Washington

Access Fund work in Washington

Began coordination of Mt. Rainier Flood Recovery Initiative with Mt. Rainier National Park and the Student Conservation Association (2007)
Communicated, strategized, provided advice and assisted in drafting a letter with Washington Regional Coordinator on approaching the County Executive expressing climbers interest and consideration in an ORV Park proposal for the Reiter Pit/Gold Bar bouldering area (2006)
Continued work on the public lands recreation fees issue where climbers have been unfairly targeted with new improper fees on Mt. St. Helens, WA which single out climbers/mountaineers (2006)
Reviewed the Olympic National Park General Management Plan to ensure that proposed management alternatives do not negatively affect climbing or the climbing resource (2006)
Attended a National Park Service public meeting in Seattle and advocated for climbing access with members of the Washington Climbers Coalition in a general management plan for the Ross Lake National Recreation area in northern Washington adjacent to North Cascades National Park. At issue is a new route and bouldering ban at a high quality climbing area in the Skagit River Gorge near Newhalem, WA. (2006)
Outreach to Mount Rainier National Park offering Access Fund assistance to help repair massive flood damage (as much as $30m) caused by an unusually destructive November storm in the pacific NW that damaged, among other things, climbing access trails and roads. (2006)
Communicated and offered support to Superintendent and Volunteer Manager at Mt. Rainier National Park regarding Adopt-a-Crag projects for spring/summer 2007 due to the devestation that occurred because of the recent flooding (2006)
Advocacy work and support to local climbers working to reestablish a relationship with Beacon Rock, WA park staff. Providing assistance over raptor issue. (2005)
Issued an Action Alert to inform climbers about an impending road closure at Darrington, WA that would adversely affect access to the climbing area. In response to the alert, the Forest Service decided to keep the road open. (2005)
Advocacy work with the US Forest Service in Washington State concerning climbing practices and fixed anchor policies in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area; (2004)
Did organizational work to establish the Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC) local climbing organization. (2004)
Climbing preservation grants awarded in 2004: Washington Climbers Coalition, Washington. A grant was awarded to the Washington Climbers Coalition for start-up and organizational expenses. The newly formed group will represent climbers’ interests in the state, and will work closely with public and private landowners to address access, stewardship and climbing management issues. (2004)
Climbing preservation grants awarded in 2004: Little Si, Washington. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust was awarded a grant to complete upgrades to the Little Si trail, which provides access to a popular climbing area. The trail has received heavy use since the construction of a new trailhead and is in need of upgrading to ensure continued protection of resources and safety for trail users. (2004)
Drafted administrative comments and related advocacy work on management plans for various public land units across the country, including North Cascades National Park (WA) (2003)
Met with land managers with the Park Service and Forest Service in Washington state in a proactive effort to address climbing related management issues before problems arise. (2002)