If you’re a Type A person and need to have all the latest scheduling, we’re trying to help you out.  With plenty of things going on this year, we’re hoping you can pencil us in here and there. Get the Sharpie out for the 10^th annual Rocktoberfest (October 8-10). Check out the full list of our upcoming events.

March 5, 6, 2010 – Adventure Summit, Wright State University ~ Dayton, Ohio

March 26, 27, 28, 2010 – Access Fund LCO Activist Conference

March 27, 2010 – Red River Reunion

March 27, 2010 – BOD Meeting (Tentative)

April 3, 2010 – Roadside Trail Day

July 24, 2010 – BOD Meeting

August 14, 2010 – 6^th Annual John Bronaugh & Alex Yeakley Adopt-A-Crag Day

September 11, 12, 2010 – UCLIMB

September 25, 2010 – BOD Meeting

October 8, 9, 10, 2010 – 10^th Annual Rocktoberfest

December 6, 2010 – BOD Meeting

2009 RRGCC Year in Review

This past year had a lot of exciting happenings for the RRGCC.

The year began with a large ice storm.  Bill Strachan worked with 5 climber volunteers and three US Forrest Service personnel.   On February 21, 2009 they cleared storm damage in Martin’s Fork area, which includes the approaches to Military and Left Flank.

Todd McCormick and the University of Pittsburgh hosted a climbing competition to raise funds for the RRGCC.  Their event raised $1,125!

On April 11, 2009, Miguel’s hosted Red River Reunion to benefit the RRGCC.  The event included a shoe demo by 5.10, climbing competition at Torrent Falls, Rodeo Clip contest, as well as booths by 5.10, Petzl, & Black Diamond. The evening ended with the Stone Alliance Film Tour, music and, of course, a giant bonfire.  The event raised over $500 for the RRGCC.

This year, we kicked off our grassroots, community-led trail program. Rather than rely on one large trail day to accomplish much needed work, the climbing community broke the work up into smaller chunks, maintaining their crags with smaller, more focused trail days.

Jack Dickey got us started with the Spring Trail Day on April 18, 2009.  He headed up a crew of 16 volunteers and tackled projects in Sore Heel Hollow.   The trail crew repaired trails damaged by the winter ice storm.  They began stabilizing and reclaiming the denuded hillside leading down to the parking lot and made a specific path for trail that traverses top of said hillside.  They built stairs for the beginning of that trail.  In addition, they improved the bridge to the Gallery and built a new bridge on the trail to What About Bob Wall.

Phillip Gall’s partnered with Patagonia’s 1% program. They raised more than $1200  for the Coalition in 2009 in addition to several generous gear donations!

On June 13, 2009, Mike Driskell and Driskell Home Repair continued the trail day initiative by conducting a trail day at Roadside.  He and his crew were able to remove downed trees that had fallen across the trail, relocate and widen the start of the trail.  They then added stairs to the beginning of the trail and added water breaks to the new trail and portions of the existing trail.

We made our $30,000 mortgage payment on July 15,  2009.

On August 1, 2009, the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition hosted their most successful trail day event in their 13-year history. Over 90 people came together to lend their skills and talent to developing new trails, and rehabbing existing pathways on the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve. Additionally, the trail day most certainly ranks as one of the largest Access Fund sponsored Adopt-A-Crag events in 2009!  Work was accomplished in Sore Heel as well as at Darkside, Drive-By, Bob Marley, and Crossroads.  Afterwards, the volunteers enjoyed live music, food, beer, and the 100-foot-long slip-n-slide!  Special thanks goes to Sandy Davies for organizing this event.

In other exciting news, for the first time ever the Johnny and Alex Trail Day raised money for the coalition, both in private donations and sales at the event.  The event raised $800!  These funds and donations of goods and services from our generous sponsors financed that great party.

Red River Outdoors partnered with Mountain Gear’s to host their U-Climb clinic.  It was held on September 12 & 13, 2009, and both Mountain Gear and Red River Outdoors donated proceeds to the RRGCC.

Then, on September 26, 2009 RockQuest Climbing Center & Benchmark Outfitter put together a climbing competition to benefit the RRGCC. Climbers competed for excellent prizes from vendors like The Benchmark Outfitter, Sterling Ropes, Arc’Teryx, and La Sportiva.  The event raised $500 for the RRGCC!

