E-News 91
May 2008
THE BETA
ACTION ALERT
Your Letters are Needed! Oppose the Proposal to Quarry Montana's Lost Horse Canyon
NATIONAL NEWS
House Natural Resources Committee Passes National Parks Centennial Fund Act
AF NEWS
Grant Applications Due June 15th
Travel and Win $500 in GORE-TEX® Gear!
EVENTS
MEMBER BENEFITS
Evolv Rock Shoe Benefits Access Fund
Complimentary Rock and Ice 2008 Gear Guide for Members
Free Membership at eConscious Market
ACTION ALERT
By Steve Porcella, Bitterroot Climbers Coalition
Montana's Ravalli County just voted to begin mining at Lost Horse even though there's been little to no cost comparisons, scope, impacts, or boundaries described for the project. For more background information, see www.ravallirepublic.com/articles/2008/05/01/news/news43.txt and www.accessfund.org/display/page/AA/74.
The bottom line is that the County Commissioners and the U.S. Forest Service have prioritized mining over climbing and other recreational values of Lost Horse canyon. Their goal is purely resource extraction for financial gain, with 8-10 other projects (again, with no detail or scope) also proposed.
Write or email forest supervisor Dave Bull and the other contacts listed below. In the past, Dave Bull has given his ear to the Bitterroot Climbers Coalition (http://bitterrootclimbers.org). Impress upon him the high recreational value of this site. Our best hope is that he will take our comments into consideration and limit the impact of mining at the site. Also send your letters to the Missoulian, Ravalli Republic and Bitterroot Star.
In your letters, explain that Lost Horse Canyon is a valuable recreational area that you enjoy. Further industrialization and degradation of the canyon for financial gain/savings is counterproductive to the high and long-term recreational value of the canyon. Be clear that you are against further mining in the canyon and that other available resources could be mined without impacting the canyon’s recreational opportunities. Demand that Ravalli County and the Forest Service recognize your recreational use of the canyon. We are not against resource extraction, but we are against it when it conflicts with a high use, high value area.
Dave Bull
Forest Supervisor
Bitterroot National Forest
1801 North 1st Street
Hamilton, MT 59840
Ravalli County Commissioner
C/o Glenda Wiles, Administrative Assistant
Ravalli County Commissioners Office
215 S. 4th Street, Suite A
Hamilton, MT 59840
commissioners@ravallicounty.mt.gov
US Senator Max Baucus
Missoula Field Office
1821 South Avenue West, Suite 203
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 329-3123
US Senator Jon Tester
Missoula Field Office 116
West Front Street
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 728-3003
Congressman Denny Rehberg
US House of Representatives
c/o Kelly McQuiston, Field Representative
301 East Broadway, Suite 2
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 543-9550
The Missoulian
Letters to the Editor
PO Box 8029
Missoula, MT 59807
The Bitterroot Star Newspaper
Ravalli Republic Newspaper
On May 7, 2008, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 3094, the National Park Centennial Fund Act with support of Democrats and Republicans. Soon, it will be taken up by the full House, and a companion bill has already started through the Senate.
The National Park System – “America’s best idea” – will turn 100 years old in 2016. By passing the National Parks Centennial Fund Act out of committee, the House is taking a bold step toward legislation that will help get rangers out from behind their desks, reduce the park system’s environmental footprint, protect cultural resources, and enhance human-powered recreation opportunities.
The Access Fund applauds the House Natural Resources Committee’s action on H.R. 3094 and looks forward to supporting this bill in Congress and seeing it become law in the near future.
Want to keep the energy level high? Fire-up an email to your Senators and ask them to keep up with the House!
The Access Fund Climbing Preservation Grant program funds projects throughout the United States that preserve or enhance climbing access and opportunities and conserve the climbing environment. Since 1991, we have provided over a million dollars in grant money to organizations and individuals that identify and work on the root causes of local climbing access and conservation issues, as well as approach issues with a commitment to long-term change. Because positive change often occurs through strong grassroots movements, our funding focuses on organizations and individuals that build a strong base of local climber support and activism.
If you would like to receive an Access Fund grant, your mission should be quantifiable; your plan should have specific goals, objectives, and action items; and it should include measures for evaluating success. Because the Access Fund is a member-supported, non-profit organization, we fund groups whose missions align with ours and whose grant objectives further our shared vision. Most grants range from $1,000 to $4,000. The Access Fund considers requests for over $10,000, but such projects should have national significance and utilize matching funds. If you are requesting more than $10,000, please call the Access Fund before submitting your application.
