Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition

Infobox Co-operative
company_name = [http://rrgcc.org Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition (RRGCC)]
company_type = Local Climbing Orgization
foundation = 1996
location = Eastern Kentucky
key_people = Dr. Bob Matheny (President)
area_served = Red River Gorge Region
members = 500+
homepage = http://rrgcc.orgThe [http://rrgcc.org Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition] (RRGCC) is an advocacy group for rock climbers in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky. Through relationships with local stakeholders and climbers from all over the world, the RRGCC has worked hard to maintain sustainable access throughout one of the world's top climbing destinations.

History

In the Beginning
The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition was organized in November 1996 as a local climber’s advocacy group to protect climbing at the Red River Gorge. Rock climbing in the Red River Gorge area had originally occurred primarily on the public lands of Daniel Boone National Forest and was therefore subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service. In 1996 the Forest Service issued for the first time ever a Rock Climbing Management Guide for the Red River area. This guide, or RCMG, was viewed negatively by climbers. As a direct result of the issuance of the RCMG, two local climbers decided to form a climbers’ coalition to champion climbers’ interests and to try to improve relations between the Forest Service and climbers. Their main concern was two-fold, re-writing the RCMG to include climbers’ input and thereby “improving” it and educating and empowering climbers to ensure the long-term future of climbing.

Today the RRGCC has grown to a several hundred member-strong, all volunteer, advocacy group that continues to work with the US Forest Service on ensuring access to climbing in the Daniel Boone National Forest. The Coalition has also expanded its efforts to include working with the Natural Bridge State Park, and many local private land owners as well. The RRGCC’s main focus has been from its inception, protection and promotion of responsible climbing. This goal has taken many forms, from building environmentally friendly climber trails to popular crags, to articles in its quarterly newsletter on top-rope safety. Climbing continues to grow in popularity and change, and so do the issues surrounding it. For people to continue to enjoy the freedom to climb on public and private land, innovative and creative solutions will have to be sought. On February 7, 2000 the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition and the U.S. Forest Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding [ [http://www.seclimbers.org/uploads/mou_sample_rrgcc.doc RRGCC & DBNF Memorandum of Understanding] , Retrieved on 2008-07-13] . The signing of this MOU represents a significant breakthrough for Red River Gorge climbers and the Forest Service after years of skepticism, mistrust, and alienation.

The Board of Directors

As of 2008 [ [http://rrgcc.org/about-us/meet-the-bod/ Meet the BOD] , Retrieved on 2008-07-13]
*Dr. Bob Matheny - President
*Charlie Rittenberry - Vice President
*Dwight Bradburn - Treasurer
*Morgain Sprague - Access and Acquisitions
*Paul Vidal - Fund raising/Events
*Mark Jackson - Land Manager
*Stephanie Meadows - BOD Member
*Rick Bost - Access and Acquisitions
*Don McGlone - Access Maintenance
*Bill Strachan - Executive Director

PMRP

The Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve, or the PMRP, is 750-acres of land now owned and maintained by the RRGCC. This land, now open to the public, is a commitment to preserving and sustaining climbing access in the Red River Gorge indefinitely.

In the 1990s, as climbing grew in popularity as a sport, the RRGCC Coalition formed with the intent of doing of permanently securing access to climbing in the Red River Gorge region. However, being on the East Coast, most of the climbing opportunities were available only on private property or Forest Service land. In 1996, the USFS enacted a bolting ban on its land, effectively ending the development of sport climbing in those areas [ [http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/recreation/rock_climb.shtml DBNF - Rockclimbing] , "USFS", 2007-11-07, Retrieved on 2008-07-13] . While working with the Forest Service to improve relations and explore the options, the Coalition was also working with private landowners to secure access to climbing and development. With the rising popularity of climbing, though, to be a touchy situation since relations grew increasingly tense with landowners and their wishes to maintain their privacy and independence.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the potential for development, particularly sport climbing, was discovered in the Southern Region. As word spread and climbers flocked to the Bald Rock Fork and Coal Bank Hollow areas, conflicts arose between climbers and oil companies in the region. Of particular concern was parking and road access.

In 2004, when more than 750-acres of land in the Southern Region came available, the RRGCC, recognizing the opportunity to secure access in the area, moved quickly to purchase the land. Negotiating with the Murray family, the Coalition and the Murray's reached an agreement and the ownership of the land was transferred to the RRGCC. To finance the purchase, the RRGCC worked out an owner-financed mortage of 8% a year for 10 years. With a few maintenance costs, the final yearly costs translate to nearly $30,000 per year. Today, paying this mortgage is the main focus of the RRGCC and is the motivation to its aggressive fundraising efforts. [ [http://rrgcc.org/rrgcc-info/pmrp Red River Climbers' Coalition - The PMRP] , Retrieved on 2008-07-13]

2008 Events

* 18 April: Red River Reunion (all weekend)
* 2 August: Johnny and Alex Trail Day (all day)
* 12 September: [http://www.mountaingear.com/uclimb/eventdetails.aspx?eventid=3 Mountain Gear's UClimb] (all day) "not an RRGCC event, though it is supported by the RRGCC and some proceeds go to help the RRGCC"
* 27 September: Muir Valley Trail Day (all day) "not an RRGCC event - visit [http://muirvalley.com Muir Valley] for more information"
* 10 October: 8th Annual Rocktoberfest in the RRG (all weekend)

Notes and references