Western Colorado Climbers' Coalition: April 2009

Just in: The Cat Wall and the Reservoir Wall in Indian Creek have been closed for Peregrin nesting through August, according to Jason Keith, Policy Director for the Access Fund. More details to follow.

Fundraising Update

Luxury Liner public service announcement:

*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2009 ***

“Luxury Liner: The First Ascent of Supercrack” will be screened at the Radio Room on Thursday, June 25 at 7pm. Admission is $10 at the door with proceeds benefitting the Western Colorado Climbers’ Coalition.

The world-wide popularity of the climbing area known as Indian Creek, in Southeastern Utah, got its first notice by a handful of intrepid climbers back in the 1970s. The parallel-sided crack splitting the face of a Wingate sandstone wall was deemed impossible to climb by many, and yet the visionary young climber, Earl Wiggins, decided to take it on. Stewart Green, who was on the first ascent team and captured the climb on super-8 film, will introduce this film and share stories of the significance of the ascent to the emergent American climbing scene.

“Luxury Liner,” as Supercrack was first named by Wiggins and friends, is a film that weaves the original footage by those young men with interviews and perspectives of some of the first ascentionists who made a recent pilgrimage back to Indian Creek. These climbers became pillars of the climbing community and theirs became household names throughout the United States and beyond. Film-maker Chris Alstrin is an independent filmmaker who has been directing and producing adventure films since 2002. He is known for his documentary style of adventure filmmaking while capturing subjects during intense moments in the outdoors. (See Alstrinfilms.com for more info.)

Green has climbed extensively in the Grand Junction and Moab areas and has authored many guidebooks. He is a well-known outdoor adventure photographer (see bio notes below).

The film will be shown at KAFM’s Radio Room (1310 Ute Avenue) In Grand Junction.

The Western Colorado Climbers’ Coalition is a Mesa County nonprofit and is dedicated to preserving access to Western Colorado's climbing areas through land stewardship, education and land use advocacy. The WCCC is run entirely by volunteer efforts and is currently fundraising for a project involving the purchase of a climbing area in Unaweep Canyon. They have received funding from REI, the Access Fund, the National Outdoor Leadership School, and many individual donors of cash and professional services to secure the future of the Mothers Buttress cliff on highway 141. The private property where the cliff is located was purchased by generous individuals from Gunnison who are cooperating to sell the crag to the Coalition.

Notes about stewart green, from his website www.stewartgreen.com:

Stewart Green is a freelance photographer and writer based in Colorado Springs. As one of America's top climbing and adventure photographers for over 25 years, his photographs have appeared in many publications and books including Climbing, Rock & Ice, Outside, On The Edge, Alp, Sierra, and many others. He is also the author and photographer of many books for Falcon Publishing/Globe-Pequot Press, including Rock Climbing Colorado

We just received news that we have been awarded a $5,000 grant from REI! Details at the meeting Sept. 9...

Our application for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status has been ACCEPTED by the IRS. We are now a tax-exempt organization! The $300 fee for the application WILL be reimbursed by the Access Fund. (Thanks, AF!)

Board member Thad Harlow donated $500 toward the Mothers Buttress purchase at our last board meeting.

Board member Eric Ming received a check toward the purchase of Mothers Buttress from John Eakins, who has donated a $1300 portion of his realtor's fee for the purchase of the property. Also, NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) has pledged $750 toward our fundraiser.

The MOG Fest silent auction and pizza sales netted about $800. In addition, Core Elements has contributed $55 based on entry fees for the climbing competition.

We have collected $1600 from our pledges. (If you would like to write a check for your pledge, please email western_co_climbers@hotmail.com).

The Access Fund is putting $10,000 toward purchase of the land.

We still have some donated products, including a year-long membership at Crossroads Fitness to "sell" to make our goal.

Western Colorado Climbers' Coalition

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Cat Wall Closed

T-SHIRTS! NOW!

Slide Show

Mission Statement

Fundraising Update

Blog Archive