AAC Conservation Grants Awarded—$25K

The American Alpine Club (AAC) is psyched to announce the recipients of the first annual Cornerstone Crag Conservation Grant. This year, $25,000 will go toward multiple local projects: human waste management systems, road and parking improvements, trail work, signage, camping improvements, and more.

Full Details on Inclined, the AAC Blog.

The 2011 Recipients:

• The Southeast Climbers’ Coalition—Boat Rock Waste Management Solution. Southwest of Atlanta, GA. Awarded $7,500 toward the construction of a vault toilet near this popular climbing area. The SCC continues to fundraise for this project.

• Smith Rock Group—Smith Rock Spring Thing 2012. Smith Rock State Park, near Bend, OR. Awarded $4,155 for trail work projects to stabilize trails and minimize erosion during the upcoming Spring Thing Event. The Smith Rock Group needs more support in order to complete their anchor replacement goals.

• Arkansas Climbers’ Coalition—Sam’s Throne Camping Area. North of Little Rock, AR in Ozark National Forest. Awarded $3,750 to complete camping area and expand education signage aimed at reducing climber impacts. ACC still needs funding from local climbers to complete this project.

• Friends of Muir Valley—Muir Valley Parking Improvements & Expansion. Muir Valley Nature and Climbing Preserve, Red River Gorge, KY. Awarded $2,500 for improvements to parking lots designed to minimize climber impacts. Also received Access Fund Grant.

• Climbing Resource Access Group VT—Bolton Quarry Driveway Restoration. Southeast of Burlington, VT. Awarded $2,000 for an access road in need of rebuilding after significant flooding. The New England AAC Section continues to fundraise to complete this project.

• Boulder Climbing Community—Boulder-Area Stewardship. General area surrounding Boulder, CO, including Eldorado Canyon, the Flatirons, and Boulder Canyon. Awarded $1,975 to support human waste solutions, signage, educational efforts, and more.

• Carolina Climbers’ Coalition—Rumbling Bald Mapping. Rumbling Bald Chimney near Chimney Rock, NC. Awarded $1,800 for GIS mapping project to support future use-planning. AAC has funded project in its entirety.

• Las Vegas Climbers’ Liaison Council—Red Rock Waste Bag Project. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (BLM), near Las Vegas, NV. Awarded $1,320. AAC is funding entire human-waste pack-out project, hoping to derive substantial data on efficacy and BLM involvement in project.