~ Brady Robinson, Executive Director

Our offices are bustling with activity as we start the new year in planning mode. But, before we charge headlong into the challenges and opportunities we see in 2018, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of our members, donors, and partners for their incredible support in 2017.

We have a lot to be proud of. With your help, we now have three full-time Access Fund-Jeep Conservation teams crossing the country, helping to ensure the sustainability of our climbing areas. We completed five acquisitions and easements in 2017, and after years of work alongside local partners, we opened up ten climbing areas and protected access to 240 areas. These are just a handful of victories that you helped make happen. Check out our Top Ten Victories, plus a list of opened and preserved climbing areas.

We now have regional staff in New Hampshire, Tennessee, Washington, California, Arizona, Utah, Texas, and Colorado, plus our roving Access Fund-Jeep Conservation Teams. Our staff regionalization strategy continues to be instrumental to our ability to protect climbing across the country.

And of course by now, most of you know that Access Fund took a legal stand to protect Bears Ears National Monument in Utah and all of the climbing resources it holds. This was not a decision we took lightly. We pride ourselves on working collaboratively with federal, state, and local government whenever we can, but sometimes it is necessary to take a stand. This is one of those times. Not only does President Trump's proclamation have far-reaching impacts to climbing at Bears Ears, but it sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the integrity of our public lands system. For more information, please visit our Bears Ears FAQ.

The outpouring of support for our work on Bears Ears has been incredible. No matter your personal political affiliation, I hope that we can all agree that the Bears Ears region is worthy of landscape-level protection.

And of course, our federal public lands agenda extends far beyond Utah. Just last month, I had meetings in Washington, D.C. with the Chief of the US Forest Service, the Director of the Park Service, and the new "Recreation Czar" for the Department of the Interior. We have many friends and allies in our nation's capital, and we are still able to find common ground with leaders in the current administration.

It was quite a year. While the issues that impact climbing may change over the years, one thing remains constant: Access Fund is committed to keeping climbing areas open and conserved for future generations.

On behalf of climbers across the United States, thank you for your continued support.

Access Fund's 2017 National Climber Advocate Summit