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July 27, 2006
WIREDNUT Goes West!
Leesburg, VA. - The WiredNut heads to Colorado 9/2 to 9/9, along with TantrikClimber,
WN Flies over Colorado, circa 1993 for a tour of the Western Slopers, the Shelf Road Schosspiles, and the coffeshops of Boulder.
Posted by WiredNut at 08:29 PM | Comments (0)
NC: Chimney Rock For Sale!
NC.- From Save Chimney Rock: The North Carolina State Parks is negotiating with the owners of Chimney Rock Park for purchase of their property. This would then be the centerpiece property for the new Hickory Nut Gorge State Park. The owners of Chimney Rock Park have also decided to list the park with Sotheby's International Realty. The most important national icon of North Carolina is at risk. There is a very real possibility of the park falling into the hands of a private developer with unknown intentions.
Click here for a copy of letter from Todd Morse, president of Save Chimney Rock.
Click here for a copy of letter from Sotheby's
Click here for Sotheby's International Realty's Information about Chimney Rock Park
It is very important to protect this legacy property and to do everything possible to encourage the State of North Carolina to buy Chimney Rock Park.
We Can Protect Chimney Rock Park, here's what you can do to help!
* Send a letter or email to the Governor of North Carolina.
* Write letters to the editor of all papers in the region to support the preservation of the park. Contact your friends, particularly in places like Charlotte and Raleigh, to do the same.
* Send a letter or email to the Director of the North Carolina State Parks.
* Send a letter or email to our North Carolina State Representatives.
Posted by WiredNut at 05:43 PM | Comments (0)
July 24, 2006
WEDNESDAY!!! Meeting on Great Falls Cliff Study at Patagonia Store
Kush at Kaymoor, Photo by Photo by Steve Sebrell© 2006From Thomson Ling, DC area Access Fund Coordinator:
The National Park Service has comissioned a multi-year study to examine the rock faces of the Potomac Gorge, an area that includes Carderock and Great Falls. This cliff study will document plant communities and soils living on and near cliff surfaces in the Potomac River Gorge. Additionally, the study will assess any impacts of recreation use and park visitation on these important cliff habitats. The first phases of the study have already begun and the tentative completion date is 2009. The study is being led by Dr. Jeff Marion, a US Geological Survey researcher. Dr. Marion is a climber as well as a researcher and understands the value of conservation as well as recreation. Our hope is that through sound researchwe can identify ways that climbing and conservation can co-exist in the Potomac Gorge.
Dr. Marion has offered to meet with the climbing community and cover his proposed study, so that the climbing community is better informed about the work that he is doing. To this end, Friends of Great Falls (FOGF) has organized a meeting where you can learn about this study.
In addition, Stephanie Flack from the Nature Conservancy will discuss the role of the Nature Conservancy in conservation efforts along the Potomac Gorge as well as the relatio nship of the Nature Conservancy to the National Park Service.
What: A meeting to learn about the Potomac
Gorge Cliff Study.
When: This Wednesday evening, July 26, 6:30 - 8pm.
Where: Patagonia in Georgetown, 1048 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, DC 20007
Who: Dr. Jeff Marion, lead researcher for the Cliff Study and Stephanie Flack, The Nature Conservancy Potomac Gorge Conservation Planner.
As concerned climbers, please make every effort to attend this meeting. Both Dr. Marion and Stephanie Flack have graciously offered their time to help brief the climbing community and share information about how climbing and conservation can fit together in the Potomac Gorge.
Posted by WiredNut at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2006
VA: Great FAlls NP EIS Comments Analysis
Great Falls, VA.- The Friends of Great Falls has put together a excellent summary and analysis (PDF) of the public comments regarding Great Falls Draft Management Plan.
Quote:
Nearly 300 individuals and organizations commented on the draft Great Falls General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. Individual climbers filed about 75% of the responses (206 out of 270). In addition, twelve organizations and groups relating to climbing filed comments. The remaining comments came from hikers, neighbors and residents living near the park, individual equestrians and equestrian groups, environmental groups, off-road biking organizations, kayaking associations, and local, state and federal government organizations.
