Index Climbing Fund

[justin lewis]

Originally Posted by justin lewis

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An oblique would be pretty difficult. I am not sure if oblique imagery has been produced for the area by local government but i am sure that it wouldn't be the appropriate angle that you want. I suppose to achieve that goal we need to get someone with a really good camera.
A map might achieve the same informational goal but wouldn't give the same visual effect unless an oblique could be incorporated. However, that could make the map require someone to sit down and try to interpret the information. Unfortunately, not everyone who makes decisions cares that much.

Who is the primary audience?

A map and oblique combination could be useful for a fundraising effort.

Feel free to contact me directly to discuss more details if necessary.

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I checked in with all the local agencies that might have oblique imagery and no one had anything for our purpose. It looks like we need to put the word out for someone who has the ambition to try and use a camera to achieve the same goal.

[DCramer]

The Access Fund announced today that an option agreement to purchase the 20-acre private inholding at the Lower Index Town Walls of Snohomish County, Washington has been secured. This popular climbing area boasts several hundred quality granite climbing routes and is only an hour drive from Seattle. Its proximity to a major metropolitan area and its short 5-minute approach from the trailhead make this cliff line a popular after work or after school climbing destination for the Seattle-Everett area.

The Lower Index Town Wall was closed earlier this year when local climbers saw No Trespassing signs suddenly posted around the cliff. The private landowner revoked access to the property after quarrying companies began displaying renewed interest in quarrying and granite removal. The structure of ownership for the property changed to a limited liability corporation, and the landowner began negotiations for sale of the property to two interested quarrying companies.

Upon news of this from the landowner, climbers quickly turned this threat into an opportunity. The Access Fund and Washington Climbers Coalition rallied together to research quarry regulations, comparable sales, and title history to determine the best path forward. Negotiations soon began to determine a fair market price and terms for a potential acquisition of the property by the climbing community. Jonah Harrison, member of the Washington Climbers Coalition and volunteer regional coordinator for the Access Fund led negotiations with the landowner, with support from Joe Sambataro, Access Director at the Access Fund. Matt Perkins, Darryl Cramer, and Andy Fitz of Washington Climbers Coalition also played critical support roles.

After weeks of negotiations, the landowner agreed to an initial payment of $10,000 for an Option Agreement to purchase the property within 18 months. This agreement gives the Washington Climbers Coalition the sole right to purchase the property for long-term management, or assign the property to Washington State Parks. This option payment is made possible by a loan from the Access Fund, giving the Washington Climbers Coalition and the local climbing community the time and ability to fundraise toward a set goal. The American Alpine Club, as well as countless others, have offered their fundraising expertise to help complete the purchase. The Access Fund will continue to play a lead role with the Washington Climbers Coalition in transaction management, title work, and fundraising.

While the Option Agreement is secured and purchase price is set, there are other longer term issues that need to be addressed at this popular cliff. “Project Index” will address proper sanitation and parking. A preliminary wetland study is already underway to determine if a new parking area and vault toilet can be located on State Park land in a central area for access to both the Lower Wall and Upper Wall.

Announcements of the final fundraising goal are expected to be released by August of this year. In the meantime, the private landowner has agreed to reinstate public access during the 18-month option period, a privilege the climbing community can appreciate as summer in the Pacific Northwest unfolds.
For more information, contact Jonah Harrison at jonahv10@gmail.com or Joe Sambataro at joe@accessfund.org. Visit www.washingtonclimbers.org for new updates.

History of the area
The Lower Index Town Wall and surrounding cliffs have a climbing history going back nearly 50 years. The cliffs are beloved by sport climbers, traditional climbers, aid climbers and boulderers alike. Throughout the early part of the 20th century, the landowner’s family quarried parts of the Lower Town Wall for granite until the Burlington Northern railroad moved closer to the wall in the 1960s. Quarrying was put on hold, but ownership was maintained by the family heirs. Initial attempts were made by Washington State Parks and the Access Fund in 1999 to transfer the property to state park ownership, yet its high potential mineral value impeded any action at the time.

Finally!

[Matt Perkins]

On Monday, June 1, we actually received the signed "option" from the owner of the Lower Town Wall at Index. I went to the bank that afternoon and ordered electronic payment of the down payment, and the owner received that payment yesterday. We also recorded the option agreement in Snohomish County property records yesterday. It's official!

[Matt Perkins]

August 1, 2009 Index Fund Update
Since our purchase of the option to buy the Lower Town Wall, which was formalized on June 1, 2009, the Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC) has made considerable headway toward getting our fund-raising effort under way. Local vendor Feathered Friends conducted a fundraiser in our benefit even before the ink had dried on our option and the level of interest from the community has been truly outstanding.

The WCC was already established as a 501(c)(3) organization with the Internal Revenue Service but we have also completed the registration as a public charity with the Washington Secretary of State. We have convened a fundraising committee, established a dedicated bank account for the Index Fund and have obtained credit card processing services through PayPal. We have produced and printed fund-raising brochures and placed a PDF copy of them on our website where it is available for download if the actual link or URL address is provided. We are in the process of preparing a fund-raising plan and a set of guidelines for third party fund-raisers who are helping make this truly a community effort.

The Washington Climbers Coalition has received some exciting support from a variety of groups including the American Alpine Club, the Access Fund, Feathered Friends, and Outdoor Research. Other vendors and local climbing gyms have also expressed interest in supporting this project. As of last week we had received over $4,000 through our paypal account and at least another $8,500 in checks. We had also received verbal commitments for at least $15,000.00 more in donations from climbers familiar with the Index Town Wall. We had received all of this despite the fact that we have not yet really embarked on any significant publicity effort.

Outdoor Research is planning a fund-raising event for later this month and other events are lining up for September and beyond and we will be undertaking more marketing and direct solicitation as we proceed.

[Matt Perkins]

We have raised over $235,000 so far and are steadily marching toward our project goal. Index is going to be secured and we are excited to be discussing the next steps:

1. Celebrate! We hope to have a celebration at Index in September.

2. Establish a Plan for the Long Term. We are presently discussing the potential delivery of this property to Washington State Parks. There are a variety of concerns here and among others we want to be sure that Index will remain open to climbers and accessible, year-round, forever. We believe that climbing of the scale and nature that has taken place for 50 years at Index is consistent with broader concerns for safety, environmental impact, open space, and recreational access.

Thanks to all who have contributed to or volunteered for this effort (or who still may yet do so).