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Trapps Closure for Peregrine Falcons - April 2008
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Peregrine falcons have returned to their usual nesting site
on the Trapps cliff. The closure is the same as last year.
Climbs between and including "Broken Hammer" and "The Blue Stink"
will be closed until further notice.
As a very busy year has come to a close and snow has taken hold up here
in the mountains, this is the time to update all our friends about what
we've been up to in "wrapping up" this year.
We sponsored two Access Fund Adopt-A-Crag events in 2007. The first one
was at Skytop, where we picked up several garbage bags worth of mostly
water bottles left by careless hotel guests (many bottles had just been
dropped haphazardly and fallen between the talus blocks!) It is clear by
our actions that we have proven that climbers do not have a negative impact
on the environment, it tends to be other user groups that do and that
climbers make good stewards of the environment. Of course the other news
about Skytop is that as of this year it is partly open, to paying hotel
guests who hire a guide. It seems that a quite a lot of climbers are
taking advantage of this. We think that this is probably a good thing as
it may eventually lead to more of a democratic access to this one of a
kind crag in the future.
Our other Adopt-A-Crag was at Peter's Kill area of Minnewaska State Park.
Rather than just a cleanup, this involves working on climbers access trails
and filling in heaping helpings of wood chips where the bare earth would
otherwise be susceptible to erosion. We got quite a few volunteers for
this one, about a dozen in all, and everyone pitched in until the
afternoon when we went climbing. We've done this event now for several
years running and it has created a lot of goodwill with the park
management. (The management of the park has just changed and it
is under new management.) As a new master plan is just starting to
be in process of drafting, we look forward to being able to give
climbers a needed voice in determining where climbing access may
be considered in the future.
The Mohonk Preserve was pleased to receive a donation of a litter wheel
from our rescue fund. The wheel can be attached to the bottom of a
rescue litter and serves to take at least some of the weight off the
rescuers holding and passing the litter along to its destination.
In conjunction with the titanium letter we donated a couple of years
ago, the wheel will also serve to expedite climber rescues in the future.
Also at the close of this year we have made another donation to the
Gardiner Volunteer Fire Department, who has always cooperated with
the climbing community where climber rescue is concerned.
We've also been continuing to pursue the Rosendale bouldering area
project "Water Works" as we have been doing with some time.
Negotiations with the town of Rosendale, the Mohonk preserve,
and open space institute have been positive. We still need to
have some more issues resolved for the next stage of the project,
look for more updates on this sometime in the near future.
We expect the coming year to also be a busy one. To all of you, best
wishes for a happy winter and see you at the cliff in the coming year.
-The GCC Board of Directors - Gardiner, NY
August 13th
Rosendale Waterworks MOU Signed
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On August 13, following more than two years of presentations, meetings, and
negotiations, the GCC and Mohonk Preserve signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) for the Rosendale Waterworks bouldering parcel.
The signing marks a significant step, with several remaining, including
fundraising both for purchase and management costs, before access to the
parcel can be realized.
Jeff Powell, one of two boulderers who discovered the world-class site,
has volunteered for the Waterworks' liaison position outlined in the MOU.
On Sept 15th and Oct 20th, 2007
Two Adopt-A-Crag Days Scheduled
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The Gunks Climbers' Coalition, in cooperation with the Mohonk Mountain House,
is pleased to announce that our first Adopt-a-Crag event this year will take
place at Skytop on Saturday, September 15, from 9 AM to 1 PM. We are seeking
twelve volunteers on a first-register, first-served basis (the number is limited
by insurance restrictions) to collect litter in the talus apron around the crag.
Send an email to: to register for this event.
More details will be provided once your registration is completed.
In cooperation with Minnewaska State Park Preserve, we will also be holding a
second Adopt-a-Crag day of trail maintenance and micro-trash removal at
Peter's Kill on Saturday, October 20.
Click here for more information.
On Sept 15th, 2007
John Bragg to do a benefit show for the Gunks Climbers' Coalition
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Click on the picture for more information.
The Mohonk Preserve, co-sponsored by Rock and Snow, are running a Trapps Boulder Clean Up.
Meet at Trapps Bridge at 9:30am and work until 4:00. Complementary barbeque with Mohonk
Preserve rangers and raffle for all volunteers, 6:00 - 8:00 at the Visitor Center.
The Preserve will provide water, a ladder,
and an afternoon cookout. You will provide enthusiasm, a soft bristled brush, ability
to work with a team, and even a pad.
Program is Free
For more information or to register, please call 845-255-0919.
Pre-registration is encouraged, group is limited to thirty.
Click here for the flyer (MS Word).
June 27th, 2007
Peregrine Falcon Closure in the Trapps Lifted
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The peregrine falcon closure in the Trapps has been lifted.
This nest, and the other two nests on the Preserve have failed.
MOHONK PRESERVE NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 22, 2007
Cliff Rescue on Wheels
Gunks Climbers' Coalition donates rescue equipment to the Mohonk Preserve
Gardiner, New York - Any injured climber on the Mohonk Preserve will be rushed
off to treatment even more quickly than before, thanks to a new rescue wheel
donated this month by the Gunks Climbers' Coalition (GCC). The wheel clamps to
the top rail of a rescue litter so that it can be wheeled instead of carried,
speeding up response time.
