Access News - July 3rd, 2007

Information from the Access Society.
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Access News - July 3rd, 2007

Post by Access Society of BC » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:36 pm

CLIMBERS' ACCESS SOCIETY OF B.C.
ACCESS NEWS - July 3rd, 2007

A. SQUAMISH MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL 2007 (July 13th - 21st)

GENERAL

The Squamish Mountain Festival 2007 is July 13th - 21st. Lots of events and fun for everyone. SMF 2007 will involve clinics, speakers, films, yoga, raffles, pancake breakfasts, a climbing tower for the public to try, a dyno competition (possibly for the world record), prizes, and fun. And Adopt-a-Crag stewardship events both weekends. Much more information at www.squamishmountainfestival.com, including registration for clinics, speakers, and other events. Proceeds from SMF 2007 will go to the Access Society and the Squamish Access Society.

Presenting sponsor: Arc'Teryx.
Chief sponsors: Black Diamond, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Flashed, Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company.
Bluff sponsors: La Sportiva, Maxim Ropes, Five Ten, Prana, Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Adidas, The Edge.
Media sponsors: Gripped, Climbing, Urban Climber, The Chief, KVOS television, Mountain Life.
SMF 2007 - CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

We need some committed volunteers to make the festival a success, particularly July 13th - 15th (day and evening), July 16th - 20th (evenings), and July 21st (day and evening). There's lots to help with, including information and registrations, competitions, speakers and parties, and event set up - every aspect of SMF 2007.

If you can volunteer, contact Camillia Brinkman, the volunteer coordinator, at cbrinkman@mec.ca or (604) 872-7858 extension 273. Tell us who you are, how we can contact you, what days or events you can help at, your preferences, and any special skills or interests you have. The more flexible you are, the better. And the sooner you let us know, the better.

Volunteers get a tee shirt, free admission to the event they're helping with, free admission to the festival-end party on July 21st, and a ticket for the volunteer raffle. And the satisfaction of helping with an event that's important to the climbing community, and Squamish. Where possible, we'll help with volunteers who need a ride, or guidance with other arrangements.

We are need someone with audio-visual setup skills, a festival photographer, and volunteers with the "Serving it Right" ticket.

SMF 2007 ADOPT-A-CRAGS: JULY 13th & 21st

There will be two volunteer Adopt-a-Crags during SMF 2007, on Friday July 13th and Saturday July 21st. They continue the tradition of climber stewardship at Squamish. We need lots of helpers for both events, and can promise fun, satisfaction, some draw prizes, and maybe more. The event on the 13th will involve three sites, which should keep 40 - 50 volunteers busy. Work on the 21st will be at one site, and 20 - 25 volunteers will be needed. Much of the work will involve clean up, and basic trail work - clipping shrubs, moving rocks and fallen branches, and restoration of eroded areas. If there is interest, consent from B.C. Parks, and volunteers with the needed skill and equipment, a few volunteers on the 13th may clean up garbage from ledges below the Chief's summits. Information on both Adopt-a-Crags:

Meet at the Squamish Adventure Centre, 8:00 - 9:00 AM. (Working 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.) There'll be coffee and muffins for everyone.
Bring yourself, your friends, and a cup (for coffee). Please car pool!
Wear suitable clothing and sturdy footwear, and bring gloves, rainwear, sunscreen, insect repellent, lunch, a camera, and drink.
Please bring any and all useful hand tools - clippers, rakes, shovels, swede saws, pry bars, first aid kits - anything that would help with the projects we're doing. Make sure your tools are clearly marked. If you can help with clean-up of garbage below the Chief's summits, be prepared with full climbing gear.
B. SKAHA

SUMMARY

To date the total donations are over $531,000, including contributions from Mountain Equipment Co-op, Arc'Teryx, Black Diamond Equipment, The Edge Climbing Centre (North Vancouver), Cliffhanger Vancouver and Cliffhanger Coquitlam, and several sections of the Alpine Club of Canada. The Access Society has itself pledged $10,000, our largest ever such commitment. The Land Conservancy of B.C. needs more time to fundraise for the purchase of sublot 18, in particular government and foundation funding. It remains confident that, given an extension, the goal of providing long-term access to the Bluffs for climbers and the public will be reached.

More information about the extension and the campaign should be available by late next week.

FUNDRAISER - SQUAMISH BREW PUB - JUNE 9th
This went very well. About $1,700 (net) was raised at the door, and through a raffle. John Irvine of Arc'Teryx and Henry Wang of The Edge each presented a cheque, making it a very successful evening.

Thanks to the Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company for its hospitality, and to Alec Fernandes, Ashley Green, Rich Wheater and the DJs for their initiative and work! Thanks also to Arc'Teryx, Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Climb On, Metolius, Mountain Equipment Co-op and many others for the raffle prizes.

