red river gorge climbers' coalition

Strive to be, and make others, happy at this summer's Climbers That Care event

It’s easy to put the blinders on from time to time, especially as you’re thinking about the crux moves of your latest proj. But when you take a second to stop for the stray dog that runs across the road in front of you and take a look around at the homes and lives surrounding you, you’ll see that there are plenty of ways you can help the communities that you call home for the weekends in the RRG.

The RRG area, touching Powell, Wolfe, Lee, and Menifee counties, is home to some of the best people you’ve probably never met. But the economic truth of the matter means they need a hand from time to time. And with school about to get back in gear, it’s that time again.

Update: If you can’t make it to Red River Outdoors or to JATD, stop by Phillip Gall’s Outdoors in Lexington (mapped location) and let the employee on duty know it’s for Kate LaBoone. Thanks PG’s!

See how you can help by reading on..

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Rewarding for
you and us
RRGCC

Here’s a new easy way to raise money and awareness for Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition. Just start using the new Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition Visa® Platinum Rewards card for your everyday purchases. The first time you use it, the bank will donate $50 to Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition and we’ll continue to receive a percentage of all future purchases.

As a cardholder you have powerful benefits. The Visa® Platinum Rewards card offers zero liability protection, emergency assistance services, online banking, auto rental and travel accident insurance, and more! Plus, earn points at hundreds of participating online retailers redeemable for name-brand merchandise, event tickets, gift cards and travel rewards options.

Plus, you’ll be earning accelerated points (up to 15 points per dollar) at hundreds of national merchants, which can be redeemed for merchandise, account credits and Free tickets on over 175 airlines, with no blackout dates!

Please join me today in choosing and using the card that supports Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition Go to http://www.cardpartner.com/app/rrgcc to request your card today.

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Miguel’s Red River Reunion was a smashing success this spring raising over $2,900 to benefit the RRGCC!  The day began with shoe demos from Evolv and LaSportiva so that climbers could have the best shoes possible to compete in the climbing competition.  Twenty-six people signed up to compete and Rick Bost was ready and waiting with the gates open at Torrent Falls.  Congratulations to the winners & thank you to all who competed!

Girls

Jalapeno
1. Maria Farinacci  4 routes  24 points
2.  Carrie Vieland   3 routes  24 points
3.  Neysa Dominguez  3 routes  22 points

Habanero
1.  Stacy Boore 15 routes  214 points
2.  Jessica Brackett  14 routes  204 points
3.  Emily Rubin  15 routes  194 points

Boys
Jalapeno
1.  Mike McCrum 6 routes  74 points
2.  Joe Simmons  7 routes  59 points
3.  tie – Andrew Candela and Jeremy Stocks 48 points

Habanero
1.  Mike Anderson  11 routes 197 points
2.  Roger Bess 12 routes  183 points
3   Jason Marshall 14 routes  177 point

The RRGCC Sales table was staffed by friendly RRGCC Volunteers: JR Goodwin, Vince Cocciolone, Derrick Powell, Paul Vidal & Josephine Neff.  We quickly sold out of several items including the limited edition RRGCC nut tool, which was donated by Ken Thompson.  We hope to have an even wider selection for our next event!

The evening included a fantastic pig roast prepared by the Miguel’s Crew.  It was followed by a raffle,  a slide show, and a video by Spencer Victory.  And as always, Dario had stacked the wood high for the evening bonfire!

Thank you to all who came and participated – and THANK YOU MIGUEL’S!

Natural Bridge Campgrounds. Exit 33 off the Bert Combs Mountain Parkway. Follow signs to Natural Bridge Campgrounds

It’s official – registration for Rocktoberfest 2009 is now open! Visit http://rrgcc.org/register/ to register yourself and others for the weekend.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact us or call us (use the “Call Me” button to the right or dial us at 859-955-0774).

Thanks and see you in October

Friday:

• Camping and parking is included and is on site at the Natural Bridge Campgrounds (click for directions).
• First choice of camping spots (limited sites with water and electric hookups)
• First dibs at vendors and all their demo gear, including gear from:
  Black Diamond, Petzl, La Sportiva, Sterling Ropes Five Ten and others..
• Climbing films featured by Dead Point Magazine and music DJ’ed by our man from the south, John “Cletus” Wilcox.
• Fun and games.. and did we mention all the vendors and demo gear!
• Access to the dyno comp to either toss in your hat or heckle from the sidelines.

Saturday:

• The Clip and Go Comp Climbing competition at the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve – Sore Heel Hollar Competition will be based on endurance – number of bolts clipped and the difficulty of the route will both factor into the point system.
• Sign up is from 9-10am at the Registration Desk or at the Sore Heel Parking Lot.
• The competition will last from 10am to 5pm and the winners will be announced at the venue on Saturday night.
• Free YOGA class Saturday morning at 9:30.  Please bring your own mat. 
  

Saturady evening will host plenty of music, food, gear, a dyno comp, and plenty more..

Saturday Night:

• Camping and parking is included and is on site
• Free swag from every angle! T-shirts, posters, stickers, gear and much more.
• Silent auction with a ton of top end gear from our gracious sponsors!
• And we’ll be hosting and featuring the Reel Rock Tour Movie
• Plus we’ll have a dyno comp, DJ, and plenty more to attract your distractable eyes and ears..

