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| -- | | | | Temperature: 42.3°F | Humidity: 94% | Pressure: 30.06in (Rising) | Conditions: Partly Cloudy | Wind Direction: ESE | Wind Speed: 0.0mph |
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CLIMBER'S COALITION CEMENTS THE DEAL
"Lower Index Town Wall" rock climbing area to be preserved for furure generations
August 29, 2010
 Climber on Lower Index Town Wall in Index, WA. Photo courtesy Washington Climbers Coalition. Photo by: Larry Kemp, Larry Kemp Collection. CLICK TO ENLARGE
“Climbers have been working for more than fifteen years to buy the Lower Town Wall” said Darryl Cramer, a WCC board member and guidebook author who has climbed at the Lower Town Wall for nearly 30 years. “We’ve pulled it off and ensured that the Lower Town Wall will remain open to climbing forever.”
The Lower Town Wall is Washington’s most famous climbing destination apart from Mount Rainier. This preservation effort enhances open space protection and recreational opportunities along the Highway 2 corridor.
The Lower Town Wall stands on private property and is the site of a former quarry. In the spring of 2009, the private owner posted the property with “No Trespassing” signs and began shopping the property for renewed quarrying.
With the help of a loan from the Access Fund (a national climbing advocacy group), the WCC purchased an option from the owner and has now raised sufficient funds to exercise that option.
Over 400 individual donors contributed to the campaign.
A dozen businesses and several local climbing clubs have donated directly or held fundraising activities for this effort.
Having already raised enough money to buy the property, the WCC has elected to exercise its option early.
The WCC is continuing its campaign to meet or exceed its $300,000 fundraising goal, which will allow for capital improvements and long-term maintenance of the property.
The WCC is also working with Washington State Parks on a possible donation of the property to State Parks.
Washington State Parks already owns most of the property adjacent to the Lower Town Wall, including property containing the Upper Town Wall, which is another popular climbing destination. Snohomish County Parks has also expressed interest in the property in the event a transfer to State Parks is not possible.
A CELEBRATION PLANNED FOR INDEX IN SEPTEMBER
The WCC plans to celebrate its success at Index next month.
The event will dedicate the acquisition in the name of Stimson Bullitt (1919-2009), a prominent Seattle attorney, businessperson, and civic leader who in his later years developed a passion for rock climbing, including at Index.
All donors, climbers, and the general public are invited to the Index Fund 2010 celebration in the town park at Index, Washington, September 19, 2010, noon to 9:00 p.m.
Admission will be free and activities will include a barbeque, dedication ceremony, and slideshow.
The cliffs will be open for climbing and, at one cliff outside town two local climbing guide services propose to offer climbing opportunities that at least in part should be suitable for those with no prior experience.
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.
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