The RRGCC needs your help to complete the send of the PMRP project and other projects on the horizon. We are looking for people to step up and donate their time and talents to become committee leaders or Board members within the Coalition. If you have skills or experience in the legal, accounting, copywriting, database management, desktop publishing, land management, or non-profit management areas or if you just want to assume a more active role in making a positive impact on one of the best local climbing organizations in the nation, please fill out this RRGCC Volunteer Leader Questionnaire and return it to bill (at) rrgcc.org by August 20.

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..

So, this August 14th, at the 6th Annual Johnny and Alex Trail Day, we need your help with rounding up supplies. It only takes a bit and we can use just about anything you can provide.

Summer 2009 CTC Donations

A few things that can help:

• School Supplies
  • including pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, crayons, etc.
• Clothes
  • any clothing that’s in good shape and not too well worn is appreciated.
• Money
  • the above two are preferable, especially since the money will go to buying more of the above

If you can’t make it to the JATD, consider dropping it by Red River Outdoors. They’ll also be able to tell you a little more about the event, its history, and its need.

The RRG is open again!

Just in time for the weekend, that troublesome bear has moved on past the gorge and the kind folks at the USFS have issued an order to reopen the area.

But please do pack your food properly. Access to food is the primary reason bears get interested in people in the first place. When Yogi can venture into any ol’ spot and snag a picnic basket, it makes that spot pretty appealing and almost always leads to uncomfortable encounters.

So, for the Fourth, we want you to go have fun, roll around in the mud, catch some butterflies, and otherwise be happy and jolly! If you get bored, here are a few things that would help out:

• Plan ahead – Sign up for JATD
• Build the community – Get the word about the PMRP and Rocktoberfest out
• Give a little bit – Help us raise the mortgage!

Read on past the break for the full USFS press release.

Map of Food Containment Area
Food Storage Guide

In response to a black bear attack the US Forest Service has temporarily closed the Red River Gorge Gorge Geologic Area. This affects all Red River Gorge proper crags except those located in the Indian Creek drainage plus Long Wall, Fortress Wall, and Phantasia that remain open. Crags affected by the closure include, but are not limited to – Funk Rock City, Wall of Denial, Sky Bridge Ridge, the Small Walls, Frenchburg Overhangs, Military Wall, Left Flank, and Raven Rock.

This is a temporary closure and we will spread the word when the US Forest Service and officials notify the community that the area has been reopened.

Check out the full news brief after the break..

Black bear attack prompts temporary closure of Red River Gorge Geological Area

WINCHESTER, Ky., June 28, 2010 – On Sunday, June 27, the Daniel Boone National Forest issued a temporary emergency closure of the Red River Gorge Geological Area. The closure resulted after a hiker was attacked by a black bear. The closed area includes all national forest system lands north of Natural Bridge State Resort Park to U.S. Highway 460 in Menifee, Powell and Wolfe counties. The area will remain closed until further notice.

“Public safety is our highest priority,” said Forest Supervisor Frank Beum. “We are coordinating this temporary closure with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The officials with that agency will help us determine when the gorge can be reopened to the
public.

“Anyone who sees a black bear in the Red River Gorge vicinity is encouraged to call 1-800-25-ALERT to report the sighting,” said Beum.

For more information about the closure, contact the Cumberland Ranger District at 606-784-6428 or the Gladie Center at 606-663-8100.

The RRGCC needs a large water cooler for events such as Johnny and Alex Trail Day. If anybody would like to donate one, please contact us. Thanks and we hope to see you at JATD!

Come one, come all to the 6th annual Johnny & Alex Trail Day, August 14th, 2010.  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 (PMRP), in honor of two great men of the Red, John Bronaugh and Alex Yeakley.  We will be building and maintaining trails and, after a hard day’s work, have a great party with music, food, and “beverages” at Lago Linda Hideaway.  More details will come so be sure to stay tuned.  You can also follow us on Facebook!

Please RSVP by filling out the below form for each attendee. Your registration is needed as soon as possible.  Thank you!

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Wow.. we have some exciting new. And it’s not about our latest proj.. well, not exactly.

The Access Fund Land Conservation Campaign is helping the RRGCC save $10,000

Today we’re happy to announce that the Access Fund is providing the RRGCC short-term financing to restructure the current seller-financed loan on the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve. That’s a long way of saying the Access Fund is helping the RRGCC save nearly $10,000 dollars in interest payments by loaning us, via the Access Fund’s Land Conservation Campaign, $65,000 at 2.5%.