"This is a critical tool in search-and-rescue for our Rangers," said Hank
Alicandri, the Preserve's Head Ranger and Director of Stewardship. "The litter
wheel will allow us to more safely and quickly move injured visitors who are a
long distance from trailheads," he continued. "This will be especially important
for the most seriously injured," he noted.
Reputed to be the best trained in the Northeast, the Preserve's vertical rescue
team responds to about 45 climber accidents annually. "The Preserve relies
heavily on the support of its visitors and members to cover the cost of our
rescue program, which are not underwritten by any local, state, or federal
funding," said Alicandri.
An advocacy group for rock climbers in the Shawangunks, the community-minded GCC
has found a number of ways over the past several years to support the Preserve's
search-and-rescue program.
"This year's donation was made possible through our ongoing Rescue Fund," said
Christopher Spatz, GCC Director-at-Large. "The Fund was established in 2004 when
a long-time climber, Dennis Yonkin, was rescued from a serious fall on the
Preserve," continued Spatz. "Yonkin offered half the money towards a
lightweight, titanium litter to contribute to the Preserve's rescue equipment,
and challenged the GCC and the climbing community to raise the rest."
"With continuing fundraising events, we were able to grow the Rescue Fund," said
Spatz. "This made it possible for us to donate $1,000 each to the Preserve and
the Gardiner Fire Department Rescue Squad in 2005," he said. The Preserve used
the 2005 donation for advanced rescue training for some of their Rangers.
"At the request of the Preserve and the DEC, we'll be funding soon the tech
support necessary to get all of the search-and-rescue teams' radios on the same
channel," noted Spatz. "This will help coordinate rescue response, ridge-wide,"
he explained.
The majority of the 1,000 climbing routes in the Gunks are located on the Mohonk
Preserve. Today, the Gunks are internationally renowned as a world-class
climbing area, offering some of the best climbing in the eastern U.S. and
receiving about 50,000 climber visits a year.
For more about climbing on the Preserve, see
www.mohonkpreserve.org/index.php?climb.
To donate to the GCC rescue fund, see
www.gunksclimbers.org/rescuefund.shtml
April 19, 2007
Trapps Cliff Closure
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Attention Climbers!
The Mohonk Preserve has informed us that the section of the Trapps
cliff from the climbs "Broken Hammer" (5.3)
to "The Blue Stink" (5.3) is temporarily closed to rock climbing.
Peregrine Falcons are attempting to nest in this vicinity.
Please refrain from climbing this area of the Trapps until further notice.
Thank you for your cooperation.
The GCC is pleased to post Minnewaska State Park Preserve's announcement of
a 2007 season climbing pass for the Peter's Kill area. In response to a Peter's
Kill climbing survey conducted by GCC Director-at-Large Bob O'Brien
(Minnewaska's Invasive Species Specialist), the park has recognized requests
by frequent visitors of the climbing community for a season pass.
Eric Humphries, Minnewaska's new Superintendent, has issued the policy as follows:
The Peter's Kill Season Pass is $65 per individual and is valid for
climbing/bouldering. The weekday/weekend day climbing pass remains $7.
The pass is valid from April 1st to December 15th , weather permitting.
The Peter's Kill Season Pass does not waive vehicle use fees at the other
park entrances, and is valid only at the Peter's Kill Area. Pass holder
must present valid photo ID at check in. The Season Pass is Not
Transferable and Non-Refundable. Pass Holder Must follow all park
rules and regulations. Pass Holder will only be allowed entry if
the climbing area has not reached the maximum number of permitted
climbing/bouldering permits. For further information please contact
the Minnewaska Park Preserve Office at 845-255-0752.
New also to this year's Peter's Kill climbing policy: climbers
will be requested to check-out upon departure. Previously,
once the maximum number of climbing visitors was reached, no
further passes were issued. Check-out monitoring will allow
the Peter's Kill office to sustain the maximum number of climbing
visitors during peak hours: 70 climbers and 30 boulderers.
The GCC wishes to thank Bob O'Brien, Superintendent Humphries,
and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission for accommodating
the climbing community's request for a season pass at Peter's Kill.
February 15, 2007
Climbing at Sky Top for
Overnight Guest Climb With An Approved Guide
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Starting April 1, 2007, overnight guests of the Mohonk Mountain
House will be allowed to participate in rock climbing at Sky Top
while escorted by an authorized guide from Alpine Endeavors.
Climbing will be available seven days a week, from April 1, 2007,
through November 30, 2007. Due to liability/insurance concerns and
interaction with other Mohonk Mountain House scheduled events,
only those overnight guests escorted with an Alpine Endeavors
authorized guide will be allowed to climb at Sky Top. Unescorted
guests, day guests, and the public are not permitted to rock climb
at Sky Top at this time.
Read the Fact Sheet here (MSWord).
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