Aaaaand that’s a wrap! Thank you all for another incredible Johnny & Alex Trail Day!
This year, we made major progress on some projects that we could not have done without your help. A majority of our projects were aimed toward opening up all new climbing for you all ASAP.
➡️ 4 teams went out to tackle projects located on the all new Ashland acquisition, focused on laying the infrastructure for sustainable access to new crags like the Venue, Monster Wall, The Casino, Green Hill, and more.
➡️ 4 teams set out to Cliffview Recreational Preserve where they targeted different areas of need to get the area open as soon as possible. Teams divided & conquered amongst The Fed area–building belay bases, bridges, stairs, and cutting fresh trail.
➡️ 2 teams continued long-time projects among some of our most-loved crags, Bronaugh and Drive-by–addressing erosion issues at the base of the crags from years of love & use.
➡️ The remaining 2 teams scattered throughout the Gorge, delivering wood to and from projects and giving the Gorge some much needed TLC by trimming back overgrowth where needed.
All this work was fueled by longtime supporters of the RRGCC, @ale8one and @miguelsclimbshop who provided fresh and delicious lunch and bevs for our volunteers.
We wrapped up the day with some cold beer provided by @westsixth, delicious burgers (with all the fixings) from @redriverrockhouse, an incredibly stacked raffle and silent auction thanks to our full list of generous sponsors, and entertainment by @qatrivia and @blueherin.
Whew—that was a lot of work! Whether you’re visiting these new crags for the first time or climbing Whip Stocking for the hundredth time, we hope you feel a sense of pride and gratitude for the collective effort that has made sustainable climbing access possible, now and for generations to come.
THANK YOU to all of our generous sponsors who make this event happen every year & THANK YOU to everyone who came out and gave back to the Gorge! We’ll see you next year!
View and download all JATD photos at the link below!
PROJECTS
"Locals" Day @ The Fed
Work on the weekends? Join us on the Monday (6/16) before JATD to begin cutting the upper portion of The Fed's access trail in Cliffview.
Bronaugh's Landscaping Co. (Part III)
Just like your summer job in high school, this landscaping team will be building terraces and making things pretty at Bronaugh wall. With an eroding slope and unstable belay bases, this rock work will keep things together for years to come!
Recession Planning
The Fed is Cliffview Recreational Preserve's flagship crag and its approach trail needs some help through a small drop-off (just like the economy). Build a footbridge connecting to a staircase.
Financial Stability
The market and belay bases are effectively one and the same, both need some solid footing to be in good standing for a long time. Construct wooden belay bases beneath routes at The Fed.
Rolling out the Red Carpet
RRGCC's newest property, CFRP, needs a highway trail straight through the middle of Ash Cave Hollow, servicing The Venue and other developing crags. Bog bridges and stone pavers will help establish this trail through the bottom of the valley.
Slaying the Dragon
Another part of the Ashland acquisition, Monster Wall is soon to be one of MFRP's new crowd favorites. It is a behemoth of a project, phase one is building a footbridge along the access trail to the crag.
CFRP Trail Crew (formerly Monster's Labyrinth)
Change of plans! Head to the newly-acquired Cave Fork Recreational Preserve to cut trail at Green Hill & The Casino.
CFRP Trail Crew (formerly Stoops at Coop's)
Our favorite rock project leader is in France, join the CFRP trail crew instead Head to the newly-acquired Cave Fork Recreational Preserve to cut trail at Green Hill & The Casino.
Whip Rocking
Work with Muir Valley's trail crew to begin the massive project of rock terracing at Drive-By crag throughout the belay areas under the Whip Stocking sector. We might even let you drive up to the crag 😉
Fed Trail
Cut new trail in Cliffview Recreational Preserve, finishing the upper portion of The Fed's access trail.
Green Team
If you drive a Subaru and eat granola, this project might be for you. Travel the trails of PMRP, BRRP, & MFRP trimming back overgrowth and whipping those pesky weeds.
Go Ruck
Take a break from falling off your project and actually put those muscles to work carrying big pieces of wood to future project sites and taking out the old, dilapidated lumber from replaced infrastructure.
Russian Roulette
Don't care which project? Sign up for this one and we'll assign you to whatever project needs it the most!
SCHEDULE
9AM: Meet up & check-in at Land of the Arches
9:30 AM: Assemble in groups, safety briefing
9:45 AM: Head out to project sites
3:30 PM: Wrap up projects, head back to LOTA
4:30 PM: Climbing-themed trivia, hosted by QA Trivia
5 PM: Dinner and refreshments!
7 PM: Announcements, raffle & silent auction
7-11 PM: Live music!
Raffle & Silent Auction
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase after the trail day for awesome prizes from our sponsors -- Black Diamond, YETI, Petzl, Trango, Wild Country, Arc'teryx, Ocun, Mammut, Blue Water Ropes, J&H Lanmark, The North Face!
$3 -- 1 raffle ticket
$5 -- 2 raffle tickets
$25 -- 1 arm's length of raffle tickets
Swag & Food
Ale-8-One is once again partnering with the RRGCC to provide trail day t-shirts for every volunteer along with crisp, refreshing Ale-8's to quench that hard working thirst.
Lunch will be provided by your favorite pizzeria in Kentucky, Miguel's Pizza, with their classic wraps.
Back at Land of the Arches that evening, Red River Rockhouse will be grilling up burgers (of the ham & veggie varieties) for dinner and there will, of course, be some crisp refreshments provided by West Sixth to cap off a long day of swinging shovels and moving rocks!
After dinner, raffle, & announcements wrap up, music will begin so find that second wind and get to dancing!
Have a question?
rrgcc@rrgcc.org