Monday, October 26, 2015

Story in the Grand Junction Sentinel!

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/group-secures-three-key-cliffs-ensuring-space-for#

Group secures three key cliffs, ensuring space for climbing


Eve Tallman, of the Western Colorado Climbers’ Coalition, scales a cliff in Unweep Canyon. The local nonprofit organization now owns three important cliffs in Unaweep Canyon — Sunday, Fortress and Hidden Valley — after a land transfer from The Access Fund. The move secured 50 acres of climbing space that includes about 200 top-rated, granite climbing routes. “This marks a key milestone in the 25-year history of conservation and public access in the canyon,” WCCC said in a release.


A local nonprofit climbing organization now is the owner of three important cliffs in Unaweep Canyon, a move that secures 50 acres of access for climbers that includes about 200 top-rated, granite climbing routes.
Grand Junction’s Western Colorado Climbers’ Coalition reported the land transfer from The Access Fund for the cliffs known as Sunday, Fortress and Hidden Valley.
“This marks a key milestone in the 25-year history of conservation and public access in the canyon,” WCCC reported in a release.
The Access Fund said in the release that it will retain a permanent conservation and recreation easement on the properties “to back up WCCCs’ longterm commitment and ensure conservation and climbing access into perpetuity.”
The Access Fund originally purchased the cliffs in 1991 along with three local climbers. WCCC purchased the Upper Mothers Buttress with the help of two climbers in 2010. In 2014, WCCC finalized negotiations and obtained a $134,000 Access Fund Climbing Conservation loan to purchase Lower Mothers Buttress and Television Wall areas.
A fundraising campaign by WCCC included obtaining grants from The Access Fund, Alpenglow Foundation, Shaw Construction and Realtor Christi Reece, among others.
WCCC said it will maintain the cliff line, while subdividing and selling residential lots along Colorado Highway 141.
“Protecting Unaweep Canyon’s cliff line is an important part of WCCC’s work and mission as the local nonprofit organization for this region,” said Jesse Zacher, who is the president of WCCC.
For more information on WCCC, visit its website at westernslopeclimbers.blogspot.com.
The group’s next meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Grand Valley Climbing Center, 611 25 Road.

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