Finally, the RRGCC wrapped up the year with their 9^th annual Rocktoberfest on October 9-11, 2009.  The event kicked off on a rainy Friday with vendors, a dyno comp, movies, milk crate stacking, funnel cakes, games, and a great DJ.  On Saturday, the rain held off for the climbing comp in Sore Heel.  This was followed by water balloon launching contest, dyno comp, dunk tank, a milk crate stacking challenge, movies, live entertainment, and vendor giveaways and raffles.  The event raised $12,500 for the RRGCC.

As of right now, we have only four annual payments, approximately $118,000, left before we’ve fully paid off the mortgage.  We’re all counting down to our last payment on July 2013. Thank you for your help and we look forward to owning the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve!

Mike Driskell has graciously offered to head a Spring Trail Day @ Roadside Crag 
Saturday, April 3, 2010.
Meet at the Roadside Parking Lot at 9:00 am (please try to carpool as much as possible).

Dress for outdoor work & please bring work gloves!

Tools needed are shovels, picks, pry bars, spades, rakes, loppers and pruners. 

Projects include: 

1. Install a sign to display the rules for this area. 
2. Install more water bars on trail from parking lot up to the base of Roadside Attraction. 
3. Build steps where needed. 
4. Redo the cribbing at the base of the slab routes. 
5. Remove litter. 
6. As many other tasks as we can get done!

cforms contact form by delicious:days

The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition invites you to attend its first meeting of 2010 on Saturday, February 13, 2010. There will be an open session from 9am to 10am at Torrent Falls, Kentucky.  Come find out what we have in store for 2010 and see how you can become involved.  All meeting attendees will be entered into a door prize raffle for a Mountain Hardware Scrambler Pack and other swag items in the RRGCC’s inventory.

Meeting Minutes

On 2/13/2010, the RRGCC held its first open Board of Directors meeting of 2010 at Torrent Falls. We had a nice turn out considering the frigid conditions! Paul Vidal, Morgain Sprague, Rick Bost, Bentley Brackett, Stephanie Meadows, and Don McGlone represented the Board of Directors. Other members in attendance included Executive Director, Bill Strachan, Jessica Brackett, Matt Tackett, Alan Wolfe, Maxwell Malone, Richard Goodwin, Mike Driskell, and Josephine Neff.

The Treasurer’s Report was read by Bill Strachan on behalf of Treasurer Dwight Bradburn who could not attend. The organization currently has $60,588.71 in its bank and PayPal accounts. The net income from Jan 1, 2009 through Feb 6, 2010 was $38,308.55. Also, due to the efforts of Matt Tackett with Red River Outdoors in submitting the required paperwork, a check for $7,000 is expected soon from the Kentucky Recreational Trail Grant fund.

Bill Strachan provided an update on the LAC process. Although LAC was approved at the end of 2008, the Forest Service has no money to implement many LAC changes, but they are making some changes that do not require money. This includes closing user trails and campsites that do not meet the LAC requirements. For 2010, they have applied for grant money and they expect to implement more projects. This year, the RRGCC LAC Committee consisting of Bill, Chris Carr, Jim Holtzman, Shannon Stuart-Smith, and Rita Wehner plans to compose a draft Climbing Management Plan to submit to the Forest Service.

Stephanie Meadows provided an update on J&H fundraising. Their meeting to discuss fundraising was canceled due to weather. Stephanie is going to help them meet their goal to donate $7,000 to the RRGCC this year. Discussion was continued to include fundraising at other venues such as Phillip Galls, and climbing stores and gyms in other areas.

General fundraising suggestions were made. Bentley expressed a need to have an RRGCC button for the new Wolverine guidebook iPhone app. It was discussed that the RRGCC needs to accommodate mobile donations. Stephanie showed a new poster for the Miguel’s kiosk that advertises ways to donate and volunteer. The poster artwork is very eye-catching. Rick Bost proposed that the new poster be sent to the local gyms. Stephanie also proposed doing a non-event specific t-shirt. The RRGCC is always looking for ways to encourage donations from groups or individuals. Suggestions can be submitted to the RRGCC at www.rrgcc.org.

Rick Bost and Paul Vidal explained the new affinity credit card promotion that is in the works. They are working with a credit card company to create RRGCC specific cards. The program will donate $50 for each approved application that is submitted. Rick explained that if we can get 2,000 people to apply for a credit card in 2010, we would receive $100,000 in donations. The credit cards do not need to be used for the RRGCC to receive the donation; they must only be approved.

