to pursue an appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. For now, since all briefs have been filed, we continue to wait for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to schedule oral arguments or render a verdict. The USFS declined to pursue mediation despite the Access Fund's hope that the conflict may be resolved out of the courtroom.

The Cave Rock climbing ban remains in place at least for the duration of the lawsuit, and it's critical that climbers continue to respect the climbing closure while we work our way through the courts. Violating the climbing closure only harm our case in court and reduce your chances of climbing at Cave Rock in the future. For more information contact Access Fund Policy Director Jason Keith at Jason@accessfund.org.

Climber’s Proposal for LAC Accepted, KY

By Bill Strachan, Executive Director Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition

At the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) Workshop held on October 24, 2006 in Winchester, KY climbers presented a proposal regarding standards for climbing in Red River Gorge. This proposal was accepted by the overall LAC group with no changes except for the correction of a couple of typographical errors. At the beginning of the meeting RRGCC Board member Shannon Stuart-Smith made a presentation first about climbing in general and then specifically about climbing in Red River Gorge. This was followed with Bill Strachan presenting the LAC standards developed by climbers.

The proposal developed by climbers limits the amount of impact that can occur both at a “climbsite” and at a “climbing-area” before a management action must be considered by the Forest Service. A “climb-site” is a staging area at the base of one or more climbing routes and a “climbing area” is a grouping of closely spaced “climb-sites”. A key aspect to this proposal is the concept that the Forest Service will look at approving new climbing on an area basis instead of the current route by route basis. The proposal also allows for the installation of new bolts in areas approved by the Forest Service except for areas located in a “Pristine” zone. For areas that are located in a “Pristine” zone, existing bolts will be allowed to remain or be replaced. All existing climbing areas within the scope of LAC are considered to be approved pending the completion of surveys for cultural and biological resources. Any new areas proposed by climbers will have to be surveyed before climbing development can proceed.

Many thanks go to everyone involved in the climbers working group that put together the proposed LAC standards for climbing. This working group consisted of current RRGCC Board members Shannon Stuart-Smith and Dwight Bradburn; past RRGCC President, Jim Holzman; Chris Carr; Rita Wehner; and myself, Bill Strachan. Many hours were spent in meetings and in phone calls hashing out the final proposal. Thanks also to Jason Keith, Access Fund Policy Director for his involvement in reviewing our work. The non-climbers involved in the LAC process offered compliments on the thoughtfulness and effort made by climbers in putting together their proposal.

New River Gorge GMP Update; Lawsuit Challenges Proposed Land Development, KY

National Park Service (NPS) continues its General Management Plan (GMP) process for West Virginia’s New River Gorge National River. The GMP is the foundation for decision making in the park for the next fifteen to twenty years. The purpose of the GMP is to ensure that the park has a clearly defined management direction for resource conservation and visitor use that will affect climbing and camping opportunities. While many climbing specific issues were dealt with in a recent climbing management plan (http://www.nps.gov/archive/neri/cmp/index.htm), this GMP could override any decisions in the climbing plan as well as provide for trails and much needed camping for climbers.

In November the NPS held a series of public meetings that were attended by representatives from the New River Alliance of Climbers (www.newriverclimbing.net/), the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Plateau Action Network who is challenging a local zoning decision to allow a luxury home development on the rim of the gorge that would significantly alter the unique viewshed forever. For more information or to get involved in the GMP process at the New River Gorge, see http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkID=259&projectId=11040.

The controversial housing proposal planned for the rim of the New River Gorge has seen a number of recent legal developments. The Plateau Action Network (PAN) is a coalition of local interests including the New River Alliance of Climbers. From the beginning PAN supported a reasonable version of the development proposal that did not impact the world class view of the Gorge. PAN believes that a high a quality residential development adjacent to the New River Gorge can proceed in a way that also protects the valuable resources of the park including the distinctive viewshed. The NPS agrees with this position, expressing significant concern that this development should be planned in a way that enhances the local economy but doesn’t diminish the asset that keeps people coming back to the region. See http://www.hintonnews.net/state/060605-shns-nrg.html or listen to a recent NPR story at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5498888 to get more background. The boating community has also been concerned with this potential change to the scenery at the New River Gorge (http://www.americanwhitewater.org/archive/article/1281/).

