Index Climbing Fund

[Matt Perkins]

We hope to make the most of what is a frightening situation but also an opportunity: a possible crag purchase or crag closure. Many of the crags at Index are on public land, but the woman who owns the Lower Town Wall wants to sell and she fears that climbers threaten her property value. See our information page on this.

Be advised that the parking lot is no on her land. Nor is the Lower Lump (Beetle Bailey), the Country, the Upper Town Wall (and crags in between), The Cheeks, The Diamond, Rattletale, Private Idaho, or Lookout Point.

Crags on her property include the Inner Wall, K Cliff, Lower Lip, Great Northern Slab, Lower Town Wall, and The Quarry.

[Matt Schoellhamer]

I am currently unemployed (lots of free time) and have a fair amount of policy analysis and research experience. I also spend a significant percentage of my free time at the Lower Town Wall. I would love to help with whatever I can, and can do so on a completely volunteer basis.

[dave repnik]

I have two questions about this issue (I'm sure I'll have more soon).

- The BNSF Railway is in close proximity to the wall. Would this prohibit a quarry opperation, or would they have to pay for an easement with the railroad somehow?

- The North Fork of the Skykomish River is three hundred feet away from the LTW and I know that there are toxic substances used for quarrying. What are the modern environmental regulations in place regarding this?

Does anyone have answers? Let's get some discussion going!

[Ann Ziegler]

I wonder if this land-use shift is related to the logging threat the Index area faced recently, and how feasible it is to develop a productive, respectful dialog with Lower Town Wall owner like the Heybrook Ridge group did.

--Heybrook overview article:
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/367251_index17.html

--Heybrook advocacy organization:
http://www.heybrookridge.org/news/index.php

Plugging an article in local papers concerning this threat to a popular, historic regional climbing area might be beneficial. Organizations besides the climbing community that may be able to offer help could be the Cascade Land Conservancy and the Access Fund.

[SaraLingafelter]

Matt - please let me know if there's anything I can do to help?

Thanks... will keep an eye on cc and here...

[Jonah Harrison]

We are in discussions with the landowner, Patricia Murphy, about purchasing the property for climbers. I spoke with her on Monday (4/6) and discussed some details of a possible purchase. There are issues to be worked out, but as it stands, it looks like buying Index is a real possibility. We have a good relationship with Pat - she is a very nice lady and has no problem with climbers or climbing, per se, but is concerned only because miners told her they would not purchase the land for quarrying as long as climbers are there.

Based on recent discussions, we are very hopeful that we will be able to negotiate a reasonable sale. But heads up, climbers and Index lovers: to make this happen we're all going to have to chip in. If we all throw in the cost of a few days at the gym and beers afterward, we can buy the best crag in the western U.S. (in my opinion) and preserve it as a climbers' haven in perpetuity!

I will update as discussions progress.

[justin lewis]

I recently moved to Colorado and am worried for the future of Index. If I can help by providing any GIS or Map services for these efforts please let me know.

[Matt Perkins]

Hey thanks! If we are able to pull this think off there will almost certainly be a need for some good mapping and documentation of exactly where the parcel lies.

Presently I'm interested in finding an overview of the crags at Index, something like an aerial oblique or Joe Sambatoro provide a view from somewhere up on Mount Index but the shot wasn't taken for this purpose so it doesn't show the entire setting. I'm thinking that one part of any informative presentation connected with a possible fundraising effort will be a showing of where the parcel at issue here lies in relation to the surrounding area and a picture that shows the Lower Town Wall, Lower Lump, and Upper Town Wall with the river below them and maybe even the parking lot visible would be very useful. The straight-down views available in the GIS system are better for mapping, but harder to interpret in an immediate visual sense.

[justin lewis]

Originally Posted by Matt Perkins

Hey thanks! If we are able to pull this think off there will almost certainly be a need for some good mapping and documentation of exactly where the parcel lies.

Presently I'm interested in finding an overview of the crags at Index, something like an aerial oblique or Joe Sambatoro provide a view from somewhere up on Mount Index but the shot wasn't taken for this purpose so it doesn't show the entire setting. I'm thinking that one part of any informative presentation connected with a possible fundraising effort will be a showing of where the parcel at issue here lies in relation to the surrounding area and a picture that shows the Lower Town Wall, Lower Lump, and Upper Town Wall with the river below them and maybe even the parking lot visible would be very useful. The straight-down views available in the GIS system are better for mapping, but harder to interpret in an immediate visual sense.

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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.

[markhwebster]

I would also like to help. I've been going to index since the early eighties. Love the place. Before exit 38 it was all we had. I've heard people joke about how you have to go to Yosemite to train for Index...the rock is that good.

I used to know Larry Kemp and his wife Sue back in the day. Sue Kemp and I spent many the fine day at Index, Leavenworth and Yosemite. Sadly they are both dead now...

If you guys ever reach a point where you need a donation, let me know. I'm also a web designer if that helps any:
http://www.websterart.com/