The OAC will be attending the 2011 National Access and Stewardship Conference hosted by the Access Fund. This year’s conference is in Golden, Colorado and runs from Friday, September 30 to Sunday, October 2. The conference represents a great opportunity to network, learn and provide insight into facilitating climbing access in Ontario. The OAC is able to attend this conference thanks to financial support from two great organizations.
The OAC has been awarded funding to attend the conference from the Access Fund and Mountain Equipment Co-op. The Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. Founded in 1991, the Access Fund supports and represents over 2.3 million climbers nationwide in all forms of climbing: rock, ice, mountaineering, and bouldering. www.theaccessfund.org
Canada’s Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) has stepped forward with additional funding to support our representation at the conference. A familiar retailer to most climbers, MEC’s support has been instrumental in helping climbing access in Ontario. www.mec.ca
Attending on behalf of the OAC is Director, Renu Monica Chattha. Renu’s work with the OAC has kept popular crags in the Beaver Valley/Collingwood area open and promoted climbing as eco-tourism in Grey, Bruce and Sauble counties. The OAC would like to sincerely thank the Access Fund, MEC and Renu for making this possible.
The 2011 National Access & Stewardship Summit presentations will cover a range of topics, including stewardship and education, local support and mobilization, land conservation, and public policy. The educational summit brings activists and volunteers together to learn about ways to preserve access to places we love and protect them for future generations. To learn more about the summit follow the link below.
http://www.accessfund.org/site/c.tmL5KhNWLrH/b.7553843/k.C86A/2011_National_Access__Stewardship_Summit.htm
Replacement of aging hardware at Old Baldy continues this year with great progress being made. Volunteers have been working hard with the support of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority and hardware supplied by MEC.
Below is a list of the routes completed this year so far; check our older posts for updates of the work that has been done previously.
**Please remember that climbing at Old Baldy requires the purchase of an annual permit and following some very straightforward guidelines. Click here for the climbing permit application form and list of guidelines.
Sugar and Spice (Mixed) – 3 bolts/shares anchors with Lapalacian Ballroom
Exit Stage Right – Anchors and bolts
The Oatsman’s Contract – Anchors and Bolts
The Good (Trad) – Anchors
The Bad (Trad) – Share Anchors with The Good
The Ugly (Trad) – Anchors
French Revolution – Anchors and Bolts
Black Magic Woman (Mixed) – Anchors and Bolts
Welcome to my Nightmare – Anchors and Bolts
Conan – Anchors and Bolts
Frenzy – Anchors and Bolts
Cobra – Anchors and Bolts
The Anniversary (Trad) – Anchors *Note* the anchors of the Anniversary were placed independently and not part of the MEC rebolting project, information is included here to update the community to the condition of these bolts.
The Ontario Access Coalition is pleased to announce the addition of an on-line membership sign-up feature to our site. Becoming an OAC member is now more convenient and faster than ever before! For those of you out there who have yet to join the OAC, please visit the on-line membership link under the “join” tab, or just click here, and become a member today! By adding your name to the growing list of hundreds of climbers who have already joined, you are helping to ensure that, when access issues arise, climbers’ voices will be heard.
The OAC has also added a volunteer sign-up feature to the site. If you are interested in helping out with access by donating some of your time, click here and add your name to our list of volunteers.
Graffiti Removal and Clean Up Event at the Niagara Glen
Who: Organized by “The Friends of the Niagara Glen”
When: Saturday July 9, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.
Where:The Niagara Glen, meet at the top of the access stairs. The Niagara Glen is located 8 kms north of the Falls on the Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, across from the Whirlpool Golf Course and south of the Queenston-Lewiston bridge.
What you need:A reusable water bottle, running shoes or hiking boots, and clothes you aren’t afraid to get paint on!
For more information check out the Friends of the Niagara Glen page at: http://www.niagaraparksnature.com/friends-of-niagara-glen.html
Mark your calendars now for the “End of Season Clean Up” scheduled for September 10th 2011 at 10am
The second annual general meeting of the Ontario Access Coalition was hosted on June 15 at True North climbing gym. A good turnout from the climbing community was in attendance that evening despite the meeting coinciding with the final game of the Stanley Cup. The law firm of Blakes, Cassels and Graydon provided their expertise at the event ensuring proper formal protocols for a fair and equitable election process. The event saw several changes to the members of the board.
Departing board members Jeremy Nathan and Loïc Markley dedicated a great deal of their personal time in the last year to help climbing access. If you see them at the crag or the gym please remember to thank them for their positive and constructive contribution to access efforts. Thank you Loïc and Jeremy for all of the help!
New to the board this year is Renu Monica Chattha. Over the last year, Renu has made huge contributions to the OAC in terms of building relationships with land mangers and local community stakeholders in the Beaver Valley, Collingwood, and on the Bruce Peninsula. Renu is knowledgeable and passionate about access and is an active member in the local community around her home of Flesherton.
The excitement during the formal elections at the AGM was the close race for the open Director position. Rio Penabella and Justin Dwyer were both nominated for the position. Justin has provided invaluable information on escarpment endangered species and continues to assist with Mount Nemo access. While Rio, using his social media expertise, has set-up and continues to spearhead the OAC’s social media presence in order to help the OAC reach out to the climbing community. The 15-14 vote turned out in favour of Rio. With such a close vote, the OAC board has invited Justin to attend and contribute at board meetings going forward. With the initiative and drive Justin shows in the community, we are sure he is ready for the challenge.
Unfortunately, a number of individuals showed up late to the meeting and missed the vote, while others arrived with the expectation they could become members that night and immediately vote. Like many charities and not-for-profit organizations, the OAC is required to approve new membership and does so during regular meetings. For the 2012 AGM the OAC will look to ensure that this is clearly communicated to help avoid this issue in the future.
At the end of the formal proceedings a lengthy question period ensued where the Board reviewed the 2011 OAC goals with the attendees (Click HERE to see the 2011 OAC Goals). Lots of great ideas flowed as the current state of Ontario climbing access, and the strategy and reasoning driving OAC actions were discussed. The OAC is looking to add an FAQ section to our webpage to address common questions, and concerns. We continue to ask for the assistance of you, the climbers of Ontario, to identify and inform the OAC of developing issues. Volunteers, as before, are needed for special projects, and we encourage members possessing leadership and initiative to check out our volunteer section here: http://www.ontarioallianceofclimbers.ca/join/volunteers/.
Following the meeting and question period, a portion of the Madaleine Sorkin “Mad Tour” film and slide show was presented, despite the last minute absence of Madaleine herself due unforeseen circumstances. A big, sincere “THANK YOU” to everyone from the climbing community who took the time to come out to the AGM. We hope to see you at the crag!