Road to the Lode

[captain static]

Yesterday, Mark Jackson, RRGCC Board member and PMRP Property Manager, Robert Stamper of Charmane Oil, & I met with the Lee Co. Judge Executive, Steve Mays, Jr., to discuss maintenance needs for Bald Rock Fork Road AKA the road to the Motherlode. The Sore Heel Hollow, Bob Marley, and Drive-By areas of the PMRP are also accessed off Bald Rock Fork Rd. just beyond the Lode parking.

The RRGCC, Charmane Oil, & Lee Co. have agreed to work together to provide this maintenance. Lee County will provide their grader and what material costs their budget will allow. Charmane & the RRGCC will cooperate in paying any material costs beyond what the Co. can provide. At the RRGCC Board meeting held the previous day, a motion was passed for providing Charmane up to $2,000 to defray material costs for maintaining Bald Rock Fork Rd. and other roads on the PMRP that are used by climbers.

After the meeting at the Lee Co. Courthouse, Mark & I accompanied Mr. Stamper to the PMRP to look at some areas that need work. During our conversation Mr. Stamper expressed his frustration over the driving habits displayed by some climbers. It is important that climbers drive slowly, yield to other vehicles, and not obstruct oil facilities or vehicles. For climbers visiting the PMRP during the week, Mr. Stamper suggested that if oil vehicles are blocking the road while doing work, climbers should go to another crag instead of asking the workers he is paying hourly to move.

With the amount of time, money, and effort that Lee Co., Charmane Oil, and the RRGCC are going to invest in road maintenance, it is asked that climbers think about carpooling to the PMRP/Motherlode areas, using a 4WD vehicle or other vehicle that is capable of negotiating these roads w/o causing ruts, and showing common courtesy to oil workers and others driving in the area. Thank you.

Bill Strachan, Executive Director
Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition

[anticlmber]

. During our conversation Mr. Stamper expressed his frustration over the driving habits displayed by some climbers. It is important that climbers drive slowly, yield to other vehicles, and not obstruct oil facilities or vehicles. it is asked that climbers think about carpooling to the PMRP/Motherlode areas, using a 4WD vehicle or other vehicle that is capable of negotiating these roads w/o causing ruts, and showing common courtesy to oil workers and others driving in the area. Thank you.

Bill Strachan, Executive Director
Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition

Thanks Bill and the rest of the RRGCC folks doing some dirty work. As a suggestion to those with 4WD. Go out the creeks when you leave, add weight to the back of your truck, and actually put it in 4WD when you leave. Go slow up the hill and let the truck do its job.

[Yasmeen]

Is it worth it to put a sign at the top and bottom of the Motherlode hill so that climbers about to enter or leave the southern region can read this notice? What may seem intuitive to some probably doesn't register with some people; but when they see that the RRGCC's money is being used to maintain the road, they'll hopefully help to take better care of it. That, and unless you tell people, they're not going to know who's paying for the road - most climbers in the world will never read this thread. Something fairly simple and short enough that people can read it as they're passing. Maybe...

"The RRGCC is helping Charmane Oil maintain this road. Please help keep costs down by carpooling in 4WD vehicles and by driving slowly."

[Andrew]

About 3 weeks ago, tim and I decided to go to the Darkside on a tuesday. The Oil workers were blocking the road, and drilling right beside it. They were busy but asked us if they wanted for them to move. We just told them don't worry about it, and we went to Muir. It was going to take them awhile to move.

I think a lot of people would have made them move and justified it by saying we own the property.

I think that it would take a lot less work and MONEY to make the back way two wheel drive accessible. All the hills are paved, and the water is rarely too deep. The only problem right now the entrances and exits to the creek section are too steep, but they could easily be fixed.

I really do hear too many people spinning out going up the hill and then the weather compounds the problem.

It is also really nice to hear that these two groups are working with each other. Good work.

[Meadows]

I feel it is also worth it to put the sign at the Miguel's kiosk where climbing parties often assemble ... before the decision is made to travel in a convoy.

[captain static]

Good suggestions on putting additional signage up. Mark & I discussed such after the meeting. RRC.com is not the only means we will be using to get out this message but it is a start.

[dmw]

and thanks to Zach, Jehana and Sean for getting out their pickaxes and grading the ruts on the lode hill. don't know how many of you have been down there since then, but it was a HELL of a lot better when I was there earlier this week.

[Spragwa]

Thank you guys for all of your work!

Zach, Johanna, Sean...you rock. Thanks so much for taking the personal responsibility to make something good happen. and fix the problem. Y'all are the bomb!

[charlie]

High quality efforts all the way around, Sean and Jehanna need to do something about their trees tho.

Thanks everyone!!!!!!

[dmw]

chuck