red river gorge climbers' coalition

Help us make this year's Climbers That Care event even better by bringing in canned goods, hats, jackets, presents.. whatever fits your fancy

Another season coming to an end in the Red, at least thats what we tell all the people from other parts of the country. Time to decide whether to fatten up at the family Thanksgiving feast or eat tuna from a can with friends in the dirty South. It’s the perfect time to start planning the deep Winter trip and finally hit Hueco. Or maybe its time to hit the plastic and get freaky strong for next Springs routes. Or maybe its time to drop climbing for the season and hit the powder…

When you list it out like that most of our lifes choices seem pretty tame compared to a lot of those in the local areas around the Red. Instead of choosing how to waste their day away wrestling rocks or skiing slopes, they are trying to figure out how to put a hot meal on the table and clothes on their children backs.

This is your chance to give back to the families of the areas that you play in. Please bring your canned goods, hats, jackets, boots or whatever could make someones winter a little more comfortable. Last year we had a full truckload of supplies donated and hope to repeat that this year. All the food and clothing is donated to the food bank ran by the Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Campton. If cash is your only option be assured that 100% will be used to buy food/clothing for the drive.

This year we are going on a gym tour and plan to hit as many gyms as possible. Right now we have Eastern Kentucky University and Bluegrass Bouldering committed. If you have a gym or would like to suggest one to host please get in touch with us.

Festivities will include free admittance to the gym, a one of a kind slide show featuring many of the areas talented photographers, including some old school favorites, music at some of the events as well as pot luck dinners (depending on location we will have adult refreshments available). And of course, there will be plenty of good folks and warm smiles to go around.

So find a gym near you to pull down and put up some good deeds:

• Bluegrass Bouldering (Lexington, KY)- November 19th
• Rockquest (Cincinnati, OH) – November 22nd
• Rocksport (Louisville, KY) –  December 8th
• Hoosier Heights (Bloomington, IN) - December 10th
• Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, KY) - December 11th

Many thanks, Climbers That Care

climbersthatcare.com

Drive By Emergency Tube

As climbers we put ourselves in a dangerous position.  We rely on ourselves, our equipment, and our climbing partner each and every time we climb. We don’t expect bad things to happen, however sometime accidents happen.  A few months ago our community experienced a tragedy at the Darkside.

The night of the accident I had a chance to talk with climbers that were at the cliff that day.  Through our discussions, I felt pain of my friends, as we searched for the why.

That night everyone was shaken, but I asked questions looking for ways that the RRGCC could help. There is little that the RRGCC can do to prevent accidents. When I asked what could have been better, here is what they said:

1. “We did not know who to call or what the phone number was
2. We did not know what county we were in
3. Even though we sent a runner out to meet the ambulance, they missed each other
4. We did not know how to explain to the Rescue Squad where we were in terms that they understood
5. The Rescue Squad did not know where the Darkside was  . . . “

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Join us for the Outdoor Clip n' Go Comp

Rocktoberfest is about celebrating the Red and our property, the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve. It has hundreds of classic and beautiful routes. What better way to enjoy them to time you guys and throw prizes your way to make sure you get outside now and again.

So come out and compete in the 3rd Annual RRGCC Rocktoberfest Clip and Go Climbing Competition at the Sore Heel Crags.

Location : Sore Heel Climbing Areas (guide) (map)

Date : Saturday, October 9, 10am – 5pm

Cost : $15 / Person, $25 / team

The rules are simple.

1. Points are earned by bolts clipped on redpoint.  Go ahead try as many times as you want, only your high point counts.  The anchors always count as two bolts.
2. There is a multiplier for difficulty so harder routes are worth more points per bolt than easier routes.
3. Stick Clipping the first bolt is allowed, however you must attempt the route.
4. If draws are hanging cool, if you hang ‘em that”s cool too.  There is no difference in points.
5. There are 3 catagories for your pleasure (3 each for Men’s and Women’s).  Beer, Bourbon, and Ol Stones.  Just like in real life the beer can take care of many issues however the bourbon is for the harder problems.  The Ol’ Stones are just there to heckle and have fun and support the cause.
6. This year we have added a team division – two climbers can compete together.  Total points makes the team score.  (Note: While you can enter the individuals event online, the team comp must be entered day of the event. The team entry cost is $25 for two people).  Of course you can enter both the team competition and the individual comp, however you must pay for both.
7. There may be mistakes but the scoresheet is the final word.
8. Finishing time of 5pm means that you have to have the score sheet turned in at 5pm with the scores tallied.

Pre-register online or at the event or even at the sore hill parking, day of the event.

For All Climbers, A Reminder

To ensure that all the comp participants have adequate parking, Sore Hill parking lot will be open only to competitors on Saturday until 2:00pm.

Here are the competition score sheets so you can make your strategy.

Individual Score Sheet

Team Scoresheet

Johnny and Alex Trail Day, as seen by our fearless trail day leader, Matt Tackett:

Saturday morning started off as a typical summer day in Kentucky. Hot enough to scorch the devil, humid enough for altitude training, bugs thick enough to float a truck and more snakes laying around than fibers on a plush carpet.

