WHAT: Environmental Stewardship Volunteer Day

WHEN: May 19^th, 2012 / 8:30pm-2:30pm

WHERE: The lower Parley’s Canyon Crag.

DETAILS: PRE-REGISTRATION is required to volunteer. Please SIGN UP on the volunteer sign-up sheet to guarantee your lunch donated by Whole Foods. Participants are required to wear appropriate shoes (no open toed shoes) and long pants. NO DOGS. NO ALCOHOL. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen.

Due to final logistical land ownership issues with Salt Lake County and Utah Department of Transportation, the scope of the Lower Parley’s stewardship project has changed slightly. The County is in the process of clarifying parcel boundaries and ownership of the actual cliff face. A greater master plan for this area is in the works with Salt Lake County and other land managers. The work that the work SLCA does on May 19th will play a part in that greater master plan.

Even though SLCA will not be able to construct a new access trail to the cliff, we have come to an agreement with Salt Lake County to still provide a much needed stewardship project at this area. The project will still include some of the proposed project objectives including: installing multiple check dams in the existing fall line access trail; maintaining and constructing water diversion structures on the main trail; and installing a kiosk at the trailhead.

The SLCA is partnering with the Access Fund though a grant they have awarded for this project. Other partners include Salt Lake County for matching funds and Mountain Trails Foundation who are providing the tools and trail expertise.

Salt Lake Climbers Alliance - Lower Parley’s Access Trail
The Access Fund is pleased to award a grant to the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance (SLCA) to help construct a new sustainable climbing access trail at the base of Parley’s Canyon. The popular and highly visible crag at the base of Parley’s Canyon is heavily used and impacted by the population of Salt Lake County. With help from volunteers and trail building experts, SLCA will construct a new access trail and close the old, unsafe approach. Staging areas will also be improved to reduce impacts at the base of the cliff. Lastly, SLCA will construct two kiosks and add signage to illustrate the new trail and communicate LNT ethics to the climbing community.

The SLCA thanks the Access Fund!  More info on the date for this project will be posted soon.

• Free Climbing Gear Demo, Friday April 27th 5-9pm (WSU Climbing Wall)
• Outdoor Red Point Boulder Competition, Saturday April 28th 10am-12:30pm (Ogden Boulder Field)
  All Hill Air Force Base employees, Active Military, WSU ROTC, and WSU Climbing Club members receive a $5 discount on early registration for the Outdoor Boulder Comp. (Regular $20, Discount $15). Please call the WSU Outdoor Program 801-626-6373 before Friday April 27th at 5pm to pre-register.
• Free Red Bull BBQ, Saturday April 28th 12-1pm (Ogden Boulder Field)
• Free Educational Climbing Clinics, Saturday April 28th from 1-3:30pm (Ogden Boulder Field) 1) Peter Croft Climbing Clinic, 2) Kidz Rock Clinic, 3) Bouldering Clinic
• RevvNRG Keynote Slide show presentation by Peter Croft, Saturday April 28th 6:30pm (WSU Wildcat Theater)
• Event After Party Hosted by the Front Climbing Club, Saturday April 28th 8:30pm (The Front Climbing Club)
• Boulder Field Clean up and Trail restoration, Sunday April 29th 10-2pm (Ogden Bolder Field)

  All events are open to the community we invite participants of all ages and ability!

WHAT IS IT?   First Descents' 3rd Annual Climbing for Cancer at Rockreation , Salt Lake City

WHEN IS IT?  April 28, 2012

TIME OF THE EVENT: 9 am - 12 pm (note each gym has different times)

OUR GOAL:   In honor of the 70,000 young adults diagnosed with cancer each year, we're challenging you to come out and help of reach our goal of climbing 70,000 vertical feet, while raising money to give more young adults with cancer a First Descents experience.

THE DETAILS:  Join the Climbing for Cancer Team today, tap your personal network to raise funds for young adult fighters and survivors and then climb your tail off for the cause!  A minimum of $25.00 raised will get you free admission into one of the participating gyms on April 28, 2012.   What better way to spend your Saturday afternoon?

