We’re excited to introduce our 2024 Conservation Teams—six expert trailbuilders and conservation specialists who are on a mission to restore climbing areas across the country. These crews will work with local communities on technical climbing area infrastructure at some of our most beloved crags and boulderfields.
Kyle Leihsing and Loryn Posladek
We’re thrilled to have Loryn and Kyle returning for their 5th year on the road—a new record for the program—as Field Coordinator and Technical Supervisor. As senior members of the team with deep levels of expertise in technical stewardship work, these two oversee projects and coordinate with other field staff and project partners.
Erynn O’Brien and Jeff Luton
New to the team this year, Erynn and Jeff are our Special Projects Conservation team. They bring a ton of stoke and years of combined experience working on trails on public lands, as well as dirtbagging across the country.
Kate Emerson and James Boardman
James and Kate are on board this spring as our Indian Creek Trail Stewards. With a background in conservation corps and natural resource protection, these two will work with the Conservation Team and Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps on the Optimator Wall this spring.
Look for the Conservation Teams in Your Area
March 21 - April 1: Indian Creek, UT: Improvements to the Optimator Wall approach trail with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps.
April 9 - May 5: Breaks Interstate Park, VA/KY: Sustainable trail through Eastern Prospectors to the Belle of the Ball with the Central Appalachia Climbers Coalition.
April 17 - May 5: Woodcock Cove, TN: Constructing a trail to connect the Dispensary and Stillhouse Walls with the Southeastern Climbers Coalition.
May 15 - June 23: Red River Gorge, KY: Building a sustainable belay area at Chaos Wall in the Miller Fork Preserve with the Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition, plus a Regional Trail Skills Workshop.
June 12 - October 24: Rumney, NH: Rehabilitating climber access trails at Rumney Rocks with the Appalachian Mountain Club and Rumney Climbing Association.
July 24 - August 11: Lovers Leap, CA: Repairing the Pony Express trail with Climbing Resource Advocates of Greater Sacramento.
August 14 - 17: Vent 5 in Bay Area, CA: Sustainable access to Vent 5 with the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.
August 21 - September 8: Index & Leavenworth, WA: Improvements to the Colchuck Trail in the Enchantments and addressing rock fall at Index Lower Town Wall with the Washington Climbers Coalition.
September 18 - October 31: Thumb Open Space, CO: Enhancing sustainable and adaptive access to Thumb Open Space with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps.
October 4 - 29: High Rocks, PA: Trail Skills Level 2 Workshop and improvements to climbing access with the Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance of Climbers and PA Outdoor Youth Corps.
September 18 - 22: Southwest, PA: Climbing Stewardship Workshop Level 1 with the Southwest PA Climbers Coalition.
November 8 - 24: Indian Creek, UT: Completing the Optimator Approach Trail and begin improvements to the Tenderloins Wall with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps.
November 6 - 10: Silver Mountain, MI: Improvements to climbing access trails and staging areas with the Upper Peninsula Climbers Coalition.
Volunteer With the Conservation Teams
These hardworking crews are always looking for volunteers to pitch in and lend a hand. Sign up for volunteer opportunities at www.accessfund.org/event-alerts-sign-up and we’ll send you an email when a team is headed your way and needs help.
And if you’re already psyched, but not sure what volunteering entails, check out the five things every first-time conservation volunteer needs to know.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Special thanks to our sponsors: Adidas, Alpine Start, YETI, LaSportiva, Rab, Liberty Mountain, Hest and Sterling Ropes.