red river gorge climbers' coalition

Trail day to help create/maintain trails and other infrastructure throughout Muir Valley. Check muirvalley.com for more information.

We invite all to the RRGCC quarterly meeting at Torrent Falls to hear about what’s going on in the RRGCC and to get your input. Climbing at Torrent Falls will be open after the meeting for all who attend and contribute.

This event occurred July 26, 2007 and is kept here for reference. If you’re looking for current and upcoming events, please click here.

Come one; come all to the 3rd annual John Bronaugh and Alex Yeakley Adopt-A-Crag Day, August 4th and 5th, 2007. Like in years past we will be depending on the Red River Gorge climbing community to come out and take care of the land you own, the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve, in honor of two great men of the Red. We will be building trails, bolting routes and having a kick ass party. This year’s event will be held at the Coal Bank Hollow area. Work will begin at around 9:30 am on Saturday morning and at about 10:30 am on Sunday. People are encouraged to carpool from Lago Linda’s or Miguel’s as there is very limited parking at the Coal Bank area. On Saturday work will end at 5:30 pm and we will shuttle back to Lago Linda’s for a dinner provided by Mark’s Mountain Barbecue along with be free keg beer, live music, tee shirts and free schwag for all that attend. We will also have the slip and slide and volley ball, we just may have to get in a game or two of the infamous bourbon ball. This years’ event will help us with the Kentucky GOLD Recreational Trail Grant we got last year. So bring your tools and bring some friends, we’ve got a lot of dirt to move and payments to make. Pictures from past JACD events can be viewed at: http://www.rrgcc.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=1

and http://www.rrgcc.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=4

The RRGCC is pleased to announce that Stephanie Meadows has become a member of the Board of Directors, filling the seat vacated by Shannon Stuart-Smith. Prior to joining the Board, Stephanie has been an active member, volunteer, and supporter of the mission of the RRGCC. Stephanie was introduced to climbing at Hoosier Heights in Bloomington, Indiana but was truly hooked after she went climbing outside for the first time in Red River Gorge. Her passion for climbing at the Red moved her to relocate to Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to climbing, Stephanie also enjoys running and cooking.

Shannon Stuart-Smith has resigned from the RRGCC Board of Directors ending over a decade of service to the Red River Gorge climbing community. It was Shannon’s dedication to preserving climbing access in Red River Gorge that led to the founding of the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition. Shannon served as the Executive Director of the RRGCC until 2004. After she left that position she was invited to take a seat on the RRGCC Board and was elected to serve as the Secretary of the organization. During her tenure with the RRGCC, Shannon also served as a Regional Coordinator for the Access Fund and served a term on the Access Fund Board. In 2006 Shannon became involved in the social justice non-profit, Kentucky Conference for Community and Justice and accepted a position as the Interim Executive Director of that organization. Shannon’s legal expertise, non-profit expertise, drive, and determination will be sorely missed by the RRGCC but will surely be a great asset for the KCCJ. Our sincerest thanks and appreciation go to you Shannon for all your years of hard work and dedication to keeping climbing open in Red River Gorge!

On April 30th, the RRGCC received a $600 conservation grant presented by Lila Thomas, sales representative for Patagonia, Inc. and Chris Glaser of Benchmark Outfitters. “We recognize the important work your organization is doing to protect and conserve the natural beauty of the Red River Gorge…” as stated by Ron Hunter, Patagonia Environmental Programs (Reno, NV) in a letter accompanying the grant.

Patagonia is not only a well known company specializing in outdoor, technical clothing, but is also a company committed to protecting habitat, wilderness and biodiversity by funding organizations who are active in this pursuit. A special thanks goes to Benchmark Outdoor Outfitters of Cincinnati, Ohio for nominating us for this grant.

Not only does this grant help us top out our 2007 mortgage payment, but also kick starts our payment for 2008.

This event occurred July 26, 2007 and is kept here for reference. If you’re looking for current and upcoming events, please click here.

CLEARFIELD, Utah (May 7th, 2007) – Petzl America, a leading manufacturer of quality
climbing gear, today announced that their annual Roc Trip will join forces with
Rocktoberfest, an annual fundraising event held by the Red River Gorge Climbers
Coalition to preserve climbing access in Eastern Kentucky. This year, Petzl Roc Trip
will present Rocktoberfest, to be held October 12
th– 14th, 2007, drawing an international crowd of climbers gathering for a weekend of clinics, competitions, and celebration, while
raising awareness and funds for the RRGCC. By combining the two events, Petzl hopes
to help increase Rocktoberfest’s stature, attendance, and fundraising power in 2007 and
for years to come.

“Twenty-five percent of the climbing in the Red is on land that the RRGCC is working
hard to protect,” said John Evans, Marketing Director for Petzl America. “Bringing Petzl
Roc Trip to Rocktoberfest is a perfect way to support the RRGCC and help keep this
land from being industrialized by big-oil.”

The Red River Gorge Climber’s Coalition is a unified group of climbers advocating (Petzl Roc Trip 2007 joins forces with Rocktoberfest, page two)
responsible climbing and preserving access to climbing in the Gorge and surrounding
areas. Each year, the RRGCC pays an annual mortgage payment totaling nearly
$29,000 for ownership of the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve, a 750-acre
plot of undeveloped land purchased by
the RRGCC for preservation and climbing access purposes in 2004. Due to the
RRGCC’s efforts and funding, the Pendergrass-Murray Preserve is currently being
responsibly and sustainably developed for hiking, mountain biking, and many forms of
human-powered recreation. Without funding for the annual mortgage payments due
through year 2013, the Preserve faces potential acquisition by interested oil developers.
The Pendergrass-Murray Preserve is just one of the RRGCC’s conservation and access
projects.