3. Summary of Organizational Comments
The groups that commented were:
Users:
♦ Friends of Great Falls (FOGF)
♦ Sheclimbers organization
♦ Potomac Appalachian Trail Club/Mountaineering Section (PATC/MS)
♦ American Alpine Club (AAC)
♦ The Access Fund (AF)
♦ Great Falls Trail Blazers (GFTB)
♦ Potomac Heritage Trail Association (PHTA),
♦ American Whitewater (AW)
♦ Int'l Mountain Bicycling Assoc, Mid Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE)
♦ Great Falls Equestrian Society (GFES)
Park and planning agencies:
♦ Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA)
♦ Fairfax County Countywide Non-Motorized Transportation Committee (NMTC)
♦ Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning
♦ Fairfax County Park and Planning, Planning and Development Division
♦ Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
♦ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III
Conservation Organizations:
♦ The Nature Conservancy, Maryland/District of Columbia Chapter (TNC)
♦ Potowmack Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society (VNPS)
♦ Potomac Conservancy
♦
Neighborhood:
♦ Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA)
♦ Great Falls Park and Potomac River Association.
Posted by WiredNut at 12:55 PM | Comments (0)
July 19, 2006
Red River Gorge: 2nd Annual Johnny and Alex Trail Day
Summersville Lake. Photo by Derek Good © 2005Slade, KY.- Mark your calendars and plan on attending the event that honors two of the Red River Gorge's finest contributors, the late John Bronaugh and his son, the late Alex Yeakley.
To help carry on John's vision of the area, there will be route development and trail maintenance to the new areas. This is a great way to give back to an area that we all use and enjoy.
When: August 5th and 6th, 2006
Where: All around Sore Heel Hollow Areas
What: Trail Day, Bolting Clinic, Mountain Bike Trail Development, and Mtn Bike/Climbing Switch.
Camping and After Party: Lago Linda’s
As most of you know mountain bike trail development has been started in the area and the RRGCC has received funding from the mountain bike community. This will hopefully be a beneficial partnership for both user groups. We have a couple miles of trails tagged and started and will be working these trails as well. These trails will be open for trail running and general hiking too.
The after party will be held at Lago Lindas and will have plenty of entertainment. Events include slip and slide drag races, slack line demos, water gun wars, live music, drinks and food.
On Sunday, finish up with a few trail chores, send the routes that were bolted, and enjoy the bikes available for climbers and climbs ready for bikers!
Posted by WiredNut at 07:37 AM | Comments (0)
July 15, 2006
Virginia: Alexandria Times Features Ana and Sportrock
Alexandria, VA.- Check out this Alexandria Times article that features Ana! There's an excerpt here, click the "continue reading" link.
Nursing the rock More graceful than Eiler, however, is Ana Lee, a nurse at Georgetown University Hospital. “Ana is the hidden killer,” Eiler said. “She’ll get on a rock and make everyone look silly.” Lee seems to glide across and around the walls, following colored tape which indicates a particular climbing route, determining the difficulty of the climb. “I’ve been climbing for five years, and taken many of the classes here, they have a great program.” she said.It seems that few who attend the gym go more than three times a week. Lee lives in Silver Spring, Md., but still makes the commute twice a week. “You need downtime. You get really tired and can get injured. It’s really tough, though, especially in the beginning. You love it so much and push yourself so much that you just get kind of addicted to it,” she said.
Lee said that keeping relaxed is a major part of climbing. “That’s why they have Yoga here four nights a week. It’s great for breathing control. You really waste a lot of energy if you don’t breathe correctly.” She, like Eiler, has made friends at the gym. “Climbing here is just awesome and the friends are great.
Posted by WiredNut at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)
Lost Souls, Kaymoor, NRG
Will on Lost Souls, Kaymoor
Posted by WiredNut at 09:12 PM | Comments (0)
July 04, 2006
North Carolina: Most Peregrine Closures Lifted
National Forest District Ranger Joy Malone has lifted the Peregrine nesting closure on most cliffs in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forest. Here are the newly opened cliffs:
Linville Gorge
Big Lost Cove Cliff
Whiteside Mountain
Looking Glass Rock
Please note that Whiterock Cliff is re-nesting and will remain closed until further notice. Note that these magnificent birds of prey and their young will remain in the nest and vicinity and act to protect it. If you notice a nest, view the birds from afar.
Posted by WiredNut at 08:06 PM | Comments (0)