Sometimes, Buying a Threatened Crag Is the Only Way to Save It
“We work on multiple fronts to protect climbing areas, with acquisitions a key component of that strategy,” Thorne says. “We buy land because sometimes that’s what we have to do to save America’s climbing.”
Advocate Spotlight: Armando Menocal
Armando Menocal is the original climbing advocate. He shaped the nascent climbing advocacy movement of the 1980s and 90s, and innumerable climbing areas are open today, and fixed anchors are not prohibited, thanks to his leadership.
Climbing Advocacy with Access Fund and Outdoor Alliance
Access Fund, a founding member of Outdoor Alliance, is an advocacy powerhouse and has protected rock climbing access and public lands across the country since its founding.
The 2024 Election and What's Next for America's Climbing
Big changes are coming to Washington, D.C., and Access Fund is hard at work developing new strategies to protect climbing and conserve climbing landscapes. When you’re ready to get engaged, we’ll be here.
We Saved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot
There are a few crags and bouldering areas around the country where you don’t need a car to get there because you can take the subway or ride your bike. But the reality is that most of the places where we climb require some kind of personal vehicle to get there.
Access Fund Announces 2024 Anchor Replacement Fund Awardees
Thanks to the support of climbers around the country, seven U.S. climbing areas will soon receive new, modern hardware as part of Access Fund’s annual Anchor Replacement Fund grant program.
Change is Coming to Washington, and Access Fund is Ready
On Tuesday, November 5, Americans will go to the polls to cast their ballots. And while the results are unknown right now, a few things are certain regardless of the outcome of any single race.
Nine Iconic Sport Crags Purchased and Protected by Climbers
Some of our most iconic climbing areas are located on private land. And while climbers may gaze at these spots in wonder, they could have ended up as pedestals for trophy homes instead of beloved crags without intentional community action.
Victory: Climbers Purchase Property Critical for Northeast Access
Merriam Woods is one of the most recently developed crags in New Hampshire. Climbing even compared it to Rumney in terms of its potential for high-quality climbing and its natural setting.
Climber Stewards Roll into Sending Season at Iconic Locations
As summer rolls into fall, Access Fund’s Climber Stewards are wrapping up their time in the New River Gorge—and headed back to Indian Creek and the Red River Gorge for another season.
Access Fund Announces Eight Fall 2024 Climbing Conservation Grantees
Access Fund is pleased to announce $30,000 in climbing conservation grants to eight awardees to advance new projects in human waste solutions, erosion control, climber education, land acquisitions, data collection, and an economic impact study.
Advocate Spotlight: Sandy Dunlap
Sandy is a reminder that all of us—whether we’re responding to a policy action alert, picking up trash, building a trail, or making a donation—have a role to play in protecting America’s climbing.
