Index Meeting in Seattle!

[DCramer]

Where:
Hale's Ales
4301 Leary Way NW
Seattle, WA 98107
Mapquest Link (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=4301+Leary+Way+NW&city=seattle&state=&zipcode=98107)

When: Thursday February 23 7:30pm

Share a beer and talk about Index issues, including Upper Wall Trundling!:eek:

[Matt Perkins]

Sounds good. How about an update on some of the other issues like the discussion of a porta-potty?

[Jonah Harrison]

I don't know if this would be an appropriate subject for this meeting, but I would bring it up myself if I could be there tonight: Any interest in talking about Goldbar?

I was talking with Dave and Cole last night, two of the main "developers" in the area, about the fact that it is threatened with closure because of the ORV use. Apparently, the land owner is thinking of selling it off, and the price Dave heard was $25,000. I have trouble believing that number - sounds too good to be true - but if it's accurate, that's not far off the Sam Hill price. But the added benefit would be closing the area to ORVers, which would preserve the watershed more, and also limit access to upper town wall, if I understand correctly where the road is. I am waiting to hear from Dave with more info, especially re ownership, but this is definitely something to consider. This could be a world class bouldering area very near to Seattle, and it could be preserved exclusively for non-motorized use, protecting watersheds, wildlife and timber. This would kill a lot of birds with one stone.

I don't want to get into a huge fight with the ORVers, but it is a winnable battle. We just won a case against their local "Access Fund" that was in litigation for over 2 years about use of funds in recreation areas that do not allow ORVs.

[DCramer]

I have trouble believing that price as well. If it is true, my guess would be that the State/County would be very interested in purchasing it. I mentioned the area to Shawn Tobin (Wallace Falls Park lead ranger)last night an he has not heard anything about a potential closure. Do you think Cole will be coming to the meeting?

[Jonah Harrison]

I don't think so. I will call Stone Gardens to see if he is working, though, and give him a heads up about it.

[Jonah Harrison]

What happened at the meeting?

[Matt Perkins]

The meeting went pretty well. We all agreed that there was no magic bullet that would fix the Upper Wall problem and that any incremental improvement would be great. The State Parks are repalcing the old signs warning of the dangers of rockfall. Here some of our not entirely original ideas:



1 Installing a barrier up in an attempt to reduce ORV traffic at the top of the cliff. Climbers should consider the possibility of making a financial contribution to the cause.



2 Meeting with representatives of the ORV user group (and perhaps the DNR) sounds like a great idea. We also were thinking about asking them if we could make a short presentation about climbing at one of their monthly meetings.



3 Zekes Wall/Goldbar Issue: In several areas ORV traffic is seriously eroding the roads used to access these crags. Climbers have also noted meeting up with groups of armed ORV enthusiasts who weren’t always following gun safety guidelines. No one has been threatened at all but people have felt a bit uncomfortable with the apparent lax attitude towards safety.



We also discussed the possibility that if the area around Deer Flat is turned into an “official” ORV area that access to the top of the wall be improved, a parking area graded and the current road converted into an official trail. The idea is that if more people were drawn into the area their presence would tend keep the wild behavior to a minimum.



A volunteer day at the beginning of May was proposed. If we can get the manpower, it would be nice to expand the cleanup to include some of the river access points.

[Porter Hammer]

I apologize for missing the meeting folks...sounds like some good progress was m ade. I'm definitely in for a May work party at Index, and can help in getting the word out...