Double Standard, Anyone?

The following is a post from the Mid-Atlantic Climbers' Coalition webpage, regarding access at the Catoctin Mountain Park, which was recently closed to bouldering:

“We are asking that climbers observe these restrictions to aid in our efforts. Demonstrating responsibility as a climbing community at this time will help make our case as we work to open up access in the future.”

How is it that these same principles of respect and responsibility do not seem to apply to the private property and crags of Franklin in WV, MACC?  You know, where you and your members have been climbing on private property without permission for years and where you continue to walk right past NEW, signed “No TRESPASSING” signs?

Double standard, anyone?

Was any portion of the recent Seneca Rocks Chilifest used to alert and inform climbers regarding this access issue?

How about Bridge (or, as I like to call it, "Let's all go shit in the woods at New River") Day?  Any round-table discussions there, between draining brews, updating your Facebook pages and slacklining, after spending your day trying to find parking and convincing yourself that you are actually observing LNT principles?

If so, there is no word of that on any of your websites.

If the Access Fund can't get the job done with the people it has in place, maybe it's time to replace those people with candidates who are both motivated and competent.

And maybe it's time for all those Access Fund members to start admitting that they really don't give a damn.

After all, they pay good money every year to be told what they should care about, and what isn't important.

In The Beginning

March 2nd, 2007: The Punishers begin construction of the current high-speed trail to replace the eroded otter slide everyone was using to reach the cliffs of Franklin. 

At that point, the crag had existed for just over 17 years, about as long as another popular idea, the Access Fund, which, despite the grassroots, working-class image sold to the public, was actually a spin-off of the American Alpine Club, an international organization with a vast web of contacts and resources.

After years of reading press releases and watching as work seemed to go on at every other crag in the nation, two local climbers who were not members of the club had finally had enough.  Tools were gathered, food stores and supplies laid in, and two guys who actually are working class folks took time off from their carpentry jobs, stocked up on PowRBars and gels, tuna and pasta, then gave up a month of weekends to build trail for a climbing community comprised, for the most part, of Access Fund members who apparently hadn't noticed or cared to acknowledge the need for action.

Working from Friday nights through Monday mornings for most of the month of March, we laid in rails, stacked stone, and did what two people could to shore up a game trail and address the impact of hundreds of feet. 

We often climbed at night, by headlamp, so we could work during the day, although Fisher could crank off a hard line or three and then build trail all day, coffee by his side, before grabbing a snack and a nap and sending again in the twilight.

Mike Fisher takes a break from building trail to enjoy a rare moment of daylight climbing on Potential Energy.

The Master, in his element.

B.P.- Before the arrival of the Punishers, this is what the trail to "Raised by Sasquatch" looked like.

The base of Castaways, possibly the most popular and obviously the most impacted climb at Franklin.  Despite three different groups covering the adjacent area with mulch, side rails, plants, even marking tape, climbers have reduced the belay area and trail to this state once again...

Although we built in steps and rails, mulched and planted, there is almost no sign of our efforts today.

We did what we could: built the trails, made friends with the landowners, supported the little store at the end of the road, put up quality routes and replaced substandard gear.

Now, the torch passes to the next generation.

But this is how it was, in the beginning.

Spring Send-a-thon: No Free T-Shirts Required

Trail work and trash clean-up, new climbers on new lines, no dogs, no national press coverage, and no free T-shirts required.

Boulder Creek Exploration and Clean-up Hike

Cindy and I decided to explore our surroundings a bit more, and found ourselves up the creek without a paddle... but with a great many things of interest for future climbing and hiking, as well as history and scenic beauty!

We set out from the lower parking lot about noon, and soon found ourselves shedding jackets and hats as the temps in the sheltered creekbed soared into the upper 70s.

Cindy is dwarfed by formations along the outlet of Boulder Creek.

Another day in the field makes for a happy Cindy!

"Dude!"

V4 traverse- a sloping rail on polished rock with next to no feet and a long slap to a sharp bucket. 

Crags, about thirty minutes' hike from camp.  No sign of prior development.

Midian, probably an old vent.

Cindy, exploring her new retirement home, the Boulder Cave!

Insane free-standing fin of dacite/rhyolite.  Over 80 feet tall, this formation is less than 20 feet thick at the base.

"And over here, our guest loft..."

The Three-Acre Geode

Cindy Gray, trying hard to to lose it and simply run screaming down the creek at the sight of geodes EVERYWHERE!!!

"Not my size... But a nice shade of purple!"

Cindy with the final take of trash; 2 bags.