Area updates, videos, and more

Just a few quick updates of the goings on in SWVA:

Big fire out in Rockingham county...virtually shut out 2nd Mtn the other weekend. Apparently, it was impossible to boulder w/o a respirator.

Back in Giles, a far to common scenario in the South came to a conclusion. Mountain Lake, home to Dirty Dancing and a small collection of boulders has been under a temporary closure while access, liability, etc was evaluated by the land owners. Local climbers with the help and voice of the Mountain Lake Conservancy plead the case to the Board over the course of several months. Unfortunately, the board chose to make bouldering on the property an unsanctioned activity and now consider it prohibited.

To not end on a bummer...a few quick videos.


Freaks and Geeks from Donald  Glover on Vimeo.


VIDEO PROFILE: BD athlete Fred Nicole bouldering in Switzerland from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.


Better Than Chocolate // Trailer from Haroun Souirji on Vimeo.


Another dS video to come next week! More Moore's...

Mtn Lake Access

 Access to climbing areas in the southeast is not a given; many areas face threatening access issues while others have already been closed. Unfortunately our local areas are no exception.  As of the dated email below, the Mountain Lake Conservancy has asked that all climbing cease till further notice.  Once the Mountain Lake Conservancy has come to a conclusion on what forms of recreation are allowed on the property, a notice will be sent out.

As we work towards gaining access to this local resource as a user group, following their request is of the utmost importance.  As opportunities arise for a club or individual to help in the process, we will post it up ASAP.  In the meantime, feel free to post questions in the "comments" and we'll get back to you quickly.

Thanks having patience as we try to regain access to a unique resource here in SWVa.

-----Original Message-----
From: Emily Woodall at Mountain Lake  

Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 3:50 PM
Subject: To the Local Bouldering Community

Greetings from the Mountain Lake Conservancy.  I wanted to give you a heads up regarding our land use policy for our 2,600 acres of private property.  It is the Conservancy’s mission to further Mary Moody Northen’s desire to forge bonds between people and nature in Mountain Lake’s unique environment.  We also have a commitment to provide accessibility to all.  With that said, we want to make sure that our property is accessible to all community users.  Recently we have run into some issues with liability and what sports/activities are allowed on Conservancy property and are working to clear this up. 

Our current rules now allow trail users to access our trails year round by paying our $3.00 donation per vehicle.  During the months that the hotel is open, you are welcome to park in the main hotel parking lot.  We have also built a new trail parking lot located 1 mile past the hotel on the right that is open year round.  You are not allowed to park near the Newport House or any other undesignated areas.

Because we are private property, we are not responsible for your well-being and users are at their own risk when recreating at Mountain Lake.  This fall we are holding a meeting with the MLC Board to discuss our land use policies, liability, insurance etc.  We want to clear up any gray areas so that all community users are clear on what activities are allowed on property.  I will keep you updated through this process. 

In the meantime, please limit your activities at Mountain Lake until we have a comprehensible policy in place that we can share with you.  I will keep you updated with this progression.

Thanks and please email me if you have further questions. 

Emily Woodall

Managing Director
Mountain Lake Conservancy

www.MtnLakeConservancy.org
540.626.7121 x444