Red Rocks (MA) Clean-up, Oct 5

So it is (finally) time for the annual Red Rocks clean-up in good old Gloucester MA. The Cape Ann Climbing Coalition (find us of Facebook) will be meeting up near the main parking area for the Red Rocks Conservation Area (located on route 133, just right of the route 128 overpass in West Gloucester) on October 5 from 10am until 2pm. We will have a dumpster on site and our goal is to pick up litter and do a bit of trail work. Gloves are helpful.
If you have been here before, cool.... come give back a bit and maybe get a few climbs in for the afternoon. If you have not been to Red Rocks before.... cool, come check it out! We will have plenty of locals around who can show you some fun routes in the area. There is climbing for all types here- great leading, amazing top rope problems of all grades and enough boulders to keep you busy for quite some time.
Rain date will be Sunday the 6th, same time.

Hi Matt, just wondering what we should bring aside from climbing gear :) Pair of work gloves? Also I'm wondering if there's overflow parking somewhere. The place where I usually park has room for maybe about 10 cars? - dragons

We will have trash bags. Bringing gloves is wise, hand pruners may be helpful and water is always a good idea. The overflow parking is on the opposite side of the 128 overpass.

Wish I were there to meet people! Gloucester red rocks are next to my town and the first place I ever saw people rock climbing at. I think I was too young to understand what was goin on though.

Anyways, thanks for cleaning up! I look forward to getting to this crag and climbing there when I get home this fall since I've never climbed on the east coast before!

I wasn't able to go to the clean up on Saturday but I was out at Redrock today and wanted to say that it looks great. As a frequenter of the area, I extend my humble thanks to all involved.

On a less happy note, there was fair amount of pink flagging littering the ground along the trail. Seems likely that the trails were reflagged during the clean-up and someone came in later and tore a lot of it down. Given the fact that the flagging was spread on the path it seemed like a deliberate message was being sent (not quite sure what the message is as it clearly wasn't anti-littering!). I replaced the flagging in places and carried some out.

I think the question of flagging has come up before. For my part, I don't have a problem with flagging. The purpose is to mark paths not only to guide newcomers to some of the harder-to-find satellite areas but also to get everyone using the same trails and therefore for to cut down on the overall disturbance. Having defined trails just makes sense and flagging is used to mark new trails the world over. The alternative-- which I would now suggest-- is blazing trees along the way.

One question: the trail as currently flagged, veers off to Down Under and Oz by crossing the barrier boulders near the storage facility before turning right. I have always continued up the hill on the main trail before veering off to avoid any traffic near the storage faciilty. Is that trail as it is currently marked ok?

Jim

The flagging is meant to be temporary, until we can get out and properly blase the trail with paint. I am sure that our friendly neighbor by Down Under is responsible for the "unflagging." To answer the question about the trail hooking just past the storage area.... legal beagal. Nice work on the slabs beyond themain wall, by the way!