The documentary film on Sean Patrick "Climb for Life: A Legacy"  (www.kued.org/climbforlife ) had its debut preview screening last Thursday night during outdoor retailers.  In partnership with Black Diamond and the Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition, the night also commemorated the third anniversary of Sean Patrick's passing, and also marked the beginning of the 10-year anniversary of the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation!

The film has it's broadcast debut tonight, January 23rd  on KUED-PBS channel 7.1 at 8 pm.  It will also re-air on KUED-PBS channel 7.2 this Wednesday January 25th at 7 pm.

Happy holidays from the SLCA!  We look forward to a productive New Year.

2012 Board of Directors and Committees

The SLCA has undergone a restructure of the Board of Directors for the New Year. New Board members have been nominated, and three members have retired their Board positions.  Sincere thanks to Cynthia Leventhal, Jonathan Knight, and George Poulton for their service to the SLCA.  They will be missed.  Welcome to new Board members: Sara Baldwin, Mason Baker, Paul Tusting, Brad Barlage, and Jason Shumaker.  The SLCA has also added four committees.  The SLCA will be accepting the nominations of motivated individuals from members to serve on the new committees.  The committees are: Fundraising and Membership, Marketing and Outreach, Personnel, and Policy and Conservation.

Board of Directors 2012: Chairman: Jeff Porucznik, Treasurer: Matt Goreham, Administrator: Paul Tusting, Mason Baker, Sara Baldwin, Brad Barlage, Dustin Buckthal, Rob Candland, Jason Shumaker

Partnerships

Wasatch Water Legacy Partnership

The SLCA is now a supporting member of the Wasatch Water Legacy Partnership. (WWLP) The mission of the partnership is to enhance watershed conservation and provide sustainable recreation along the Wasatch Front in the Salt Lake area.  This partnership builds on existing relationships and embraces new partners in an effort to enhance watershed conditions and provide outdoor recreation opportunities to Salt Lake residents and visitors. 

Partners sponsoring the project include Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, Save our Canyons, the Town of Alta, Black Diamond Equipment, Ski Areas (Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Brighton), UT Department of Natural Resources, UT Department of Transportation, UT Division of Water Quality, City of Sandy, and the Wasatch Regional Council.   

The WWLP will be working towards prioritizing objectives and finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at upcoming meetings. 

Through partnerships, the work that SLCA does will have greater recognition and support throughout the Wasatch.

Outdoor Alliance   

Executive Director, Julia Geisler and former Chairman, Jonathan Knight represented the SLCA at the 2011 Outdoor Alliance Summit in Golden, Colorado this December.  This first ever summit represented an effort to unite non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) representing human-powered recreational user groups and federal land managers. 

Partnerships were the focus as the federal agencies have been directed to seek creative ways to fund projects that support the Obama administration’s America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) initiative.  This was especially pertinent in regards to the SLCA’s recent involvement in the Wasatch Watershed Legacy Partnership (WWLP).  The conference was well attended by NGO’s and agency employees as well as some administration officials and outdoor industry leaders.

All in all, the summit was an inspiration.  The SLCA and the WWLP face many of the challenges that were addressed during case study presentations.  There is a wealth of resources and support available to support our objectives.  The lack of available funding at the federal and state levels of government has spawned the establishment of partnerships that have been very successful in realizing the kind of outcomes that the SLCA is working towards.  Fortunately, we are already a stakeholder in a new partnership, and thanks to the Outdoor Alliance, we are much better prepared to have a positive influence in a process that will benefit, not only climbers, but the greater Salt Lake outdoor community.  Read more. 

Forest Service Resource Planning

The SLCA is working with the Salt Lake District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest to develop climbing management objectives in the Wasatch Canyons.  Beginning with the climbing resources in lower Little Cottonwood Canyon, we are preparing documentation to support the proposal of the Crescent Crack and Egg trails as official Forest Service routes.  It is early in the process, but the redevelopment of the Grit Mill, as a trail head, and improving the access to the Bongeater are also on the table.  Currently, the SLCA is working to continue building our inventory of climbing resources in order to present a cohesive picture to the Forest Service.  They will use these reports and maps to help determine the extent and timing of their commitments to resource management in the areas that see the most climbing activity.  Stay tuned for future updates to this ongoing process.

Check out the Access Fund's Guide to Climbing Issues and the Development of a Climbing Management Plan.

Parley’s Access Trail Project Spring 2012   

The SLCA, in partnership with Salt Lake County Open Space and Save Our Canyons, has been approved to begin design work of a new access trail in lower Parley’s Canyon that will access lower Parley’s climbs.  Look for an Adopt-a-Crag event this spring to put in the new trail. 