Needless to say, we’re excited on a number of levels, not the least of which is that we’re again working with the Access Fund, which has been there for the RRGCC from the start.

There’s still a lot of work to be done.. but today is a good day to dig in again and get going.

Read on past the break for the full PR announcement.

Access Fund – RRGCC Press Release (pdf)

Access Fund to Refinance Pendergrass-Murray Loan, Saving Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition Thousands

Boulder, CO, June 7, 2010 — The Access Fund, the national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment, announced today that it will provide Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition with short-term financing to pay off the current seller-financed loan on the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.

The Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve is a classic Red River Gorge destination, hosting more than 500 climbs, ranging from 5.4 to 5.14c, and new climbs constantly being discovered and developed. The steep, beautiful sandstone walls are overhanging and pocketed and offer technical, dynamic, and endurance climbing. The property hosts several hundred climbers each weekend, with the three parking lots often reaching capacity by noon.

A $65,000 loan will be supplied by the new Access Fund Land Conservation Campaign, arevolving loan program that provides local climbing organizations with the funds and expertise needed to act quickly to save threatened climbing areas. The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition purchased the property in January of 2004, making it the largest direct land acquisition to date by rock climbers.

Through aggressive fundraising and two grants from the Access Fund, the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition has paid down a significant portion of the original loan. By refinancing the remainder of the loan under the Access Fund’s new program, the Coalition will save approximately $10,000 in interest and fees that can be invested in other projects that benefit the Red River Gorge climbing community. The refinance will also eliminate the risk of losing the property to a private third-party, since a missed annual payment under the previous seller-financed loan would have returned the property to the seller and the funds raised by climbers would have been lost.

The refinance deal will set aside approximately $15,000 for land management costs of the Pendergrass-Murray property, as well as funds to allow RRGCC to pursue more climbing areas in the region.

This is the fifth Access Fund Land Conservation Campaign project, with active loans totaling over $200,000. Of these funds, $17,000 has been paid back, returning funds to the revolving loan program to be invested into other climbing conservation efforts by local climbing organizations and the Access Fund.

About the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition

The Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition works to ensure open, public access to quality outdoor rock climbing opportunities in and around Red River Gorge, Kentucky. The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition works to encourage the conservation of the natural environment on publicly managed and privately owned land by protecting, promoting, and ensuring responsible climbing.

About the Access Fund

Founded in 1991, the Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that keeps climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. The Access Fund supports and represents over 2.3 million climbers nationwide in all forms of climbing: rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and bouldering. Five core programs support the mission on national and local levels: climbing management policy, stewardship and conservation, local support and mobilization, land acquisition and protection, and education.

For more information, visit www.accessfund.org.

JR Goodwin, our good friend from Louisville, Kentucky, recently helped host a Trail Day to maintain the trails in the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve – Coal Bank Hollow. At the end of the day, he found himself in a rare state – out of words.

JR Goodwin and his partner in crime, Mike Driskell, at another trail day they organized.

Sitting here to type out the events of the May 15th trail day extravaganza I find myself, for once, speechless. From the initial ideas and layout to the hard work and sweat of those in attendance as well as the lunch, beer, and party spot donated by those who couldn’t attend, a huge THANK YOU!! I have been left smiling about the wonderful community and family that we of the Red River Gorge are so lucky to have. A passion passed onto me by many of those before me was obviously shared by the many, many people that showed up that day and to say that much was accomplished would be an understatement of the sheer force that descended onto coal Bank Hollow that day.

During the week(s) prior, Mike Driskell was a huge help in the idea forming and planning that allowed a defined idea to be visualized. On top of that he secured much of the material that was used in the water bars and steps and Travis from Louisville was awesome enough to transport it down to the Gorge for us. Add to this that the Friday before the trail day Mike, Josephine Neff, and Ken Thompson were great enough to come out and help do some tree cutting and finish off the gate that had been installed earlier in the season. We walked the trails to discuss more ideas, spray the spots where work needed to be done, and move trees that stood in our way to help make the actual trail day run that much smoother.

A motley crew

Saturday morning rolled in and Mike, Ken, Travis, Matt Tackett, and Mark Jackson helped with getting everything we needed out to the trailhead. Well, everything but one of the wagon wheels and I must say, the way that story ended is priceless. As we all got into positions, folks started to trickle in at first and some of the first crews headed off to work on the Solar Collector main trail. As that crew got started I walked back to the parking lot where more folks had started to show up to help. Ken and Mike took crews back to Darkside to begin many of the big jobs that lay ahead. We had so many people show up that by 9 o’clock there was only a rake left in the parking lot. Unfazed, people gladly carried lumber and other materials down the long trail to where work was being done. Once there, everyone worked as one large team, switching out when tired, helping to move trees, and just providing the upbeat vibe that made the whole day a blast.