If you live in Park City or the Snyderville Basin and are a climber, are interested in becoming a climber, or think climbing is cool and want it to be more a part of your community, then please indicate that and Indoor Climbing Facility is needed in the Park City or Snyderville Basin District on your "Community Interest and Opinion Survey" happening NOW!

For more info, please visit: http://www.basinrecreation.org/blog.html?post=5028

SLCA is made up of volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, please contact julia@saltlakeclimbers.org.

Welcome to the 24 new SLCA members from Black Diamond. Thanks to Black Diamond for your ongoing support.

RE-CAP OF RECENT EVENTS

THE ZANSKAR ODYSSEY FILM: American Alpine Club sponsored the SLCA Adopt-a-Pot Fundraiser

Thanks to the American Alpine Club, Brewvies , our sponsors, and all the awesome people who came out to the Zanskar Odyssey Film at Brewvies March 22! Forty-four people attended regardless of the nice weather outside and we raised over $500 to go towards the two seasonal latrines that SLCA provides at Joe’s Valley, Utah. 250 people looked at our Facebook page because of the Port-o-Pot Photo contest. Congratulations to Ryan Stott, the winner of the contest who got 90 LIKEs for his pic.

This fundraiser along with the money raised from the BD Swap is almost enough to pay the $1,000 it costs to place these latrines in Joe’s every season. If you go to Joe’s or go at Joe’s, please donate to the SLCA so that we can continue to provide this valuable and much needed service.

The port-o-potties for Joe's will be delivered by eary April.

UPCOMING EVENTS!

REEL ROCK FILM TOUR 2011 ENCORE SHOWING

WHAT: Petzl’s 1st Annual Fundraiser for the SLCA! Join Petzl, the Access Fund, and the SLCA for an encore showing of the 2011 REEL ROCK Film Tour . If you missed it when it came to Salt Lake City, don’t miss this screening! Sender Films and Big UP Productions have gathered the wildest climbing stories from around the globe: the legendary race for The Nose speed record; a nine-year-old bouldering prodigy; Tommy Caldwell's efforts on the hardest big-wall free climb; a crazed high-lining champion; the most insane ice climbing action ever, and more. It's all part of the cinematic tour de force that is REEL ROCK VI! 

WHEN: April 12, 2012

TIME: 7:30pm

WHERE: Jim Santy Auditorium

                1255 Park Ave, Park City

DETAILS: Tickets are $10 at the door

                Sweet Giveaway!

                Slack Bow Photo Contest!

SPRING PROJECT

Lower Parley’s Access Trail

Over the course of three days in late May 2012, the SLCA proposes to design and construct a new sustainable access trail to the lower Parley’s Canyon climbs. The SLCA intends to mitigate and restore impacts from the old trail. We’re looking into installing two kiosks—one at the parking area and one at the top of the approach trail—to educate the public about the new trail and Leave No Trace ethics. Volunteers will be needed for this project. If you are interested in helping out with the trail construction, please contact julia@saltlakeclimbers.org.

BLACK DIAMOND 3rd THURSDAY SPEAKER SERIES

WHAT:  Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons

WHEN: April 19th

TIME: 7:00pm

WHERE: Black Diamond Retail Store

DETAILS: Author and ultrarunner Byron Powell, publisher of iRunFar.com, will share training tips and stories about trail running, races, places, people, and gear that any trail running enthusiast will want to hear.

SAVE THE DATE!

WHAT: The 3rd Annual Black Diamond Fundraiser for the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance

WHEN: June 14, 2012

TIME: 6:00pm-10:00pm

WHERE: The Black Diamond Parking Lot

DETAILS:  Look forward to a top-notch party with live music, food, drinks, a silent auction, the Golden Ticket, swag giveaways, pro athletes, and much, much more.

A Fundraising Committee within the SLCA has been formed and is in the planning process for the 2012 BD Fundraiser. If you would like to get involved in planning this event, please contact Executive Director, Julia Geisler. 

