Save this crag!
The Lower Town Wall at Index.
(Photo courtesy of ericandlucie.com.)
Click the "donate" button to go to PayPal.com and make a donation via credit card. You do not need to have or establish a PayPal account to do this.
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For a limited time, we are offering gifts to those who make a $300 or $50 donation through
this link.
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Goal:
The Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC) is raising $300,000 to buy the Lower Town Wall and surrounding crags near Index,
Washington. The Lower Town wall is Washington’s most famous crag and climbers have been climbing here for nearly fifty
years; a year ago it was threatened with closure and even possible quarrying but instead we plan to preserve it as a climbing park.
We also seek to upgrade the parking lot and install a toilet facility, two simple improvements that have long been sought
by Index climbers. These actions will enhance the area and preserve climbing access while contributing to overall conservation
efforts in the Skykomish Valley.
The Climbing.
The cliffs and crags surrounding the town of Index have long offered some of the best granite climbing in Washington.
The Lower Town Wall is the gem of the area and has been touted as one of the best climbing crags in the United States. Several
years ago the British climbing magazine Mountain declared it one of the top 10 crags in North America and it remains a vibrant hub
for local and visiting climbers.
The climbing is diverse in both difficulty and style and there is truly something for every rock climber at the Lower Town
Wall and its satellite cliffs. This is the only year round granite climbing in the State.
See King 5 TV story and video showing climbing at Index.
Why Now?
In the early 1900's the quarry at Index literally helped to build the foundation of Seattle and rock quarried there was
used in the construction of buildings throughout Puget Sound. Climbers discovered the Town Walls soon after quarry operations
stopped and have enjoyed climbing there for 50 years.
In March of 2009 the owner put up no trespassing signs because she was prepared to market the area to interested quarry operators.
Seeking to prevent any quarrying and loss of climbing access, the Washington Climbers Coalition secured an option to purchase this
property in May of 2009. We also obtained the owner's commitment to allow climbing to continue while we raise the money to buy her
land.
See 2009 article appearing in Everett Herald newspaper.
July 2010 Update
As of July 2010 we have raised $233,000 toward our project goal of $300,000. We are very excited to be nearing our goal and are planning
a celebration out at Index for September 2010.
It’ll Be A Climbing Park Forever!
Forks of the Sky State Park presently contains other cliffs near the Lower Town Wall and park managers have been very supportive of
rock climbing. We seek a legal agreement that will provide for permanent preservation and operation of the area as a climbing park
and then we propose to turn the land over to State Parks. This scenic backdrop to the town of Index will be preserved and this
outstanding crag will be saved.
More on State Park as goal.
Stimson Bullitt: an inspiration.
We hope to name our new climbing park after Stimson Bullit, a climber who died last year and who was very impressed with the Lower
Town Wall at Index. He took up climbing at age 70 and was a frequent fixture at Washington crags in recent years. He climbed at
Index Town Wall in his eighties. "Stim" was enthusiastic about all things climbing and always a pleasure to meet at the crags.
Donate OnLine or by Mail; Contact by Internet or Phone.
Click the "donate” button at left to go to PayPal, an on-line credit card processing website. Checks can be mailed to the address
shown above. Send messages to IndexFund@washingtonclimbers.org
and send general inquiries about the Washington Climbers Coalition or other access issues in Washington to
Info@washingtonclimbers.org. Telephone us at (206) 664-2517.
Donations are Tax Deductible.
The Washington Climbers Coalition is a non-profit public charity, qualified as a 501(c)(3) organization with the Internal Revenue Service. Our EIN is 42-1644686. Talk to your tax preparer for more information on this. |
