Issue

Climbing access issues arose in 1996 in the Red River Gorge portion of the Daniel Boone National Forest, leading to the founding of the Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition in November of 1996. Recognizing that climbing access is a privilege, not a right, the RRGCC seeks to promote responsible climbing and strives to build and maintain positive relationships with public land managers and private land owners who have control over climbing areas.

Response

"If we own it, they can't close it." Knowing that climbing access is always at the discretion of the owner, the RRGCC took the bold step in 2004 of directly purchasing 750 acres of land in Lee County, Kentucky and created the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve.  Once this final payment was made, the RRGCC was then presented with the opportunity to purchase another 309 acres: the Miller Fork Recreational Preserve! We have 2 more $40,000 payments to make on the MFRP, and it will be protected for rock climbers in perpetuity - and we can only do it with your help!