A Policy and Conservation Committee within the SLCA has been formed and is in the planning process for the 2012 Project Season.  We want to hear your voice!  Talk to us on our online Forum.

History of the SLCA   

Take a glimpse at what the SLCA has done for you over the last decade.   

How does the SLCA Membership Program Benefit the Local Climbing Community? 

90 New Members have joined the SLCA since Adopt-a-Crag October 22nd, 2011!

The Salt Lake Climbers Alliance was founded by a small and dedicated group of local climbers volunteering their time to preserve climbing access to some of their favorite Wasatch Front crags.  After ten years of successful initiatives, the SLCA is seeking to expand its reach to serve, educate, and engage Utah’s growing climbing community. SLCA’s membership program helps foster a more cohesive and effective organization, while also creating an opportunity for members to have a vested interest in our work.  Through your financial support we are able to increase the number and scope of our projects and events, and, ultimately, our effectiveness in preserving local climbing access.  Some of our projects include climbing area restoration, access trail maintenance, bolt replacement, and climbing community education to promote safe and sustainable climbing principles.  In addition, the SLCA provides a critical voice for climbers in local, state, and federal access issues that affect Utah’s climbing resources. 

Only with the support and involvement of the local climbing community can SLCA fulfill our mission; please become a member today and help us continue our important work. To become a member, visit us at: http://www.saltlakeclimbers.org/membership. Annual membership fee is $25.00. The SLCA is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax deductible.

Welcome to all of our new members!   

The SLCA is grateful for the 87 (plus board) new members that joined the SLCA since our Adopt-a-Crag event on October 22nd.  

To thank our new members, ED, Julia Geisler and board member, Rob Candland, were at The Front Climbing Club Wednesday, December 21st to raffle an Edelweiss Axis II 10.2 60 meter rope.  Thanks to Liberty Mountain for donating the prize! 

New SLCA member, Chris White, is the lucky winner!  Please watch for more raffles to our members in the coming year.  Happy holidays from all of us here at the SLCA.

Rope Raffle!

This Wednesday December 21st, 2011 at The Front Climbing Club.

Salt Lake Climbers Alliance Executive Director, Julia Geisler, will be at The Front from 5-8pm this Wednesday to educate the public on the SLCA's mission and goals, drive memberships, and raffle off an Axis II 10.2mm Edelweiss rope, generously provided by Liberty Mountain for anyone who signed up or renewed their SLCA membership between Adopt-a-Crag held on October 22nd through Wednesday December 21st.

The lucky winner will be notified by email/phone.

A major sponsor of the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, The Front Climbing Club is offering one day-pass voucher for just $5 ($9 off!) with the purchase of a SLCA membership on Tuesday, November 29th. The Front Climbing Club is located at 1450 South 400 West in Salt Lake City.

This offer is available at The Front anytime on Tuesday, simply become a member of the SLCA ($25 minimum donation) and you will be able to purchase a day pass for just $5.

As an extra incentive to become a new member of the SLCA, we will be giving away an Axis II 10.2mm Edelweiss rope, generously provided by Liberty Mountain! The raffle will be held on December 21 and we will notify you via email if you have won the rope.

Join SLCA Executive Director - Julia Geisler - for our membership drive at The Front Climbing Club on Tuesday, November 29 from 5-8PM. Julia will be available to receive community feedback, discuss the SLCA's mission and goals and answer any of your questions.

Support your favorite local climbing organization and come out to climb at The Front! The SLCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation is tax deductible.


The following businesses generously provide funding for the SLCA. Please support them!

Please join SLCA Executive Director - Julia Geisler - for our membership drive at local climbing gyms this week. As an added incentive, we will be raffling off an Axis II 10.2mm Edelweiss rope on December 21 for our new members!

Additionally, anybody purchasing a 6-month+ membership to Momentum who also signs-up for an annual SLCA membership will receive a free Momentum day pass. Current Momentum members that purchase a $25 SLCA membership also get a free Momentum day pass.

Julia will be available to receive payments for memberships, answer questions about the SLCA's mission and goals at the following locations:

• Momentum Climbing - Black Friday, Nov. 25
• The Front Climbing Club - Saturday, Nov. 26
• Rockreation - Next week - TBA
• The Front Climbing Club - Next week - TBA

Please take a moment to read the following important message from the Access Fund:

We need your help to save climbing at Massacre and Castle Rocks!

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Burley, Idaho Field Office is proposing a climbing ban on its property at Massacre Rocks and making its current climbing ban at Castle Rocks permanent due to fears that climbing could potentially have negative impacts on cultural resources at each location.

The Access Fund is working with the Boise Climbers Association, the Eastern Idaho Climbers Coalition, members of Idaho's Congressional Delegation, the local BLM, and other concerned stakeholders to find a reasonable compromise that allows climbing and protects valuable culture resources.

