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Im just curious because I have heard through the grape vine that after Rocktoberfest weekend that mark is closing climbing. it would be nice to know before this weekend. I would just like to know if it is true or not

we'll have to wait and see what mark chooses to do, but that is a very true and substantiated rumor. climbers have NOT, I repeat have NOT, pick up the slack in their behavior in his backyard. Likewise, they have NOT been donating before climbing there. I believe he has had enough.

I spoke with Mark on Saturday and also got the feeling that this will be the last weekend that Torrent is open. Its a shame that folks proved that they COULD respect Mark and his family and then STOPPED.
I will hate to loose Torrent.

edited by pigsteak

Do you mean 40 throughout the day? Or 40 at once, because 40 at once doesn't even seem possible.

throughout the day he said....

I bet there were at least 20 cars there Saturday a.m. and then again all day Sunday. By the way, we CAN NOT PARK ACROOS THE STREET AT ALL!!!!

These issues at torrent have been going on for years (since i started climbing almost 9 years ago) and they have never threatened to close the place to climbing until recently (past year or so). Mark seems super stressed about money and all of the situations he has put himself in the past few years. it is frustrating being a climber and helping out as much as possible, i never asked for money that Mark owed my dad and I and I eat there alot, and also donate in the box when i climb there. there are alot of other climbers that help out alot and support mark and his family business. We as climbers are helping him out alot this weekend he will sell a lot of food make a lot of money now and in the future getting his food out there to the climbers that have never eaten there. I know that this post might make some of you a little upset but this is what went through my head when i heard the news and now know it is confirmed. lets hope that he does realize that climbers or a good percentage to his food sales on the weekends and I feel those numbers would drop some if he were to close the area to climbing. Maybe there is a way to regulate how many people climb at the cliff or somthing?

bentley wrote:By the way, we CAN NOT PARK ACROOS THE STREET AT ALL!!!!

that was my fault sunday folks.. for whatever reason, i was under the impression the grass across the street was alright to park at.. however, as bentley said, it is not open for climber parking. thankfully, morgain and them noticed and let me know and we moved out of there. again, though, i'm sorry about that as i was the first to park there sunday and thereby encouraged others to do so. also, while i parked at the bbq and check that it was alright with the people there, i very much got the impression it was a case-by-case thing, ie: they weren't expecting many cars that day so it wasn't a problem. however, i think this was a one time deal and they'd rather not have climbers park there then hike over.

if the parking is full at the crag, find another place to go. we all do the same thing when we pass roadside and see it packed.. just put torrent in that same bag.

i don't think i could be much sadder about this all. i honestly don't know what else i could've done personally to change things. i honestly don't know what to do. this takes so much of the wind out of my sails..

..i just don't know what to do now..

The situation at Torrent is incredibly disheartening. While several climbers have consistently stepped up to help Mark, the sad truth is that the word has not spread throughout the climbing community that climbing is not free at Redriver Gorge. People have not habitually put money in the donation box, never harassed others about failing to put money in the donation box and have generally taken Torrent for granted...including me.

As I become increasingly aware of access issues accross the United States, I am blown away by how fortunate we have been in Redriver Gorge. We don't pay $15 a day to rock climb, we have short approaches to most cliffs and generally climb with impunity. But those days are gone and we now have to pay.