January 23, 2007
Access Workshop/Roundtable to Discuss Nelson Rocks Preserve
Bailey's Crossroads, VA.- As you may be aware, Nelson Rocks Preserve has recently been put on the market for sale. Nelson Rocks Preserve is a privately owned outdoor recreation area in West Virginia. The land features many climbing routes, via ferrata climbing, hiking, and camping.
In response to this sale announcement, many climbers have raised the question of "what can we do?" Well, now you can help examine possibilities at this discussion.
Where: REI, Bailey's Crossroads
When: 5-7pm on Saturday, January 27th
Why: Learn about the options for preserving climbing access at Nelson Rocks Preserve and climbing on other private lands in the area.
This meeting will also provide a forum where climbers can get involved and organized about preserving climbing access to Nelson Rocks. If you would like to be involved in saving climbing at Nelson Rocks, please attend!
Posted by WiredNut at 11:50 PM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2007
Franklin Trail Work
Franklin, WV.- This dispatch from Roninthorn back in the first week of December. This crew got a LOT of trailwork done! Thanks guys!
Just back from a weekend of trail work and cleanup and climbing at Franklin.HUGE thanks to Nolan LaVoie and the seven incredible young men of the Blue Ridge School who showed up just after sunup on Saturday to bag trash, haul logs, set stone and lay trail in temps that started out at 28F.
Daniel Desenberg (the big man), Chris (with a bullet) Pistell, indomitable Dominic Walker, Taylor Playforth (Mr. Attention to detail), Conner McCormick(who HAD to climb it his way, and did), Alex Stroutmann, who turned out to know as much more about climbing and trail than I had expected from anyone his age, and Bryan Whitford, who was everywhere, doing everything.
These guys worked like twice their number, rebuilding the steps from the parking lot to the wall, lining the trail from there to the boulder field, setting new steps above the big cut, and following it all with a frenzy of climbing and fun that left nothing to the imagination and made my stomach hurt from laughing. We had more fun than most people even know how to have, and after a day of this insanity and a night in sub-freezing conditions, these young tigers wanted to do more!
Gentlemen, I salute you.
Thanks as well to longtime Harrisonburg resident and climber Neil Curtis, who saw a post in passing and showed up in the wee frosty hours to pitch in as runner, cleanup, trail hand and climbing instructor. We couldn't have done it without you, Neil... way to hang tough on SLAP... how sore are your abs?
Honorable mention of intentions to Marika, Joe and friend who showed up just as the trailwork frenzy was winding down... please come back and join us in the future. Sorry about the epic on Wintermute, Joe... and nice job on Early Retirement, M.
And, last but never least, thanks and kudos to my climbing partner and best friend, Michael Fisher, for showing up to brew strong coffee, snap pics, instruct, inform, inspire, ropegun and get 'er done. You're the best, dog.
Posted by WiredNut at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2006
Nelson Rock Up For Sale
Riverton, WV.- Nelson Rocks Preserve is for sale. Details can be found in this PDF @ NelsonRocks.org . Nelson Rocks Preserve is a privately owned area with over 200 routes, all of which are currently closed to public access.
Posted by WiredNut at 05:00 PM | Comments (0)
April 19, 2006
Seneca Rocks: Cinco De Mayo Party
Kelly smooths the Wall of Elevens at Torrent Falls
Photo by Wes Allen© 2006
Seneca Rocks, WV.- Saturday, May 6, the Gendarme hosts a party to kick off the season. Check www.seneca-rocks.com for details! Got a good salsa recipe? Enter it in the Salsa Showdown.
Posted by WiredNut at 07:06 AM | Comments (0)
December 16, 2005
WV: Franklin Trail Work Progress!
Crack climbing at Summersville Lake
Photo by Derek Goode © 2005Franklin, WV.- Significant trail work has been done by the hard working crew of "The Punishers", (aka Mike Gray and Micheal Fisher). The Contact Zone trail has been realigned from Potential Energy and uphill to Franklinstein; Blood, Sweat, and Chalk; and the Impact area. Work is in progress to connect the trail from the Parking Area cliff (Squeal Like A Pig, Lunar Debris, etc.) to the trail just beyond Raised By Sasquatch.
Please do not continue to use the contour trail below this line.
The "real" trail runs from the road steeply up and right, crossing
the fallen tree, then more or less heads straight to Potential Energy, the first route in the Contact Zone sector proper.
Marker tape and stone or wood rails will be used to define the trail in the future. Please stay on the trails as marked, avoid cross
cutting, pick up your trash, and if you must bring your dog, stop them from digging holes at belays. Thanks for your coooperation!
Posted by WiredNut at 08:10 PM | Comments (0)
October 03, 2005
Seneca Rocks: End of the Season Party, Oct. 22
Seneca Rocks, WV.- The Gendarme and SRCS is having a chili cook-off with free beer and food on Saturday, October 22. This end of the season party is legendary and obligatory for Seneca regulars.
