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climberstephen
Feb 7, 2002, 9:29 PM
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A month ago or so someone forwarded me a statement from the NPS regarding an access issue for climbing in the Falls area. Basically it said that access might be denied due to the local horse tour people who use the trails and don't want the climbers around.
Anyone know anything about this?
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beta
Feb 7, 2002, 9:32 PM
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There is a bunch of stuff on use.net (rec.climbing) about this issue.
They've beaten that horse to death (no pun intended).
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jds100
Feb 7, 2002, 9:35 PM
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Climbers have formed an advocacy group for their interests, called the Illinois Climbers Association. The interest and
participation of all those who are concerned about climbing in Illinois is vital to the effectiveness of the ICA.
"Thank you.' to those who came to the meeting on Saturday February 2. Whether or not you were able to come, your participation in the future is vital to meeting the objectives of the Illinois
Climbers Association. The steering committee and officers of the ICA wish to keep members fully informed of activities undertaken on behalf of climber interests, along with soliciting your input and assistance on specific issues and projects, near-term and long-term.
On Saturday, February 2, 2002 a general meeting of the ICA was held in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, prompted most immediately by the
urgency of the Forest Service Draft Environmental Impact Statement, involving, in part, Jackson Falls in southern llinois. Jackson Falls is well known as a premium climbing destination, drawing climbers from all around the country, and often from around the world. Four alternatives for modification of the Forest Service management plan for Shawnee National Forest have been submitted, and public comment has been solicited. The comment period is fast drawing to an end. Individual members of the climbing community have been encouraged to send letters of comment to the Forest Service, expressing a preference for an alternative. Eric Ulner, Heartland Regional Coordinator for The Access Fund, has suggested that Alternative #3, which the Forest Service labels the “Preferred Alternative”, is the only alternative that adequately protects the interests of climber access to Jackson Falls. The attendees of the February 2 meeting of the ICA discussed the matter of the DEIS in general and the alternatives, and, as a group, endorsed the recommendation for alternative #3.
Eric Ulner also informed everyone that Pat York, Director of Recreation for the Shawnee National Forest, had suggested that a fifth alternative could also be considered. Some concern was expressed by climbers that the issue had become publicly portrayed as a battle between equestrians and climbers, and that this presented a potential risk to climbers as a group and possibly individually. Among numerous ways of contradicting that mistaken impression, it was agreed that a fifth alternative, which would incorporate reasonable compromise with
equestrian interests, would also be submitted in a seperate ICA letter to the Forest Service.
The ICA will submit an Alternative 5 proposal to the Forest Service, and plans to schedule a meeting and walk-through at
Jackson Falls with Pat York, Director of Recreation for the Shawnee National Forest, along with a member of the equestrian user group who is also an owner of a major equestrian oriented business. Inasmuch as the Mission Statement of the ICA includes
education and cooperation, it is one hope and intent of this interaction to foster a greater opportunity for understanding, and to seek a level of cooperation between user groups. Such an alternative could include, but would not be restricted to, development of the original trail that existed in the lower part of the Jackson Falls area, away from the cliffline, up to an area near the climbing route commonly known as Group Therapy, where there would be installed a hitching rail for riders to secure their horses if the riders wish to continue on foot to the North Falls.
A meeting of the Executive Committee was held on February 9 to draft the final version of the ICA letter to the Forest
Service. The letter was sent to the Forest Service to reflect the position of the members of the Illinois Climbers Association
with respect to the DEIS.
Officers for the ICA have been determined. Eric Ulner will continue to assist and be active in the ICA as The Access Fund liaison; Lenore Sobota is the Northern Illinois Regional Vice President; Jim Schneider is the Central Illinois Regional Vice President; Ron Dierolf is the Southern Illinois Regional Vice President; Dave and Joyce Downey are the Treasurers; Dan Smith is the Secretary; Mike Balossi and Eric Brown will be Community Liaisons in their respective regions; Jeff Stockton is the President.
Everyone that attended enthusiastically offered his or her help and participation as
needed.
The officers and the steering committee all wish to express our appreciation for the attendance, the enthusiasm and motivation,
and the energy and breadth of ideas; we can confidently look forward to the development of an effective statewide advocacy group for climbers’ interests in the form of the Illinois Climbers Association.
Jeff D. Stockton
President, Illinois Climbers Association
jdccs@swbell.net
[ This Message was edited by: jds100 on 2002-02-19 13:21 ]
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uhighfreak
Feb 7, 2002, 9:36 PM
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What website is that the information is on? And if they close the climbing area for a bunch of horse back riders that would just suck. I hope that the issue is resolved so that Jaskson Falls can stay open. Unbelievable!
[ This Message was edited by: uhighfreak on 2002-02-20 17:11 ]
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theamish
Feb 7, 2002, 10:20 PM
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Info by Eric Ulner is at:
http://home.mindspring.com/~moclimber/newinfo.html ...........
The DEIS is at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee .........
This includes the address of the people to write to as well as the email address ... as time is short I suggest email would be preferable ... get all the friends you have to mail the NPS.
Email is:
mlross@fs.fed.us ........
SnailMail is :
Monica Ross
Vienna Ranger District
Shawnee National Forest
USDA Forest Service
Box 37
Vienna, IL 62995
[ This Message was edited by: theamish on 2002-02-10 15:59 ]
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climberstephen
Feb 15, 2002, 10:15 PM
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I have also posted information about this issue on my web site:
http://www.onlineclimbing.com/jacksonfalls.asp
Please read over it and send the National Park Service a note letting them know what you think.
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