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bigfatrock
Jan 21, 2009, 8:21 PM
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Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Access Issues
http://www.wichitamountains.org/accessalert.html
Please act NOW.
Also the above link suggests emailing congressman and senators, but HAND WRITTEN letters are far more effective.
(This post was edited by bigfatrock on Jan 21, 2009, 8:23 PM)
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rockforlife
Jan 21, 2009, 8:22 PM
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bigfatrock wrote: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Access Issues http://www.wichitamountains.org/accessalert.html Please act NOW. Also the above link suggests emailing congressman and senators, but HAND WRITTEN letters are far more effective.
Fixed
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okieterry
Jan 21, 2009, 9:10 PM
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Thanks bigfatrock for getting this started. We need lots of help with this. There is new management at the refuge and we can't be too sure about where they might go with this. Although we knew that they were planning to conduct this study, they only gave a one week notice of their intent and schedule to hold public meetings.
We need support at the meetings and letters.
Thank you for your help.
Terry
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pendereki
Jan 22, 2009, 2:10 AM
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Two months ago while visiting the Wichita Wildlife Refuge, I stopped by the Visitor Center. The woman at the front desk said, upon hearing that I was a climber, "Oh, you are one of those!" and also, "The new manager is thinking about banning climbing." She was not knowledgeable at all about rock climbing but was obviously repeating what she had heard. She was also not at all friendly towards me, apparently only because I was a climber. We visited for about five minutes. I was left very worried for the future of climbing in the Wichitas and vowed to get involved to save our access.
i am taking this very seriously. I will be writing (by hand, I guess) and attending any meetings I can. 25 years climbing in the Wichitas, I could not stand it if things changed!
Chad
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Bats
Jan 22, 2009, 2:56 AM
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This is not cool. Probably going to allowed an off road track for 4 wheelers. Not cool. I was planning to climb there in April. I went there about 11 years ago, bc(before climbing), and thought it was a cool place.
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bigfatrock
Jan 22, 2009, 6:48 PM
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FYI, from what I am hearing it's not likely it will get shut down for climbing and I SERIOUSLY doubt they will allow ATV's. You aren't even allowed to use power drills when replacing old bolts. If you had that kind of noise going on then it would no longer be a wildlife refuge, then again the jets that fly over from the air force base are louder.
The important thing is to speak up and make your voice heard. Let them know you want to see access available for hikers and climbers alike.
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osu_cowboy
Jan 22, 2009, 9:07 PM
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I live in nearby Oklahoma City and have spent lots of time hiking and camping in the refuge. The Wichita Mountains are actually one of the reasons I started climbing. It would be a shame to deny people access for recreational events. If you have never been, it is a beautiful place, especially for Oklahoma. I will be sure to send my letters and comments to do my part.
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Bats
Jan 26, 2009, 9:14 PM
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durangoclimber
Jan 26, 2009, 9:42 PM
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Please act. This place is a jewel. It is some of the most amazing granite ANYWHERE...often compared to "Yosemite quality granite". This has always been a battleground area.
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bigfatrock
Jan 26, 2009, 9:46 PM
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Thanks for plugging others to help. It's VERY important. Last I heard Access Fund and the Wichita Mountains Climbers Coalition have spoken with the new Refuge manager and educated him about climbing and the history of climbing in the Refuge. So he is not in the dark about the long standing history of climbing here.
Some of you may remember this being featured in a recent Rock and Ice issue along with Quartz Mountain. If you haven't seen the issue you should check it out and you will likely be inspired to act.
The important thing here is to make your voice heard and to be respectable in your presentation. One rotten apple could ruin it for everybody. Things are looking promising fright now from what I have been told, but the more people that speak up and say that ant climbing and backpacking to stick around the better.
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durangoclimber
Jan 26, 2009, 9:49 PM
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That was a great article in R&I. I can't remember what it was called but it had a small piece on Jimmy Forester (www.friendsofforester.com). Jimmy fought long and hard for access, bolting ethics, etc, etc in the Wichitas and other places. If you don't think access could be lost...WAKE THE F UP.
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Bats
Feb 3, 2009, 7:06 PM
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