Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition

ACCESS, ACQUISITIONS, & RESEARCH: The RRGCC worked with the Access Fund to review and comment on the USFS Red River Gorge Management Planning and Comprehensive River Management Plan in which we Advocated for Trails & Access, Support for Education, USFS Partnering with Climbers, Managing Cliffside Access, Clifty Wilderness Fixed Anchors, Roads & Parking, and New Climbing Routes & Areas. The USFS signed this plan in 2022. The RRGCC has created a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for use between RRGCC and route developers to establish improved route development framework. Additionally, a route submission form has been create to track new routes developed on RRGCC property. The RRGCC made the annual lease payment on the private land portion of Foxtown Boulders. We continue to work on new climbing opportunities via lease, purchase, and donation. There are currently two substantial access opportunities for land with existing high quality climbing and one opportunity with access to several miles of new cliff line for route development. As with past access and acquisition negotiations these opportunities take a long time to complete and the Access & Acquisitions Committee has logged a substantial amount of planning, research and meeting hours on these opportunities in 2022.

EDUCATION, DEI & OUTREACH: Climb L8 -- Gym initiative which exists to remove systemic and financial barriers to entry into rock climbing and facilitate a safer space in the rock climbing gym for Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQIA+, adaptive, first time climbers, and those without financial means. The goal of Climb L8 is to work to break down those barriers in climbing and bring people together by building community, empowering and amplifying underrepresented voices, and making space to learn together. Climb L8 offers free admissions and rentals at partnering local climbing gyms for the communities described above. Accomplishments include: 16 events in three states serving over 300 individuals; Rock L8 -- Gym to the Crag initiative which exists to introduce first time climbers and those from marginalized backgrounds to the sport of outdoor rock climbing in the Red River Gorge. Accomplishments include: Hosted 2 Outdoor trips in 2022; Introduced over 30 individuals to rock climbing in the Red River Gorge. Gym-to-Crag -- In depth discussions about what to expect for your first time climbing outside and how to be a good steward of the land. Accomplishments include: 7 Gym to Crags in 2022; Connected with 2 universities, 4 climbing gyms, and hosted one virtual presentation; Created educational videos on Gym to Crag ethics.

CONSERVATION & LAND MANAGEMENT: With the BRRP mortgage paid off last year, we were able to funnel some extra cash toward stewardship projects for our roads, trails, & crags in 2022. Some of our biggest infrastructure benefited greatly, with road work in the Miller Fork, Coal Bank, & Drive-By areas. A grant to the Access Fund from Athletic Brewing helped move with major belay base work at Rival Wall completed by Access Fund's Conservation Team funded (note the Conservation Team was funded directly by Athletic Brewing). A JEDI grant was awarded from the Access Fund which will be used to improve trail accessibility. JATD also finally returned to it's normal, one-day format with over 100 volunteers & 12 successful projects across our properties. Many of these projects had instant impacts, while others were part of larger trail or crag overhauls. 2022 infrastructure projects included: Three weeks of rock terracing to rebuild Rival wall belay base; New bridges at Chocolate Factory; Erosion control projects at Bronaugh wall, Playground, & the Nursery; Crag infrastructure for a sustainable opening at the Lumber Yard; Another round of flood repairs on roads, bridges, and trails; Repair Drive-By parking lot and improve drainage; New Miller East & Fruit wall trails.