Walking the trails watching everyone busting their rump was so inspiring and humbling. To be part of this community is like none other. Heading up to Solar to see what was needed, the crews had already blocked off the bushwhack trail near the top as well as installed a few steps, water bars, and even widened the trail in a few spots. All down the trail, water bars were installed and one switchback was shored up and the corner cutter’s path was blocked off. More beautiful work has never been seen outside of an art museum.

Adding some fancy stairs

Leaving there I made my way back to Darkside where more crews were encountered installing water bars and the most amazing drainage and mosaic bridge you will ever see where the Solar trail splits off of the main trail. Heading down the trail the sounds of chainsaws filled the air and one could only imagine what Ken and Mark were up to back there. Once there my jaw dropped at what this mass of dedicated folks had accomplished in such a short time. There, in the marsh that awaits one after crossing the log bridge was a step like trail of cut logs. No more muddy feet – yippee!! While one crew worked on that another crew had rerouted the two drainages that cause the marsh to flow behind a large boulder and into the creek. Time will hopefully dry up the marsh and make it even better than it was by the end of that day.

Moving up the trail, more water bars were added and crews shored up a few areas that had gotten trampled awhile back. The trail, now wider and better, should last for years to come. Continuing upwards to where the large tree had come down, the crews up there had built a few steps and shored up there as well, making that section much easier and nicer to navigate. Also, up top where the huge tree lays across the trail, both Ken and Mark took turns cutting through the behemoth to allow the trail to follow its original path and the trail that had sprouted up in its place was blocked off with brush and small woodland creatures. Also, the trail was widened a little near the very top to allow easier passage and better drainage. All in all the trails that were worked on should last quite a long time with minimal upkeep except the occasional trimming and TLC.

Tasty, tasty lunch - courtesy Rick Bost and Stephanie Meadows

After all their hard work, everyone headed back to the parking lot for a lunch that was sponsored by Rick Bost and Steph Meadows and lovingly prepared by Ms. Meadows herself and delivered thanks to Phil Wilkes. A small raffle was held with prizes donated by Red River Outdoors, Miguel’s, C&S Carryout, and the Access Fund. That evening after everyone had climbed and eaten, the real fun began at Torrent Falls thanks to the awesome hospitality of Dr. Bob who opened his home and backyard to all who helped. With plenty of sore muscles and enough beer to make one forget about the aches, we all gathered round the kitchen first before making our way to the fire pit. As the stars shone down and the rain came down, one could only sit back and smile at the greatest group of people to share a fire with. THANK YOU all, see you next year.

Thank you to: Zach Romero, Tasha Kenrick, Michelle Ellington, Jordan Stein, Konrad Schlenkrich, Gitta Lubke, Brice Markley, Jonathan Stair, Sean Stewart, Yasmeen Fowler, Lindsey Gram, Brent Dupree, Mark Jackson, Norma Froelich, Chris Kunesh, Crystal Norgren, Philip Wilkes, Ryan O’Connor, Carrie Krikpatrick, Jimmy Farrell, Mike LaFontains, Melissa Kelley, Ken Thompson, Kathryn Gamble, Travis Peek, Terri King, Deanna L., Spenser Victory, Roger Bess, Blake Bowling, Alex Hain, Mike Palic, Anna Hayes, Richard Strange, Michael Lamb, Kathryn Gulley, Mike Driskell, Kenton Weir, Matt Tackett, Stephanie Meadows, Michael Cole, and of course JR Goodwin.  If you do not see your name or it’s spelled incorrectly, please let us know.  This information was gathered from signed waivers and is subject to mistakes.

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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

April 3, 2010 – Roadside Trail Day

April 17, 2010 – BOD Meeting

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

Wolverine Publishing and Ray Ellington’s iPhone Guidebook App to the Red River Gorge guidebook is on iTunes. As if you need any more reason to pick it up, fifty cents from each full version of the app will be donated to the RRGCC. The app works on the iPhone and iPod touch and helps improve your image and karma at the same time! Ok, maybe not really, but you’ll have to admit it’s pretty slick and with some of the cash going to help save the climbs it documents, can you really pass it up? It’s also available in a free Lite version showcasing Roadside and Drive-By Crags. Check out the video below for a full run-through for a preview of some of the things the app can do.