No one in their right mind would be outside on a day like that. Especially not out bushwhacking to see what the next holler holds, hauling a drill kit through rhodo thickets so dense you can’t see the other side, or worse yet be out working for free for others enjoyment…

Luckily for all of us, Johnny did those things every chance he could get.

I’m not sure if it’s a spreadable disease from touching too much Corbin sandstone, or maybe it’s a side effect from too many Ale-8′s, but Johnny and Alex sure would have been proud to see a 120 people sharing the same affliction showing up with tools and water in hand and ready to suffer for something bigger than they are.

As volunteers received their trail assignments and raced out all over the PMRP it reminded me of ants rebuilding their hill after being disturbed. When everyone picks up a stone it makes the wall easier to build. So as I swat another horse fly to the ground and wash the stinging nettle sting off my arms, I’m laughing out loud and thinking to myself that this is what Johnny wanted the PMRP and the RRGCC to be.

Volunteers braved the elements and didn’t stop until projects were completed. Chica Bonita, Curbside, Bob Marley, Shire, Gallery, Left Field, Play Ground, Volunteer Wall, Courtesy, Rival, Sore Heel short cut trail and the new mountain bike trails all saw significant improvements. Work was made easier by the amazing wraps provided my Miguel’s and crew as well as drinks from GFS and Red River Outdoors.

You would think that once the work whistle was blown that folks would be lining up to leave the property, to be the first to make the slip and slide run, be the hero that tapped the kegs or at least be first in line for dinner provided by True North Outfitters. But this strange affliction that we share drove a few crews insane and they literally had to be pushed down the hill with tools in hand and blindfolded to prevent further work.

As everyone gathered back to Lago Linda’s to wash, feed and drink the sore muscles away a storm like no other rolled in, only adding fuel to the party that was to come. By the time the 23 String Band took the stage the crowd had shaken the sore muscles away and gotten warmed up for a full night of dancing by an impromptu one-arm pull-up adult beverage chugging contest… that in all reality should become an Olympic event. The 23 String Band tore it up as always and played well into the night keeping everyone on their feet and truly enjoying this thing we call life.

Completely exhausted and soaked in rain and sweat I look around at all the smiling faces of friends and family and an overwhelming sense of belonging and calm takes over… and we all dance again.

Thanks to everyone that made this years Johnny and Alex Trail Day the best one yet. Looking forward to suffering in the woods, dancing till I can’t move and making Johnny and Alex proud again this time next year.

Matt Tackett

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.

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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.

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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.

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The RRGCC April 17 meeting. We didn't get quite this close..

Another meeting down, another docket of business together, another set of cookies, stickie buns, and brownies put away.. Yep, the April 17th meeting of the RRGCC is all but history with one of our larger crowds in hand, likely due to some of the spring’s best weather to date.

If you missed this one, have no fear – there’s one tentatively scheduled for July 24. Check back again (or subscribe to our feed) to find out the details. In the meantime, read over the proceedings from this last meeting to stay up with the current happenings and updates.

Read more after the break..

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Roadside Crag is one of the Red River Gorge’s most popular crags. Minutes from the parking off a major roadway and hosting wide range of climbs, Roadside attracts dozens of climbers of all abilities every weekend.  Roadside is located on the Graining Fork Nature Preserve, land that is owned by climber-friendly Grants Stevens and Jon Haight.  Over the years, though, Roadside’s popularity has contributed to increased wear and tear on the approach trail, especially near the steep trail-head. The increased foot traffic led to obvious problems with drainage and erosion.

On Saturday, April 3, 2010 Mike Driskell of Driskell Home Repair in Louisville organized a second trail day at Roadside Crag to try to address those problems. Thirteen people came to put the sweat of their brow into helping remove litter, trim tree branches, widen the trail-head, and improve drainage along the beginning of the trail.  They refueled with some Miguel’s for lunch, provided by Driskell Home Repair, and stuffed their packs with some RRGCC schwag.  After working on the trail-head, Driskell and company moved to the area near Roadside Attraction, a classic and popular trad climb, where the trail went straight up a series of rock steps.  The poor drainage and steep incline led to severe erosion in this area.  Now, after plenty of volunteer effort, the trail now accesses this area via a switchback that should mitigate the impacts near Roadside Attraction.

Mike hopes to return complete the new section of the trail on the next Roadside Trail Day, possibly in the spring of 2011.  Additional projects also include working to stabilize the erosion around the base of the slab routes to the far-right of the cliff line.

Thank you to the volunteers that helped: John Grider, Malcolm Akindana, Randy Tebbs, Carrie Kirkpatrick, Dave Jasperson, JR Goodwin, Mark Rohr, Robert Keith Todd, Bryan Spencer, Josephine Neff, Derrick Powell, and Mike Driskell.

If you were not able to participate in this event, please mark your calendar for Johnny & Alex Trail Day (check out last year’s JATD), which will be held on August 14th, and stay tuned for more! Or, if you want to throw yourself at a project all your own, tell us about it and we’ll support you!

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! (more…)