For more information or to see if your project fits our grant guidelines, visit: www.accessfund.org/cons/guidelines.php
See examples of past Access Fund Preservation Grants at: www.accessfund.org/grants
Are you hosting an Adopt-a-Crag this year? If so, contact your local climbing gym to see if they are involved with the Access Fund’s TeamWorks program. You may find willing and eager youth volunteers.
TeamWorks is an exciting program that, with the cooperation of team coaches, allows indoor, youth, climbing gym teams to earn points for participating in Access Fund Adopt-a-Crag events. As a reward for their stewardship efforts in taking care of the places we all play, the 10 teams with the most points will win cash grants between $250 and $2,000 for their youth programs.
If your local gym doesn’t know about this program yet, please help them out. Send them this link: www.boulderproject.org/teamworks/.
Space is limited, sign up today!
The HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation is excited to announce its second annual Colorado Climb4Life on June 14, 2008. A fundraiser to stop ovarian cancer, the event invites climbers of all ages and skill levels to join professional climbers and Colorado Mountain School guides in a fun-filled day of climbing, camaraderie, and raising money. Registration is now underway: www.climb4lifeco08.kintera.org.
Climb4Life is open to women, men, and children of all ages; no climbing experience is necessary. Climb4Life Colorado features outdoor and indoor events at climbing destinations in and around the Colorado Front Range area. Last year the event raised almost $20,000. This year the goal is to raise $50,000 to help fund cutting-edge research for early detection, better treatment, and prevention of ovarian cancer. HERA needs you to join in this effort.
“I believe this is an important event for the community . . . by climbing together, I get to help participants reach a goal, and they enable me to see the world a little bigger,” says writer, long-time climber, and HERA guide Majka Burhardt.
Help HERA raise $50,000 and sign up for Climb4Life today. The Climb4Life event also includes a raffle, Hang Time party, yoga, massage, and plenty of great food. Participation is limited, so register now: www.climb4lifeco08.kintera.org.
The GORE-TEX® brand, with help from the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), identified the Top 10 GORE-TEX® Footwear Summer Travel Destinations where travelers can experience the diversity of both outdoor adventure and urban leisure travel.
EVENTS
Make any event an Access Fund fundraiser and/or member drive. It’s so easy—register your event online and we’ll set you up with the membership materials you need and the swag to get people excited. www.accessfund.org/events/eventreg.php
05/21—05/21 Atlanta Rocks!, Atlanta, GA. Climbers’ Information Night www.atlantarocks.com
06/04—06/04 Planet Granite, Sunnyvale, CA. Kashmir Alpine Style Multi Media Show Presented by Micah Dash
06/06—06/09 Blue Mounds State Park, Luverne, MN. Blue Mounds Climber's Gathering www.minnesotaclimbing.com
06/13—06/15 Boulder, CO. Hera Foundation's Climb4Life Fundraiser www.herafoundation.org
06/21—06/22 New River Gorge, WV. 2008 UCLIMB EVENTS sponsored by Mountain Gear. 800-829-2009 www.uclimb.org
Please register your crag clean-ups as an Adopt-a-Crag to strengthen our communal efforts. Adopt-a-Crag is the largest climber volunteer effort year after year and land managers notice. Be a part of it! www.accessfund.org/cons/aac.php
05/17 Sandstone, MN. Robinson Park Clean-up, an Adopt-a-Crag event hosted by the Minnesota Climbers Association and the City of Sandstone. Glenn Burns, glenn.burns@gmail.com
05/18 Taylors Falls, MN. The Taylors Falls Clean-Up an Adopt-a-Crag event hosted by the Minnesota Climbers Association, Mid-West Mountaineering, and Minnesota DNR. Glenn Burns, glenn.burns@gmail.com
05/23 Franklin Gorge, WV. The 2nd Annual Franklin Traildaze & Crankfest, an Adopt-a-Crag event hosted by Punishers, Inc. Starts at 3pm May 23rd ending through Midnight May 26th. Camping and Cabins available, more information available at: www.rockclimbing.com, Michael Gray, roninthorne@rockclimbing.com