WASATCH WATER LEGACY PARTENERSHIP (WWLP)

SLCA is working closely with the WWLP, whose mission 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, Ski Resorts, Salt Lake County, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, and Save our Canyons to name a few. 

SLCA is present in the partnership to represent climbers’ interests in the Canyons. The WWLP is very interested in working with us to establish a climber-trails-management plan starting in Lower Little Cottonwood Canyon and moving on throughout the Cottonwoods from there. SLCA is in the process of creating GPS maps of social trails already on the ground leading to main climbing destinations. The SLCA is presenting a number of sustainable trail system options for Lower Little Cottonwood Canyon to the USFS and the WWLP. Stay tuned for more updates.

WASATCH CANYONS FOR TODAY SYMPOSIUM

SLCA attended this symposium on Monday, March 26, 2012, to represent climbers’ interests in transportation and parking in the Canyons. Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, and the United States Forest Service presented Wasatch Canyons Today. The symposium provided an environment to discuss a variety of issues that affect the Wasatch Canyons. Those issues include sanitation, road design, construction and maintenance, building code enforcement, water quality monitoring, addresses, planning and zoning, snow plowing, and more. The wide variety of day-to-day public services and the challenges of meeting public-service needs sparked the idea for a community public forum.

Wasatch Canyons Today started the conversation and will continue to engage stakeholders, including canyon residents, the tourism industry, transportation interests, political stakeholders, law enforcement/public safety, and any other interested parties.

Click here to learn more. 

GOAL: Raise $1,000 so that the SLCA can provide latrines at Joe's Valley again this season.  IF YOU GO TO JOE'S OR GO AT JOE'S, please come to Brewvies tonight and Adopt a Pot.  Giveaways, BEER, and Port-o-Pot photo booth!  All Port-o-Pot Photos will be posted on SLCA's Facebook page.  The photo to receive the most LIKEs will win a very cool prize.

Info: MoesValley.com

Greetings from the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance! Check out our upcoming events.

Reel Rock Film Tour Encore

Mark your calendars for a March encore showing of the Reel Rock Film Tour in Park City! This will be the First Annual Petzl Fundraiser for SLCA and Access Fund.

Sender Films and Big UP Productions are bringing audiences a mind-blowing, palm-sweating pump-fest of climbing flicks for the 6th annual REEL ROCK Film Tour. We've gathered the wildest climbing stories from around the globe: The legendary race for The Nose speed record; A nine year old bouldering prodigy; Tommy Caldwell's efforts on the hardest big wall free climb; A crazed high-lining champion; The most insane ice climbing action ever and more. It's all part of the cinematic tour de force that is REEL ROCK VI.

Parley’s Access Trail Project Spring 2012

The close proximity and quick approach from Salt Lake City has made the quartzite slab of lower Parley’s Canyon extremely popular. Known as the thoroughfare between Salt Lake City and Park City, Parley’s forms the northern boundary of Grandeur Peak, a popular hiking destination with great views of the city and the bigger mountains to the south. 

The recreational impacts from the existing approach trail are unsustainable because of the steep grade of the trail and lack of infrastructure.  Social trails spider web down the steep slope to access the crag.  Staging areas at the base of the crag are undefined and are creating recreational sprawl.

Over the course of three days this spring 2012, the SLCA proposes to design and construct a new sustainable access trail that many user groups will be able to enjoy.  The trail will preserve and enhance the access to the climbing resource at the base of Parley’s Canyon.  The SLCA intends to mitigate and restore impacts from the old trail.  SLCA is in the planning stages for the potential to install two kiosks; one at the parking area and one at the top of the approach trail to educate the public about the new trail and Leave No Trace ethics.

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, or contact us at http://www.saltlakeclimbers.org/contact

Fall Adopt-a-Crag Update

The planning has begun for SLCA’s Fall Adopt a Crag weekend.  With six separate quartzite walls and over 60 routes at 10,500 feet, Ruth Lake in the Uinta Mountains is a sport climbing mecca that attracts not only local Park City and Salt Lake climbers, but also travelers from around the world. 

