SoCo CRAG (Southern Colorado Climber’s Resource & Action Group) is proud to partner with the USFS to host Newlin Creek Adopt-a-Crag on Saturday, September 18 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, the Access Fund’s signature event, is a national commitment by the climbing community to natural resource stewardship and volunteerism. Activities often include litter clean-ups, visual impact mitigation, trail construction and restoration, erosion control, and wildlife monitoring. This year during the month of September, the Access Fund expects Adopt-a-Crag will produce trail restoration projects and crag clean-ups at over 100 climbing areas around the country. The Newlin Creek Adopt-a-Crag will include litter clean-up as well as trail restoration and erosion control. Just bring your work gloves and boots and we’ll meet in the Newlin Creek trailhead parking lot at 9am. The Forest Service will supply all the tools. For more info, contact Ben Bruestle at (719) 924-4297.
Directions to Newlin Creek trailhead: From the intersection of CO 115 and CO 67 in Florence, drive south on CO 67 for 4.6 miles to CR 15. The intersection is marked as National Forest access, Newlin Creek Trail. Turn right on CR 15. The road forks in 2.6 miles; stay on CR 15 by driving on the right fork. Drive through Florence Mountain Park and past the caretaker’s house, following signs to Newlin Creek Trail. About .2 mile past the house is parking if the road is too rough for your vehicle. In another .2 mile is the national forest boundary sign, with parking near a little pond. Drive or walk another .1 mile to the trailhead.
SoCo CRAG is a conservation group dedicated to preserving natural resources while maintaining public access for responsible climbing in the Wet Mountains and surrounding areas.
The Access Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy and conservation organization, is the nation’s largest climbers’ organization, representing over 1.6 million technical rock climbers and mountaineers nationwide. The Access Fund’s mission is to keep climbing areas open, and to conserve the climbing environment. Preserving the opportunity to climb and the diversity of the climbing experience are fundamental to our mission.
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. The Access Fund encourages an ethic of personal responsibility, self-regulation, strong conservation values, and minimum impact practices among climbers.
The Access Fund web site (www.accessfund.org/adopt) lists all of the locations of Adopt-a-Crag as well as contact information for each event.