ACTION ALERT FROM THE RRGCC
There are the spray-painted letters “O C” on a prominent tree at the entrance to Oil Crack crag. There are also spray painted “rings” of the same bright, red-orange color on trees near the trailheads leading to climbs at the “In-between” crag, a spray-painted “A” with an arrow on a tree along the road pointing to the Arena crag, and a very prominent “A” in a large circle painted on a tree at the parking area to the Arena. However well intended these spray-painted signs to assist climbers to find these crags may have been, it is extremely inappropriate and therefore they will be removed (covered over with tree-friendly paint) by the RRGCC tomorrow, July 21, 2003.
This is privately owned land. The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition, RRGCC, is dedicated to “protecting, promoting, and ensuring responsible climbing” and stands in line as, possibly, the next owner. The RRGCC is an organization of climbers that is not only dedicated to responsible climbing, but is pledged to securing and preserving climbing at the Red at the highest quality, and works to foster an appreciation among climbers and others for the Red’s incomparable climbing and natural beauty. Spray painting on trees to direct climbers to crags is
not consistent with “responsible climbing.”
Responsible climbing means, being respectful of the environment and others. Spray-painting trees is not respectful of the environment, or others. It is not respectful of the natural setting. It is not respectful of the current private landowner. And it is not respectful of other climber’s outdoor climbing experiences. Spray-painting trees with large letters to direct climbers to the crag is NOT PART OF CLIMBING AT
THE RED RIVER GORGE. DO NOT SPRAY PAINT AT THE RED!!!
Shannon Stuart-Smith,
Executive Director
RRGCC
