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

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

JATD 09 from Wes Allen on Vimeo.

The RRGCC would like to extend a special thank you to Jack Dickey and Mike Driskell.  Jack organized a trail day on the PMRP.  He and his crew of volunteers re-installed the bridge to gallery and created a new path trough the marsh and also terraced the base of The Gallery (right hand side). They built a nice set of steps added to beginning of trail to left field and water bars to that trail. They also created a new bridge created to What About Bob Wall.

Also, Driskell Home Repair sponsored a trail day at Roadside Crag. They were able to remove downed trees that had fallen during the winter ice storm. They also relocated the start of the trail, widened the start, added water bars to the trail and built a set of stairs.

A special thank you to Jack, Mike, and their volunteers: Wes Church, Steve Dunkelbarger, Mark Gueltzow, Mark E. Jackson, Dave Jaspersen, David Lawrence, Bryce Markley, Codie Masterson, Bob Matheny, Ben Cassedy, Brent Dupree, Travis Faulkner, Josephine Neff, Lisa Nowak, James P. Orsi, James (Matt) Pittinger, Johnathan Powell, Chris Sandford, Zach Shaughter, Bill Strachan, and Rick Bost.

From time to time the RRGCC has need of various items. Since we try to spend as much of every dollar raised towards the payment, we’re hoping that perhaps some of you may have extras lying around and can donate them (or if you’d like to purchase them, that’s fine too!). We’ll keep this list updated by crossing items off as we receive them, so please check back often.

Items we could use right now include:

- 9×12 envelopes with peel-off sticking
– A file cabinet with a lock.
– Work Gloves
– Clip Boards
– Letter sized Hanging File Folders
– Non-hanging file folders (the kind with the tab at the top)
– Walkie Talkies
– scissors
– bags to put schwag in
– yellow or orange or florescent spray paint
– white xmas tree lights
– extension cords
– triple A batteries
– 9×12 envelopes
– Stamps at current rate
– Address labels
– Sign sticks
– office chair

If you have donations, please contact Josephine at josephine.neff+rrgccdonations (gmail) or post a comment here.