05/31 Colorado Springs, CO. The Ute Valley Climbing Comp & Clean Up, a TeamWorks Adopt-a-Crag event hosted by the ROCK Climbing Center Junior Team, Front Range Climbing Company, the Mountain Chalet, and REI Colorado Springs. Lara Groshong, info@climbingtherock.com
06/07 Lewis and Clark State Park, OR. The 5th Annual Broughton's Bush Whack & BBQ, an Adopt-a-Crag event hosted by Access Fund Regional Coordinator Tony Holmes, Climb Max Mountaineering, Next Adventure, and the Stoneworks Climbing Gym Youth Team. Tony Holmes, nwwilderness@aol.com
06/07 Atlanta, GA. Boat Rock Trail Day, a TeamWorks Adopt-a-Crag event hosted by Atlanta Rocks, the Southeast Climbers Coalition and REI Buford. website: www.seclimbers.org, Brad McLeod, mbmcleod@mindspring.com
06/08 Blue Mounds State Park, MN. The Blue Mounds Clean-up, an Adopt-a-Crag event hosted by the Minnesota Climbers Association and Minnesota DNR., Glenn Burns, glenn.burns@gmail.com
06/08 The Monastery, CO. The Monastery Clean-Up an event hosted by the Kent Nountain Adventure Center, Canyon Lakes National Forest Ranger District, and the New Belgium Brewery. Reed Woodford, kmac@frii.com
MEMBER BENEFITS
Get member-only discounts on all the new stuff in the Access Fund MemberSHOP! www.accessfund.org/membershop
Evolv QUEST-AF 1% of all sales go to the Access Fund.
Dear fellow climber,
On behalf of Rock and Ice and the Access Fund, please check out this complimentary digital edition of our 2008 Gear Guide. This year, I'm pleased to say that the Gear Guide is more useful than ever and is loaded with critical reviews of gear, from rockshoes to harnesses to bags to tents. Back by popular demand, we've also included our B.I.G. (best in gear) awards. To earn a B.I.G., a piece of gear had to prove itself in the field by being more innovative or better (or both) than all the rest. Please click here to view the digital edition and see for yourself.
*You must allow pop ups for www.realread.com.
Safe climbing,
Duane Raleigh
Publisher and Editor in Chief Director
Rock and Ice
eConscious Market is the Internet's largest philanthropic eco marketplace featuring eco-products for your home and office, work and play. Every time you shop, you give too. 50% of net profits from your purchase will be donated to the Access Fund!
For a free eConscious membership:
Go to: www.econsciousmarket.com/site/Become-A-Member
enter: accessfund (no spaces all lowercase) as your promo code
enter email and password and verify password
select Free (PROMO CODE REQUIRED, includes member only discounts)
100% Organic Cotton prAna T-shirts. Designed for a comfortable fit and ideal for steep sport climbs, bold runouts, or just hanging out. Artwork by Jeremy Collins. $20.00 non-member / $15.00 member. NOW IN STOCK!
The perfect block heater for long ice-routes, crisp bouldering sessions, or a bad hair day. 100% Merino wool. A soft fleece lining adds a little extra protection from the elements. Tastefully co-branded with the Access Fund and The North Face logos. One Size. $15 non-member / $13.50 member. NOW IN STOCK!
Cruise to the AF website and play ASANA PackWorks' video game Gunther's Big Day (www.accessfund.com/extras/game.php). Click through to ASANA's site to purchase the full version. Ten dollars from each purchase made through this link will be donated to the AF. Go, Gunther! Thanks, ASANA!
AF Ambassador Timmy O’Neil “takes care of business” in Indian Creek www.accessfund.org/extras/tic.php
AF Ambassador Chris Sharma sending a first ascent in the boulderProject promo spot at www.accessfund.org/extras/promo.php
Are you a federal employee? Did you know that you can donate to the Access Fund through the federal government's Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)?
Federal employees, including federal civilians, military personnel, and U.S. Postal Service workers, can donate to AF through the federal government's Combined Federal Campaign. The CFC is a charitable fundraising program that enables you to give to the Access Fund through automatic payroll deductions.
If you are a federal employee, please look for the Access Fund (agency # 12047) in the official CFC listing of eligible donors. You can also make your contribution online by going to (www.conservenow.org), clicking on “Search for a Charity,” typing in “Access Fund,” and making your contribution there.
If you have additional questions on these programs, please contact Ellen Jardine at ellen@accessfund.org.