BACKGROUND

TLC's goal is to secure public access to Skaha for 2008 and beyond, with support from Mountain Equipment Co-op, the Access Society, Skaha rockclimbers, and others. TLC is working hard to complete a deal to buy 300 hectares of nearby private land (sublot 18 - southeast of Braesyde). When/if the land is bought, and needed work done, it will provide permanent public access to Skaha. All the land, added together, will make a respectable provincial park, valuable for both recreation and conservation. Thanks to TLC’s partners, a generous donation by the current owner, and other donations, much of the needed money has been raised.

Since the fundraising campaign for sublot 18 began in early March, donations have come from Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and England, from climbers, outdoor enthusiasts, naturalists, concerned citizens, and corporations. TLC has also gained 150 new members.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Make sure all your friends know what's happening, especially climbers, and that they're helping. Spread the word!
Join the Access Society, renew your membership, make a donation. Members + resources = more effective. Memberships, renewals, and donations are all helpful - $10,000 is a lot of money to us. www.access-society.ca/getinvolved/membership.aspx
SUPPORT THE LAND CONSERVANCY

For more information about the campaign, or to become a member:

Website: www.conservancy.bc.ca
Contact Information: TLC's head office is at #301 - 1195 Esquimalt Road, Victoria, B.C. V9A 3N6, phone (250) 479-8053.
If the purchase of sublot 18 doesn't work out, TLC will keep aside all money raised, and use it either for whatever other solution is arrived at for Skaha, or for another project of direct benefit to the climbing community of B.C.

SKAHA THANK YOUS

Many organizations and companies have have helped a great deal with the Skaha purchase. We've worked with many of them in the past, and will do so again. Please take the time to personally thank them - it's well earned. They're human beings, too. No one likes being taken for granted, and everyone likes being patted on the back for a good job. They all have websites, phone numbers, and an info@ e-mail address. Give it a try!

C. MISCELLANEOUS
1. Upper Malamute - Logging

Much of the upper Malamute at Squamish was logged in March 2007. Discussions continue between the owner, the District of Squamish, and other parties as to what will be done, and we'll report as soon as there's any news. Climbers are encouraged not to use the upper Malamute for the time being, and anyone visiting the upper Malamute should be aware of dangerous logging debris. The Access Society believes that the upper Malamute, at the heart of Squamish, should be protected for the benefit and use of the public, particularly for climbing, walking, nature viewing, and sightseeing. As with Skaha, the area has great value to the entire public. Climbers have been visiting the upper Malamute since the mid 1970s, very actively since the mid 1990s. The land has long been privately owned, and we can be grateful that the former and current owners have allowed climbing there.

2. Adopt-a-Crags 2007

The usual range of Access Society volunteer crag stewardship events will be held in 2007, from spring through autumn. The first was on May 4th - 6th at the Eldred Valley (Powell River). Others include Fleming Beach (Victoria), Cheakamus Canyon, Skaha, Crest Crags (Campbell River), and more. Some are large and very organized, others less so. Let us know if you want to know what's happening, or can help out.

3. Stawamus Chief - 2007 Peregrine Falcon Closure

The peregrine falcon nesting closure continues through July 31st. If it is changed, B.C. Parks will post the information at the Chief, and on its website. For details of the closure, see http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explor ... sitoralert

B.C. Parks also asks that all users of the campground store all food and other bear attracting items in the storage lockers located in the campground.

4. United States - Access Fund

See the Access Fund website for what's happening in the United States - www.accessfund.org. You can also subscribe to an e-newsletter.

5. Access News - Information and Submissions

Access News is published about once a month, or as need demands. We welcome information relating to climbers access in B.C. If there's any news in your area, please send it along!

6. On-Line Memberships, Renewals & Donations

To join the Access Society on-line, renew your membership, or make a donation, see www.access-society.ca/getinvolved/membership.aspx, (credit card needed.) If you have problems joining, renewing or donating on-line, please e-mail info@access-society.ca, so we can fix it. (If you complete the first page, click "next" and get a page of gibberish, try clicking "refresh".)

NOTES
The Access Society faces many challenges in our pursuit of public access to, and conservation of, B.C.'s cliffs and mountains. We need your support - please become a member, make a donation, or volunteer! We believe the Access Society is doing an important job, and effectively represents the entire climbing community of B.C.

We hope this message is useful. Please forward it to all your climbing friends. Our apologies if it is unwanted! If so, please let us know and we'll remove you from our list. If your e-mail has changed, please let us know. (In a few cases this message is a duplicate, due to overlapping directories.) Also, we welcome information and contributions - please send to info(at)access-society.ca.
Climbing and related activities are dangerous, and can injure or kill you. The Access Society tries to ensure that this information is accurate, but you rely on it at your own risk!

copyright (c) Climbers' Access Society of British Columbia, 2007.
Box 72013 - Sasamat R.P.O.
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada V6R 4P2
(604) 228-1798
info@access-society.ca; www.access-society.ca

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