Posted by WiredNut at 07:31 PM | Comments (0)
September 28, 2005
Updated: Coopers Rock Info, Articles, AAC Event Oct. 8
Adam on Freakee Stylee, 12a. Endless Wall
Photo by Dan Brayack © 2005Morgantown, WV.- The Coopers Rock Regional Climbers Coalition website has some excellent information about Coopers Rock, including historical information from Carl Samples, links to trail maps, and some fine bouldering images as well. And remember there's a Cooper's Rock trail maintanance day coming Oct. 8 and 9. Find the registration table in the Coopers Rock State Forest parking lot. Targeted areas for trail work include: Sunset, Roof Rocks, and Tilted Tree. There will be a gear raffle and free pizza. Check the website for more information.
Posted by WiredNut at 01:59 PM | Comments (1)
September 12, 2005
Coopers Rock Events
Morgantown, WV.- Dan Brayack, author of the upcoming Coopers Rock bouldering guide, requests that climbers join him on Sep. 24. (Rain date Sep. 25). He's asking for input on drafts of his guide. Get out there, do some bouldering, and tell Dan what you think of his guide and ratings.
There is also a Coopers Rock trail maintanance day on Oct. 8. More details forthcoming.
Posted by WiredNut at 09:07 AM | Comments (0)
September 09, 2005
Seneca Rocks Guide Injured by Rockfall
Rudy on a Left Flank 10a, RRG.
Photo by WiredNut © 2005Seneca Rocks Mountain Guide Justin Day sustained an injury to the lower leg area due to a falling rock on Saturday, September 3. He was airlifted to WVU hospital. Surgery was performed. Messages and donations to help Justin recover from this accident may be sent to:
Seneca Rocks Mt. Guides
PO Box 223
Seneca Rocks, West Virginia 26884
Please contact Seneca Rocks at 1-800-451-5108 for more information on how you can help. We all wish him a speedy recovery!
Posted by WiredNut at 09:41 AM | Comments (0)
August 13, 2005
Mid-Atlantic Adopt-a-Crag Events
Talkin' James on Fuel Injector, NRG, 5.13b VA, MD, WV, - The Access Fund's Adopt-A-Crag initiative is a nationwide effort to engage the greater climbing community in a cooperative effort to maintain climbing areas and trails, as well as develop positive relationships with land managers and nearby communities. For your local area contact information and a full schedule of Adopt-A-Crag events, check the AF AAC page. Here are a few area events:
-09/10 McClean, VA. Great Falls Park Adopt-a-Crag, part of Washington DC Area Adopt-a-Crag Weekend, Thomson Ling, Access Fund Regional Coordinator, thomsonling@gmail.com
-09/25 Hone Quarry Recrecation Area, VA. Friends of George Washington National Forest Adopt-a-Crag at Hidden Rocks hosted by James Madison University (www.jmu.edu/recreation), Steve Bobbitt, bobbitsr@jmu.edu
-09/24 Carderock, MD. Carderock Adopt-a-Crag (9:00 am), Thomson Ling, Access Fund Regional Coordinator, thomsonling@gmail.com
- 09/24 New Paltz, NY. Peterskill Adopt-a-Crag hosted by the Gunks Climbers' Coalition (www.gunksclimbers.org), Chris Moratz, gcc@gunksclimbers.org
-10/08 & 10/09, Morgantown, WV. Coopers Rock Climbers Restoration Project hosted by Coopers Rock Foundation, West Virginia University, Adventures Edge, & Coopers Rock Regional Climbers Coalition, Greg Corio, gmcorio@mail.wvu.edu
Posted by WiredNut at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2005
Franklin, WV Parking Alert
Franklin, WV.- Roninthorne warns climbers not to park at the gate left of the Roadside wall. This is an important entrance for the private owners that graciously allow climbing on their land, and should never be blocked.
Posted by WiredNut at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
Franklin, WV Parking Alert
Franklin, WV.- Roninthorne warns climbers not to park at the gate left of the Roadside wall. This is an important entrance for the private owners that graciously allow climbing on their land, and should never be blocked.
Posted by WiredNut at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
Nelson Rocks Closure
Nelson Rocks Riverton, WV. - Nelson Rocks Preserve has closed to climbing. According to the NRP website, "This closure has been prompted by a number of factors, including frequency of serious accidents involving parties engaged in technical, roped climbing in the Preserve, as well as increases in climber traffic (doubled from Spring '04 to this year), and associated environmental impacts. NRP will be conducting an assessment of these impacts, as well as issues relating to safety/frequency of accidents and rescue. Input from the climbing public is welcome and may be directed to NRP at P.O. Box 93, Riverton, WV 26814, tel. 304-567-3169, fax 304-567-3244."
The NRP owners are currently assessing climber impacts and welcome public input. The Via Ferrata is open.
A discussion of a recent accident and the closure can be found at www.rockclimbing.com.
Posted by WiredNut at 10:32 AM | Comments (0)