But we need your help: please take a moment to send the BLM your thoughts using our easy-to-use letter writing tool. You can simply send the letter that the Access Fund has drafted, or take a few minutes to write your own letter.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at the Access Fund

SLCA 2011 Adopt-A-Crag

On October 22nd the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, in partnership with the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation and the USDA Forest Service, held its annual Adopt-a-Crag event. It was a resounding success! Over sixty volunteers came out to support the SLCA and its commitment of stewardship of the Wasatch. The SLCA would like to thank, wholeheartedly, all the volunteers for coming ready to work and take responsibility for our climbing environment. Volunteers donned work gloves and heavy tools, and participated in: trash clean up and brush back in Little Cottonwood Canyon; graffiti removal and trash clean up at White Pine Boulders; maintenance and improvement of past projects at the Salt Lake Slips crag and Ferguson Canyon; and a re-bolting clinic put on by the American Safe Climbing Association. Thanks to our participants, over 250 hours of volunteer work was accomplished in a single afternoon!

The afternoon was topped off, and the volunteers were rewarded by not only a deep sense of pride in stewardship, but also a free raffle. There were giveaways from sponsors of the SLCA including: Backcountry.com, Black Diamond, The Front Climbing Club, Liberty Mountain, Petzl, White Pine Touring, Momentum Climbing Gym, ProBar, Higher Ground Coffee, The Access Fund, IME, Scarpa, Carlucci's Bakery, and many others. Many thanks go out to the sponsors for their generous support!

The Adopt-a-Crag program was created by the Access Fund and is the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance's signature stewardship event. The event exists to unite our climbing community in partnership with land managers to conserve climbing areas. This Adopt-a-Crag marks for the SLCA over a decade of stewardship and preservation of our climbing environment. Past projects have included, but are not limited to: building belay decks and trail improvement in Ferguson Canyon and the Salt Lake Slips crag in Big Cottonwood Canyon; bouldering area improvements and trash clean up in Little Cottonwood Canyon; crag maintenance in Maple Canyon; installation of seasonal latrines in Joes Valley; trail maintenance in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons; graffiti removal in Little Cottonwood and Ferguson Canyons; and support of the ASCA's re-bolting efforts.

It is the SLCA's mission to promote climbing opportunities, preserve local access, and encourage stewardship of the environment. Climbers should be leaders to preserve and conserve our climbing environments, because our recreational activity depends upon the continued access of these resources.

If you missed out this fall, don't worry. It is not too late to do your part. There are more events to come and in the meantime; join the SLCA! To support the SLCA's worthy cause and become an official member, visit the website at saltlakeclimbers.org.

Thanks again to all the volunteers and sponsors that made this event and future events possible!

Adopt-A-Crag Photos
(click for larger images)

    
    
    
    

Calling all climbers! The SLCA would like to announce our annual Adopt-A-Crag Day, to be held October 22nd from Noon-5pm (after the Black Diamond Gear Swap.) Volunteers will be meeting at the Little Cottonwood Park-And-Ride, please car-pool if possible. The plan for the afternoon is to do a trash clean up of Little Cottonwood and maintenance of our past projects at The Slips and Ferguson Canyon. Please come out and show your good stewardship of the Wasatch. Refreshments and giveaways at 5pm back at the Park-And-Ride. If you plan on attending please complete the following volunteer registration so we have an idea of how many climbers are willing to help us with our goal of preserving access and stewardship of our local climbing areas.

Sign-up here: http://www.saltlakeclimbers.org/volunteer

Created by the Access Fund, the Adopt-a-Crag program is our signature stewardship event. It exists to unite our climbing community in partnership with land managers to conserve climbing areas.

Our volunteers should be prepared for mountain weather conditions, which are unpredictable and subject to rapid change. Further, our projects require the use of tools, which should be accompanied by a certain type of attire for your safety and that of others around you. Listed below are items to wear or bring to ensure your volunteer experience is a positive one.

Required:
• Long Pants
• Boots (sturdiest shoes possible, with closed-toe, no sandals!)
• Sunglasses or other eye protection
• Food / Water (2 - 3 quarts)
• Leather Gloves

Suggested:
• Sunscreen
• Rain gear
• Hat
• Extra layers

Be prepared for arduous work lasting up to 4 hours. All personal items must be carried by each individual in a backpack. If you pack it in, please pack it out. Also, dehydration is a real concern during the summer months. Please bring enough water to last the entire length of service. Please also note that most work on trails takes place at high elevations. Please come prepared with an Epi pen if you are allergic to stings, and please also notify work leaders of any special health or medical considerations when you arrive on site.

Also, thank you to everyone who came out for the Reel Rock Tour and also welcome to our new members!