Access Fund Climbing Conservation Grant Program - 2016 Round 2

Each year, the Access Fund awards up to $40,000 in grant money to local climbing communities with worthy projects that preserve or enhance climbing access. The Access Fund Climbing Conservation Grant Program is an example of your membership dollars at work in local climbing communities across the country. We are asking members and supporters to review qualifying grant projects and rate them, providing valuable input to our grant selection committee as to which projects you want to support.

The following grants are up for consideration during this round. Please rate each grant proposal. A rating of 1 means you think the project should be a low priority for funding. A rating of 5 means that you believe the project is very important, and must receive funding. The comment box at the bottom of the survey is for your comments on any or all proposed projects. If you comment on a specific proposal, be sure to state the project's title.

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* 1. Carolina Climbers Coalition: Sauratown Trail Construction
Carolina Climbers Coalition (CCC) requests grant funding to help fund construction of a sustainable trail to the recently reopened Sauratown cliffs in North Carolina. After several years of closure, the CCC partnered with the YMCA Camp in a recreational lease to permit public climbing access for four months each year. The current trail is steep, prone to erosion, and not sustainable. By hiring a professional trail design company to work with CCC volunteers, a new trail system will benefit both climbers and visitors to the YMCA camp alike. Investing in a sustainable trail is an investment in continued access to a very popular area.

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* 2. Flagstaff Ranger District: Sandys Canyon Trailhead Improvements
Flagstaff Ranger District of Coconino National Forest requests funds to construct a new trailhead and access point to the Pit climbing area of Flagstaff, Arizona. A new parking area will provide safe access off the busy highway to one of the most popular sport crags in the area. Grant funding will help the Forest Service (1) construct a gravel all-weather parking area, (2) add fencing around the parking area to prevent off-road use, and (3) install a three panel kiosk to educate hikers and climbers about protecting the area’s natural resources and staying on existing trails. Local climbers, volunteers, Flagstaff Climbing Center, and Arizona Trail Association extend their support and provide in-kind labor as a match for the project.

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* 3. Levitation 49: Valdez Climbing Signage and Trail Improvements
Levitation 49, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting recreation in Valdez, seeks grant funding to design and install trailhead and trail signage. An interpretive sign at the Glacier Campground access point and additional carsonite wayfinding trail markers will guide climbers to popular ice climbs and new rock climbing areas. Levitation 49 is partnering closely with the City of Valdez and seeks matching funds from the American Alpine Club Cornerstone Conservation grant program to complete the project.

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* 4. Monadnock Climbers Association: Marlow and Hewes Hill Signage and Trail Improvements
Monadnock Climbers Association (MCA), a new local climbing organization of Southwest New Hampshire, requests funds to steward Marlow and Hewes Hill. These areas are seeing increased climbing use and erosion along its trails. MCA is looking to improve and reroute existing trails, construct a new loop trail at Marlow, and add trail signage and kiosks at both sites to educate climbers about reducing their impacts and staying on sustainable access trails. MCA has contributed matching funds to cover nonprofit start-up costs. The project has strong local support from Monadnock Conservancy, businesses, landowners, and outdoor education and trail groups.

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* 5. Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition: Reframe the Gallery Stewardship Improvements
The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition (RRGCC) requests grant funding to rehabilitate the staging area of the Gallery, one of the most popular areas in the Pendergrass-Murray Recreation Preserve. With a concentrated area of moderate climbs, the area has seen significant erosion and deforestation in the last decade. Rock terracing and reforestation are necessary to restore the natural environment and will serve as an educational opportunity in crag etiquette for all visitors to understand the importance of minimizing human impact. To help match the costs, RRGCC also seeks funding from an American Alpine Club Cornerstone Conservation grant. Grant funds will assist RRGCC with trail building materials, signage, and a professional trail crew to oversee volunteer efforts.

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* 6. Rumney Climbers Association: Final Frontier Acquisition
Rumney Climber's Association (RCA) seeks funding to acquire Rumney's Northwest Crags for permanent conservation and climbing access. The Northwest Crags are the final set of privately owned climbing resources at the central New Hampshire sport climbing mecca. RCA secured an Option Agreement with a loan from the Access Fund Climbing Conservation Loan Program and now needs to raise $300,000 to cover the purchase and stewardship costs. The Forest Service is seeking Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to match the generous donations of the climbing community, Appalachian Mountain Club chapters, and other supporters. An Access Fund grant would help cover the costs of the purchase, new parking area, and trail system.

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* 7. Have additional feedback about the grant projects above? Provide your comments here.

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* 8. Thanks for rating grants! Are you a current Access Fund member? If not, join or renew here.