The Good Medicine Wall is the most popular wall and the most impacted.  The existing trail connecting the Good Medicine Wall to the other walls ascends a steep talus slope where loose rock from traversing climbers and dogs is a danger to climbers below.

The Evanston Ranger District of the Uinta-Watach-Cache National Forest is looking forward to working with the SLCA’s strong volunteers to help with rock work to build a sustainable and safe trail connecting the Good Medicine Wall to the other walls at Ruth Lake this fall.  The SLCA also plans to facilitate a trash clean-up of the six walls at Ruth Lake.  This Adopt-a-Crag will be a weekend event with project work the first day followed by a BBQ and free camping.  Plan to climb the second day.  New climbers are welcome! The SLCA plans to connect knowledgeable mentors with new climbers in the outdoor arena to promote safe and responsible climbing habits within our community.

Joe’s Valley Update

Joe's Valley is one of the world's premier bouldering destinations. The sandstone boulders that line the hillsides are seemingly made for climbing: the rock is textured but skin-friendly, it's featured yet strong, and the landings are generally fantastic. Approaches are almost all five minutes or less, and many of the most popular boulders are just a stone's throw from the car.  

Joe’s Valley lacks infrastructure to handle the numbers that visit this climbing destination.  The SLCA provides two seasonal toilets and other than that, there is nothing in place to protect this awesome climbing resource.  The steepness of the slopes and the soft sandstone along with the high number of climbers are factors that contribute to erosion of the trails and environmental impact to this area.  The lack of defined camping areas adds to the recreational impacts on the land.

The SLCA, in partnership with the Access Fund, has begun to make contact with land owners in Joe’s Valley to put in place a Climbing Management Plan that will help to protect this climbing resource for future use.  The SLCA is also planning to throw an Adopt-a-Pot Fundraiser at The Front Climbing Club to help raise the $1,000 it costs to fund these two toilets for the upcoming climbing season.  Keep your eye out for more info soon.  

Wasatch Water Legacy Partnership

The SLCA is an active 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.  Partners sponsoring the project include government agencies, public and private entities, and local non-profits.  

Julia Geisler and Jonathan Knight represented the SLCA at the most recent WWLP meeting where the WWLP worked towards prioritizing projects, discussed grant opportunities, and finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).   Clean-up of the Grit Mill and establishing a Climbing Management Plan for Lower Little Cottonwood Canyon (a SLCA project in partnership with the USFS) was chosen as one of the top five out of about twenty potential projects).  Funding with the help of the WWLP is now being sought for this project.

The Front Climbing Club Special Events

Citizen's comp. Ogden. February 11^th.  Check in 12pm. Climb 1-4pm. $25 ($5 additional non-members, $5 additional at the door).  Call 801.393.7625

Black Diamond Equipment Special Events

February 8^th: CLIMBING AROUND THE WORLD: A Presentation by Mountaineer Guy Cotter—From skiing the Antarctic Peninsula to climbing the Seven Summits, Cotter will regale you with photos and stories of amazing mountaineering exploits. 7pm at the Jim Shanty Auditorium in Park City. $10 adults, $5 students (cash or check only). Proceeds benefit Summit Land Conservancy and Mountain Trails Foundation.

February 15 at 7pm: Need a quick avalanche refresher or just looking for some basic avalanche safety information? Come join us and the Utah Avalanche Center for a free avalanche awareness talk. Attendees will receive 15% OFF any snow safety gear purchases those nights.

February 17^th-20^th: PRESIDENT’S DAY WEEKEND SALE—March and April are historically deep months in the Wasatch, enjoy deep discounts on all ski equipment and clothing!

Forest Service Resource Planning

The SLCA is working with the Salt Lake Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest to develop climbing management objectives in the Cottonwood 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.

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 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax deductible.

Welcome to our members!