Muir Valley Trail Day Success!

Post by **weber** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:35 am

Those of us who climb here at Muir Valley (10,600 visits last year) want to give a big thank you to the 100+ volunteers who busted their butts during last Saturdayâ€™s fifth annual trail day to help make this climbing venue what it is today. It is always surprising how much trail work can be done by a few determined climbers in one day.

These volunteers built three entirely new trails to replace the existing overly-steep, eroding ones. These go to the Tectonics/Johnnyâ€™s Wall, the Shawnee Shelter, and Slab City areas. The new Tectonics Trail was a really major project requiring retaining walls, culverts, and a huge amount of excavation. The Great Wall and Boneyard trails were given a major re-build. Crews mowed and trimmed Muir trails, all along the emergency road and the lower meadows. A new first-class 16-foot staircase was built at the top of the Slab City Trail. And much more.

Lunch was delivered to the work crews and dinner and beer was served at the end of the day to a big bunch of tired, sweaty volunteers. To list more than 100 names here would take up way too much space. I hope Liz and I were able to personally thank all of you who contributed time and effort to make this one of the largest Access Fund Adopt-a-Craig events in the nation.

It is heart warming to Liz and me to see the Friends of Muir Valley group grow into a first-rate AF Local Climbing Organization and see what they are doing to your Muir Valley. When you come here to climb, remember those in your midst whose hard work made it possible.

Rick Weber

Post by **Brentucky** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:43 am

It's hard to call it volunteer work when you get a free t-shirt, GREAT food, beer (or Ale-8 if you must), and lots of dirty, friendly faces. Thanks Rick and Liz for all your own efforts, generosity, and hospitality. Heck, I barely let my good friends step foot in my house!

Post by **weber** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:47 am

Brentucky wrote:...Heck, I barely let my good friends step foot in my house!

The mud and the blood and the beer just adds to the "ambiance."

Post by **anticlmber** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:49 am

i always wondered how you get those volunteers to work so well rick.

now i know.

kudos to you all.

Post by **weber** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:44 am

anticlmber wrote:i always wondered how you get those volunteers to work so well rick.

I'm just one of the slaves. Mark Ryan and Jeff Colombo were the Massas, and they did a fine job!

Rick

Post by **p0bray01** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:43 pm

I had the opportunity to take some friends who were wanting to "try" rock climbing down to Muir on Sunday, as I have been in WV for school for (an eternity) I had not been down there since back when you guys first had just a few routes at bruisebrothers! What wonderful work you have done with the area! It is truly a sight! THANKS! Hopefully once I get fullly moved back to KY I can help contribute to maintaining a wonderful addition to the climbing in the Red. Thanks to everyone.

Post by **Jeff** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:15 pm

6 hours of work is a small "price" to pay for what you have given us.
As always, thanks Rick and Liz!

Post by **dbrayack** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:43 pm

What a great time - and great food - it was our pleasure to contribute to Muir Valley - Thanks Rick and Liz - love the place.

I have photos from the event here:

http://www.brayackmedia.com/muir_gal/

I'll keep them up for probably a month or so...

Feel free to right click and save photos + post on myspace etc etc..

Keep it real!

-Danno

Post by **512OW** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:51 pm

Wish I coulda made it!

Post by **Andrew** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:33 pm

Me too. The baby, and school keeps me too busy.