Representing Climbers in Washington, D.C.
September 22, 2019
More than 60 climbers, including national and local climbing advocacy groups, professional climbers, and members of the outdoor industry, traveled to DC to meet with our legislators, policy makers, and land management agencies last week.
We traveled from across the nation to “Climb the Hill” to share our stories and outline the importance of recreation access and conservation of our public lands. These spaces are imperative to the livelihoods and well-being of Utah residents.
The special outdoor places where we recreate cannot speak for themselves. We asked our legislators to be allies in protecting the places we love to play by requesting them to:
Support full and long-lasting funding for the Land & Water Conservation Fund (H.R. 3195, S. 1081)
Support Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act (H.R. 1225, S. 500)
Support the Central Wasatch National Recreation and Conservation Area legislation when it is introduced. Specifically to support language that protects access to climbing areas within the designation including maintenance of fixed anchors required for climbing.
Push back on the administration’s aggressive "energy dominance" agenda, which is threatening our climbing areas, public lands, and surrounding communities. Support bills that aim to reform troubling new oil and gas leasing policies (H.R. 3225).
Push for action on climate change, which is adversely affecting our climbing environments and marginalized communities. Support regulation on carbon pollution, reduction and prevention of methane gas emissions, protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, fulfillment of the Paris Climate Agreement, and funding for renewable energy research (H.R. 2711, H.R. 9).
Our Utah Team also invited our lawmakers to join us on the rock the next time they come home to Utah for a Legislative Climb Day. During this local event we will showcase the efforts to improve climbing infrastructure in the Wasatch and showcase the need for ongoing Forest Service funding for the maintenance and protection of Wasatch climbing areas.
Team Utah included:
Brad Petersen, National Abilities Center
Byron Harvison, American Alpine Club
Julia Geisler, Salt Lake Climbers Alliance
Katie Boue, Outdoor Alliance
Amelia Howe, American Alpine Club
A huge thanks to the Access Fund and the AAC for facilitating the 4th Annual “Climb the Hill” event in DC.
Julia Geisler, Executive Director, Salt Lake Climbers Alliance
