Andy Fitz
02-26-2005, 11:39 AM
As many know, a lot of attention was focused last summer and fall on climbing issues at the Dishman cliff in Spokane. This culminated in a climber making a presentation about the issues at Dishman to the board of directors of the Hutchinson Irrigation District, which owns the cliff. This presentation led the board to ask other questions about allowing climbing at Dishman (such as whether they have potential liability). As a result, future access to the cliff is uncertain.
Marty Bland (Spokane climber & guidebook author), Steve Reynolds (Spokane climber & Spokane Mountaineers) and I have developed a letter of agreement for climbers to sign to bring an end to climber conflict at the cliff. The letter is addressed to the Irrigation District's board of directors. Here are the points of agreement in the letter:
1. We agree that Dishman should remain free of artificial holds.
2. We agree that because the rock has already been altered, holds already “chipped” on established routes at Dishman should be left undisturbed. This does not condone the further chipping of holds at Dishman, or anywhere else.
3. We agree that route names should be removed from the cliff face at Dishman, along with other (non-climber) graffiti.
4. We agree that as it exists as of the date of this letter, the bolting on established routes should remain unaltered. This includes no bolts on portions of Grape Ape, The Force, and Klingon. No further bolts should be added or removed from established routes, except as replacements (maintenance) for existing bolts.
5. We support (and request permission for) future climber-organized clean-up projects at the Dishman property, including route name and graffiti removal.
6. We ask that you work with representative climbing organizations such as the Access Fund (a national organization), the Washington Climbers Coalition (a statewide group), and the Spokane Mountaineers regarding any further climbing management concerns at Dishman.
We intend to deliver the letter to the Hutchinson Irrigation District to close the loop on the presentation last fall. We also intend to address other issues the board is concerned about (particularly liability).
The letter is posted at Wild Walls, Mountain Goat, and Mountain Gear. We hope Spokane climbers will sign on to help resolve climber conflict and support continued access to the Dishman cliff.
Andy Fitz, Washington Climbers Coalition
Marty Bland (Spokane climber & guidebook author), Steve Reynolds (Spokane climber & Spokane Mountaineers) and I have developed a letter of agreement for climbers to sign to bring an end to climber conflict at the cliff. The letter is addressed to the Irrigation District's board of directors. Here are the points of agreement in the letter:
1. We agree that Dishman should remain free of artificial holds.
2. We agree that because the rock has already been altered, holds already “chipped” on established routes at Dishman should be left undisturbed. This does not condone the further chipping of holds at Dishman, or anywhere else.
3. We agree that route names should be removed from the cliff face at Dishman, along with other (non-climber) graffiti.
4. We agree that as it exists as of the date of this letter, the bolting on established routes should remain unaltered. This includes no bolts on portions of Grape Ape, The Force, and Klingon. No further bolts should be added or removed from established routes, except as replacements (maintenance) for existing bolts.
5. We support (and request permission for) future climber-organized clean-up projects at the Dishman property, including route name and graffiti removal.
6. We ask that you work with representative climbing organizations such as the Access Fund (a national organization), the Washington Climbers Coalition (a statewide group), and the Spokane Mountaineers regarding any further climbing management concerns at Dishman.
We intend to deliver the letter to the Hutchinson Irrigation District to close the loop on the presentation last fall. We also intend to address other issues the board is concerned about (particularly liability).
The letter is posted at Wild Walls, Mountain Goat, and Mountain Gear. We hope Spokane climbers will sign on to help resolve climber conflict and support continued access to the Dishman cliff.
Andy Fitz, Washington Climbers Coalition