Although developers tell the public that “no houses would be visible from any ground level point in the park,” a sophisticated, computer generated viewshed analysis produced by the NPS shows that nearly 80 home sites would be visible along the rim of the gorge. In addition, the county’s decision whether to allow this development proposal will likely set a president for at least two other development proposals which could amount to as many as 1,800 new homes. Consideration of these long term effects is the substance of PAN’s legal appeals which challenge the decision of a local zoning officer who ruled that the local development code contained no provisions to consider viewshed despite clear language which states that “outstanding views” may be taken into account in zoning decisions. The zoning officer also declared that the public would have to pay the developer if any building plans were prohibited by the county, even though existing state law contradicts this position. Accordingly, last summer PAN joined forces with other organizations including the National Parks and Conservation Association (NPCA) and brought an unsuccessful appeal to a zoning board despite an admission of “oversight” in interpreting the development code state compensation requirements for county zoning rejections. Nonetheless, the county zoning board affirmed the decision to approve the development proposal.

Legal gyrations continued into the fall when PAN and NPCA considered an appeal the Circuit Court of Fayette County in their continuing quest to preserve the New River Gorge viewshed. Hoping to prevent this public appeal, the developer threatened to sue PAN (and some of its individual members) for “tortuous interference,” a legal action that some believe to be a SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation). SLAPP suits can cause a chilling affect on the right of individuals to participate in the public process. To win this “tortuous interference” lawsuit, the developer would have to show that PAN was acting with malice; most SLAPPs are ultimately unsuccessful, but nonetheless they are often threatened because they can intimidate potential plaintiffs into withdrawing their otherwise constitutional right to petition the government for “redress of grievances.”

In late October PAN agreed to withdraw its appeal after the Fayette County Commission unanimously approved a resolution that responded to many of PAN’s concerns about how the county considers future development along the New River Gorge. The resolution “indicates the need to work closely with public land managers to ensure that developments moving forward protect our public lands, are compatible with park values, and reinforces the need to protect scenic views that lure thousands of visitors annually to New River Gorge.” Furthermore, the resolution also recognized the need to follow the state’s process for public engagement in planning decisions for development surrounding the New. “It's not too late for the [land development company] to be good neighbors, and remove these controversial lots from the park’s viewshed,” said Joy Oakes, Senior Regional Director of the National Parks Conservation Association. “The ball is in their court.” For more information on this increasingly complicated legal process that could affect the experiences of climbers at the New River Gorge, see http://www.plateauactionnetwork.org/.

Lovers Leap, CA

By Paul Minault, Northern California Regional Coordinator

Climbers topping out at Northern California's Lovers Leap may find not the peaceful alpine summit they expected but a roaring dust cloud of off-road motorcycles under a proposal by the El Dorado National Forest.

A designated motorbike trail to the summit already exists, but it currently sees little motorcycle use. The Forest Service is engaged in a formal motorized route designation process, which will include the closure of some existing routes. This process will determine the fate of the Leap trail and other motorized trails.

If the Leap trail survives the designation process, then climbers can expect increased use of this trail due to the closure of other trails and increased motorized use of the forest in general.

More information on the Forest Service route designation process is available at

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/projects/route/.

The alignment of the trail shows in dark red on the Forest Service trail map at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/documents/route/maps/enf_se_pyramidpeak.pdf

The Access Fund is preparing a letter to the Forest Service opposing continued motorized use of this trail and encourages climbers to contact the Forest Service in opposition to the trail.

Letters, emails and phone calls should be directed to:

Tony Scardina, OHV Route Designation Leader, Eldorado National Forest, 100 Forni Rd. Placerville, CA 95667, ascardina@fs.fed.us, 530-621-5276.

The Forest Service expects to issue a draft environmental document in December for the route designation process, and this will be another opportunity for climbers to submit comments on the proposal.

Pinnacle Peak Park, AZ

By Erik Filsinger, AMC Land Advocacy Chair

Please keep in mind that Pinnacle Peak Park opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. Currently the listed park hours are 6:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The hours are posted at the entrance. If you do not exit the gates of the park prior to closing (or are within the park before opening) you could be subject to arrest and fines for criminal trespassing, a felony in AZ.

Please also remember that the climbing community and the AMC in particular worked very hard for the opening of Pinnacle Peak Park and to keep climbing there. We agreed in negotiations to certain conditions, one of which was to respect the park operational hours, so the facts mentioned above are part of the price we pay to retain this precious urban climbing area.