Bill Strachan and Matt Tackett discussed trail building in the PMRP. Matt is working with the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association to add more mountain biking trails to the PMRP property. Matt is planning to hold a mountain biking trail building session on the 3rd Saturday each month. The next trail building dates are 2/20/2010 and 3/20/2010. For those interested in the efforts, become a fan of “Pedal The Red” on Facebook for updates.

In other trail building news, Bill Strachan is planning to organize a trail day in the Military / Left Flank area. This must be carefully coordinated with the Forest Service to ensure compliance with the LAC requirements. JR and Mike Driskell are preparing several smaller trail building projects aimed at increasing the number of trail days throughout 2010. Mike Driskell is planning to continue trail work at Roadside on April 3, 2010. Work is scheduled to begin at 9:00. Those interested in participating in this trail day can RSVP at www.rrgcc.org.

The next open RRGCC Board meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 27, 2010.

Win a Sterling Rope

There was an open meeting at Torrent Falls this weekend to discuss Rocktoberfest and many other pressing issues that the RRGCC faces on a daily basis.

The BOD and other participants discussed how the economic downturn has impacted the climbing industry and community. We expect that this trend may continue for 2010. So again we must turn to you for support to make our fundraising goals. We know that you are willing to help. Climbers frequently ask what they can do to remind everyone to donate, as represented by Mike Anderson’s comment at the meeting: “It’s a privilege to climb here and I think everyone needs to pay.”

Check this out, you can donate at little as $7 a month to the RRGCC on a monthly basis. It is set up on auto draft so you don’t even have to think about it!

The RRGCC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. That means that money that you donate to the RRGCC is money that you get to deduct that from your taxes!

Here is the most important part: we are $12,000 short on the PMRP payment for next year. Yes, Rocktoberfest was an amazing event. But we experienced some additional expenses this year and dollars are tight with the economy in the condition it is in.

Here is the best part! You have the opportunity to deduct dollars from your taxes, help the RRGCC, and enter to win a brand new Sterling rope! If you go to http://rrgcc.org/support-us/membership/ and register yourself to donate $7 or more per month for a year (or $84 or more all at once as a lump sum) between now and February 15th, you will be entered to win a Sterling rope that we will mail to your house!

So seriously, go to http://rrgcc.org/support-us/membership/ right now and sign up! We will be posting the names of those who have signed up – make sure your name is on the list!

A big thank you to Red River Outdoors and all who participated in 2009’s Climbers that Care event this past Saturday. During the day, much trail work was completed at Torrent Falls, where (thanks to Dr. Bob), we all had a place to gather around a fire in the evening.

Keen, our Presenting Sponsor, is hosting a Disk Long-Drive and a Keen-Hole contest for schwag

The upcoming weekend has more than a bit going on. To help you keep it straight, check out the schedule below for just a few of the goings on. Milk crate stacking, disk long-drives, dunk tanks, raffles out the waazoo..

Let’s be honest – if you walk away empty handed this week, it’s your own fault.

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.

Celebrating one of the largest Adopt-A-Crags this year. Photo by Elodie Saracco

Last Saturday the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition hosted their most successful trail day event in their 13 year history. Over 90 people came together to lend their skills and talent to developing new trails, and rehabbing existing pathways on the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve. Additionaly, last Saturday’s trail day most certainly ranks as one of the largest Access Fund sponsored Adopt-A-Crag events in 2009!

Here is a synopsis of what was accomplished:

At Sore Heel:

• New steps built going to Curbside
• New trails installed on the left side of Curbside
• Completed the exit trail going towards curbside
• New steps built going to Optical Rectitus
• Bike trail maintenance and small addition added
• Foot bridge on the far right of the Gallery
• Gallery side and base maintenance
• Rerouting of trail and steps added in the large drainage ditch
• Trail maintenance in a variety of other locations at Sore Heel

At Crossroads:

• Sign installed
• Wooden steps installed on the side-trail at the Crossroads
• Crossroads side-trail improved

At Darkside:

• Fallen trees were removed
• Steps cut into the trail

At Drive-By/Bob Marley:

• Steps installed at the start of the Bob Marley trail
• New trail completed between Drive By and Bob Marley Crags

Gather supplies in Coal Bank Hollow. Photo by Elodie Saracco

In other exciting news, for the first time ever the Johnny and Alex Trail Day raised money for the coalition, both in private donations and sales at the event. These funds and donations of goods and services from our generous sponsors financed that great party.

To those that volunteered Saturday and those that give in so many other ways, thank you!

View Johnny and Alex Trail Day 2009 in a larger map