Sunday:

• Clinics lead and attended by pros from around the sport
• Breakfast in the morning courtesy of the Solid Rock Climbers for Christ

September 26th at Rockquest, Cincinnati: Benchmark Outfitters will put on a comp to benefit the RRGCC

This September 26 in Cincinnati, at RockQuest Climbing Center, Benchmark Outfitter is putting together a climbing competition to benefit the RRGCC. Starting at 5pm, climbers will compete for excellent prizes from vendors like The Benchmark Outfitter, Sterling Ropes, Arc’Teryx, and La Sportiva. And while they’re pulling down, the $25 entrance fee will go to support the RRGCC in our mission to secure the PMRP.

Don’t miss out on a great chance to have a blast and support the Coaltion at the same time!

For more information, call 513-791-WILD (9453). Or check them out Benchmark Outfitters on Facebook.

Thanks to Wes Allen for the video..  a more detailed wrap-up to come..

JATD 09 from Wes Allen on Vimeo.

The route-setters and event coordinators address the competitors to clear up the rules of the comp. Photos: Laura Caporizzo

U of Pitt Raises More Than $1100 to Support the RRGCC

This February, the University of Pittsburgh held a climbing competition to benefit the RRGCC. They’re generosity can’t be understatated, especially when their efforts generated more than $1100 for the Coalition’s annual mission to raise $30,000 for the PMRP mortgage. 

On February 21st, 2009, climbers filled Trees Hall at the University of Pittsburgh’s climbing gym for the final competition in a series of competitions with surrounding universities. For the past several years during the spring semester, Pitt’s climbing wall has been part of this circuit of competitions known as the University Bouldering Series (UBS). This year, the schools that took part in the UBS were: Kent State University, The University of Akron, Youngstown State University, West Virginia University, University of Pittsburgh, and Slippery Rock University. The UBS is not limited to climbers from these participating schools, nor is it limited to student climbers. Competitors at Pitt’s comp were not only from the schools participating in the UBS; some climbers were also representing Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and the Pittsburgh climbing community, along with many other climbing communities. The past two seasons, Pitt has decided to donate all of the proceeds from its bouldering competition to a worthy cause. Last year, Pitt donated their proceeds to Conservacion Patagonica, a cause “dedicated to the protection and restoration of wildland ecosystems and biodiversity in Patagonia.” This year, because several of the event coordinators love and cherish the climbing in the Red River Gorge, it was decided to donate the proceeds to the Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition (RRGCC). (more…)

It's here..

October is fast approaching.. and in the Red River Gorge, that means two things: sending temps and Rocktoberfest, presented this year by Keen Footwear, Black Diamond and Mountain Gear.

[reg-invite-table]Every year for the past eight years, climbers have come from as far as Australia, Poland, and the backwoods of your hometown just to partake in the fall festivities. With headlining events like Reel Rock Tour, Mountain Gear sponsored clinics, Black Diamond Gear Auctions, and our always stellar music line-up (The 23 Strings, The Slant Kings), it’s easily the best thing happening on the East Coast.

Besides getting lower prices for registering online and guaranteeing a spot for the events, the first 200 registrants get a bag full of schwag.. so don’t wait! And after registering, invite friends using your invite code to get even more schwag.. better hurry, though, you’ve got some catching up to do.

Read more here and Register!

Click here to download a poster (about 1MB in size) that you can print out and post around town to help spread the word!

UClimb and Moutain Gear, both financially and through education, support the RRGCC and the PMRP purchase

Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, the PMRP will be hosting the 2nd annual U-Climb event, a climbing event meant to educate climbers about climbing safety and ethics. The groups will have top-ropes up on virtually every beginner climb in the PMRP. While we apologize that this might affect your plans, please know that the event goes a long way to securing your climbing now and into the future.

The UClimb groups will be holding clinics at the following walls. Please plan around their presence.

A group of participant at the Red River Gorge 2007

The Shire
Left Field
The Playground
Chica Bonita
Volunteer Wall
The Gallery (the right side)
Gold Coast/Solar Collector (the right side)

UClimb and the event organizers, Mountain Gear, have long been supporters of the RRGCC and the PMRP purchase. In addition to sizable donations that go toward the annual mortgage, the UClimb event emphasizes the importance of responsible climbing ethics. One of the major tenants of these ethics is a commitment to and support of local climbing organizations.

If you were planning on doing some easy sport climbs, please consider visiting Muir Valley, Roadside, and Pistol Ridge all have a good assortment of them. Search the redriverclimbing.com online guidebook for others if these crags don’t sound appealing.

Save the date of October 10-12 to attend Rocktoberfest 2008! The RRGCC and its sponsors are bringing a sampling of upcoming climbing videos, climbing-clinics conducted by world-class athletes, climbing competitions, outstanding prizes and give-aways from our sponsors, live music and as much entertainment as you can handle.  All proceeds will go straight to the RRGCC and help us secure the mortgage for the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve (PMRP).  If you don’t know about the PMRP, check here.

***Pre-Registration will be open soon so please check back so you can have the chance to win schwag by inviting people.. details to follow.