“Petzl is thinking of every way possible to help us pay off the mortgage and protect The
Pendergrass Murray Preserve,” said Morgain Sprague, Board Member and Fundraising
Coordinator for the RRGCC. “Beyond that, the Preserve and the Red River Gorge are
both located in Lee County, one of the most impoverished counties in the US, and
climbing is an important source of commerce and revenue. To have Petzl Roc Trip
coming here, drawing an international crowd and showcasing our crags to the global
climbing community is really exciting, both in raising awareness for the Preserve and in
raising awareness for the Red as a world-class climbing destination”.

Petzl Roc Trip, now in its sixth year, has proven successful in bringing the international
climbing community together in celebration of the sport, from New York’s Shawangunks
and British Columbia’s Squamish to Kalymnos, Greece, and Millau in the south of
France. Open to climbers of all ability levels, the upcoming 2007 Petzl Roc Trip /
Rocktoberfest features an action-packed line-up, including:

• clinics for all levels with climbing’s elite, including Sonnie Trotter, and AMGA
  professionals
• opening ceremony and climber’s roast hosted by climber/funnyman Timmy
  O’Neill
• unveiling of Sender Films’ latest release, “King Lines”, presented by filmmaker
  Peter Mortimer
• flash rally comp featuring athletes at the top of the sport
• first ascent bounty placed on two long standing climbing projects yet to be
  climbed
• Saturday night party serving a diverse palette of musical tastes, with DJ Lafouche
  and a live local bluegrass band
• American and European athletes competing and providing clinics, including,
  Chris Sharma, Dave Graham, Emily Harrington, Lisa Rands, Joe Kinder, Chris
  Lindner, Danny Andrada, Steve McClure, Tony Lamiche, Said Belhaj, and many
  others
• An overall goal of raising $10,000 – $15,000 for the Red River Gorge Climber’s
  Coalition, a healthy increase over previous years

“Petzl’s interest in bringing Roc Trip and some of the sport’s best athletes to our corner
of the world for regional benefit is truly an example of this industry as a community,” said
Bentley Brackett, Director of Corporate Fundraising for the RRGCC. “Petzl is setting the
stage for an unprecedented Rocktoberfest, and we’ll be welcoming the rest of the
climbing and outdoor community to join us in what is sure to be a great time for a great
cause”.

About the RRGCC
The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition Incorporated (RRGCC) is a group of rock
climbers who have come together to protect, promote and ensure responsible climbing
at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. The RRGCC is committed to preserving and appreciating the natural environment in which we practice our sport, as well as
education, support, and dedicated efforts with one another, non-climbers, and land
managers alike. For more information about the RRGCC, visit www.rrgcc.org.

About Petzl

Petzl America is the U.S. division of Petzl, headquartered in France. For over 50 years,
Petzl has been developing innovative tools and techniques used by those entering the
vertical world. Today, the Petzl brand is closely associated with adventure, exploration,
rescue, and many notable exploits in the worlds of rock climbing and alpinism. Petzl
climbing hardware and headlamps can be found in outdoor specialty shops and premium
sporting goods retailers around the world. For more information, log on to
www.petzl.com or DL this PDF

The RRGCC and Red River Gorge climbing community mourns the loss of Mason Allen. Mason was an avid outdoors man known for his impetuousness, quick wit, kind heart, and infectious smile. He loved climbing, hiking, hot-tubbing, and good fun as epitomized in oft-spoken quotes “climb you monkey” and “you need an Irish Carbomb!” If you ran into Mason at the cliff or the pub, you were sure to be treated with warmth and kindness. If you had never met him it is difficult to illustrate the brilliant energy he brought to this world and the huge sense of loss felt at his passing.

Mason is survived by his parents Morgan and Frances Allen, twin brother Lee Allen, sister Kristy Allen Slagle, uncle John Richardson, uncle Reece Richardson, niece s Brooke and Hailey Slagle. In honor of Mason’s dedication to rock climbing, his family graciously requested that memorial contributions be given to the Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition in his name.

The RRGCC wishes to thank Mason’s family and friends for their thoughtfulness and acknowledge the generosity of the donors who have made donations to the RRGCC in his memory.

The RRGCC Board of Directors* are happy to report that as of the end of 2006 almost $15,000 had been raised towards the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve mortgage payment of $29,393.00 due July 15, 2007. At the last Board meeting of 2006 the existing slate of officers were re-elected: Dr. Bob Matheny, President; Charlie Rittenberry, Vice-President; Dwight Bradburn, Treasurer; and Shannon Stuart-Smith, Secretary. The RRGCC is looking forward to another successful year and will be conducting the 2nd in a series of strategic planning meetings at True North Outfitters on Saturday, January 13, 2007 from 3pm to 9pm. When the 2007 Strategic Plan is finalized we will be recruiting volunteers to help us implement our programs. If you are interested in becoming involved as a volunteer with the RRGCC please contact Board member Morgain Sprague: spragumm [at] hotmail [dot] com

Funk Rock City is temporarily closed due to a small forest fire in the area. Below is the notice from Tim Eling of the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Hello Climbers,We have a wildfire in the vicinity of Funk Rock City climbing area within Clifty Wilderness. The Forest Supervisor has just issued a closure order for the area immediately around Funk Rock City (about 25 acres). The fire is burning on the cliff above the climbing area, snags are falling and crews are working in the area. The fire is small (< 5 acres) and thus the closure area is small at this time. The closure will be lifted when the area is deemed safe. Please help pass the word on this closure. Can this notice be posted on the RRGCC & Red River Climbing websites?

USFS interns will be posting flyers at various businesses (Miguels, Shell, etc…) and key trailheads.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Tim Eling
Daniel Boone National Forest
1700 Bypass Road
Winchester, KY 40391
(859) 745-3132
or at Stanton (606) 663-2852