Annual Adopt a Crag Event

Media Release www.accessfund.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington DC Rock Climbers Clean up Cliffs
Dates and Locations: Saturday, September 9, 2006 at Carderock Recreation Area, MD
Saturday, September 30, 2006 at Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm, check-in at 8:30am
Contact: Thomson Ling
Phone: (301)-460-4327

DC Area Access Fund’s Adopt-a-Crag
On Saturday, September 9th and 30th, Washington DC rock climbers will join volunteers around the nation to clean up rock climbing areas at Carderock Recreation Area, MD and Great Falls Park, VA as part of the Access Fund’s 7th Annual Adopt-a-Crag, presented by Title Sponsor Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), Presenting Sponsor W.L. Gore, and Contributing Sponsor CLIF BAR.

Adopt-a-Crag (www.accessfund.org/adopt), the Access Fund’s signature event, brings climbing community members together to preserve and maintain national parks. The volunteers work with the park service on cliff cleanup, erosion control, trail maintenance, and other projects to ensure the resources at these national parks remain accessible to all visitors. This year, Adopt-a-Crag will produce trail restoration projects and crag clean-ups at over 100 climbing areas around the country.

This is the fourth year that DC area rock climbers are hosting an Adopt-A-Crag event. Last year, 100 volunteers participated in the DC area Adopt-A-Crag events. Over two days, climbers helped lay down over four tons of gravel, 2 tons of wood chips, and cleaned several thousand pounds of trash. In total, climbers helped to maintain several miles of trails and wilderness.

The Access Fund is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment. The organization works in cooperation with climbers, other recreational users, public land managers, and private landowners to promote the responsible use and sound management of climbing resources throughout the United States.

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The New PMC CLUB T-Shirts Are here

The Club T-shirts are now available for $10 USD. The are available in one color, different sizes, with your choice of long or short sleeves.

T-shirts can be purchased at the club meetings!

July Monthly Meeting Minutes

31 attendees for another wonderful time despite the crappy summer thunderstorm. (not responsible for inaccurate content-i did have one beer; secretary may correct any errors)

Dave Raboy presided.

* Peru trip although a change of scenery in itself, was marred by illness that affected Jason and Dave. Jason and Kathleen didn't summit but Eric Pihl made the grade, I think. There will most certainly be a repeat attempt or at least a return to Peru in the future.
* NO AUGUST MEETING
* Bobby Graver's trip to Switzerland sounds like a place I'd love to go on. The weather was a factor. A rope team of 3 made for slow progress. They took trains to the eismere station which was literally inside the Eiger. They had to find their way down tunnels depending on the level of snow and crossed a glacier which led to 5th class traverse to the hut. They did this trip in July.The Eiger was constantly raining down rocks and debris.Pack lite and go fast to the south ridge. They did the route(s) on-site;climbed on bolted limestone. Great time
* Fourth of July trip was awesome. 25 peeple, climbing, biking, swimming, cook out etc...too much fun
* The Sierra trip headed by Ross Hess is in 2 weeks. This team was having a gear check this evening instead of watching the slide show.
* RETURN TO KATAHDIN: people have to decide when to go on this trip again, but this time we should push it back for a better weather window. Apply early for the permits. This party will omit the camping because the cabins are so toasty.
* EXPEDITION FINDING PROPOSAL passed; must submit a project by September and decide by October?
* Slide show schedule: September PERU TEAM: John OSter; Rocktober: JOshua Baker does the Himalaya; November: Ross Hess recounts the upcoming Sierra Trip.
* EXPEDITION MEMBERS and LEADERS must be PATC members to be covered by Liability Insurance.
* Volunteers at This week's Great falls Bio Survey Mike and Judy, report the progress on the job at hand.
* Shenandoah National Park's walk around and informational hike for the outreach and new management program is August 19th; the educational community outreach is in Mid-Rocktober.
* GEAR MEISTER; Ozana HAlik: "gear is available for check out but with ample notice". Check on line to see what is available and then arrange with the gear meister-gear can be handed off at carderock or at the monthly meetings
* Newsletter: For the last year and a half a certain magic has taken over the club with insane participation and a freakin flood of Trippin trip reports that swamp the beleaguered Vince the Octopus's editor duties. He may have to invoke the 3rd rule of the 7th paraphrased addendum and actually edit some of the articles to keep them way under 22 pages?
* Roctober 7th is the Seneca Work Day. Don't let the word "WORK" ruffle your skirts guys-it is all fun and you'll like it. Contact BIlly Wright.
* REI will host a SLIDE show of Shows for the fall. If you have an awesome trip and slides and aren't afraid to blather on about your trip, write a description of your trip/presentation/length/subject matter and submit to Bobby Graver
* Member and non-members OPT out of the list server for reasons unknown-BUTT...they continue to monitor the CLUB CALENDAR. and this is one of the ways they keep up with the pulse of our mighty club. If you look at the individual page counters you see these really large numbers. I get a weekly report of each page that is monitored and some pages get 20-30 hits a day. Our club's website is getting exposure out there....and some of the pages that get these hits are surprising. THe chair gets daily emails all the time for information. SOBOTTOM LINE...USE THE CALENDAR-IF IT JUST A SMALL TRIP OR EVEN A NON-TRIP put it on the calendar for everyone to see....


BE WELL EVERYONE. We are on the Downhill side of this season....Lead some trips...putit on the calendar...get people HOT to Trot.

JUNE 2006 Meeting Minutes

Potomac Mountain Club Monthly Meeting Minutes– June 14, 2006

I. Expedition Grant Amendment
A. Discussion by Robert Graver
B. Grants will range from $200-$500
C. Proposals will be accepted in Sept and voted on in Jan
D. Grants will be awarded to those pushing their personal limits during expedition caliber events

II. 3 Upcoming Expeditions
A. Please wear club T-shirts during these expeditions
B. Peru trip – 5 club members
C. Eastern Sierras trip - headed by Ross; 6 club members
D. Eiger trip led by Bob Graver

III. Liability waiver has been changed to address previous concerns

IV. PMC now has a secure areas at PATC headquarters to store gear

V. Discussed concerns this month with a ranger at Old Rag regarding general management plan

VI. Field trip planned for Aug 19 at Little Stoneyman for rangers and climbers to hike together to discuss general management plan/proposal to make climbers aware of vegetation and environment concerns

VII. Aid climbing clinic – led by Duncan; to be held this Saturday at Great Falls, meet at climber’s lot at 6:45am; all are welcome; please bring personal climbing gear and any aid gear one may have; for safety, aid climbing will be backed up by a top rope

VIII. 4th of July Seneca Rocks trip
There will be a group camp site at Seneca Shadows and a BBQ; this year’s trip will not include Nelson Rocks, but individuals may do the Via Ferrata on one’s own

IX. Bob Graver spoke with Mark Nelson at REI regarding PMC presentations/slide shows; club to form list of potential slide shows with a brief synopsis to be presented at REI; opportunity for REI customers to have a look at “real people” climbs

X. Jason Sandridge – safety clinics
A. Earth Treks self rescue seminar a success; request that attendees write a trip report to be published in the next issue of Uprope
B. Earth Treks is willing to put together other courses for PMC

XI. Congratulations to Dave Green for his outstanding accomplishment of summitting the highest peak in each of the 50 states!!! Award presented to Dave with reception to follow.