Newsletter

CASA’s Fall-ish Newsletter is Here!

Well, well, well… what a summer! And no, summer isn’t over yet, but it is time for some updates. Thank you to every single one of you that came out to our events, whether that meant standing in the rain, relocating to the rock gym, or spending your energy on manual labor before the climbing began. When I put it like that, I can’t believe you actually showed up! We had fun though, and we hope you did too.

Keep reading to hear about how it all went, updates on the Safer Seward Highway Project, and how to stay informed on all things CASA through the winter. And don’t forget to read to the end to hear how you can help our cause!

Projects

• We did it!! You did it!!
  • In July, CASA board members, former board members, community volunteers,  and even out-of-town visitors got together to install the new composting toilet for Archangel Valley. KTUU even did a funny little bit about the toilet, found here. The project was completed over the course of two days, involved over 15 volunteers, and one very useful mobile welding truck. Since install day, CASA members have been making trips out there when possible to add little improvements, like a toilet paper holder and some very fancy signs.
  • This project was made possible by Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, Access Fund, and supporters like you.
• This summer we also:
  • Gathered to share stoke and ideas at Onsite Brewing at the beginning of season, followed by an enthusiastic climbing trivia event cumulating in a tie-breaking pull-up contest, and a showing of “The Developer” in collaboration with AK Dirtbag Co and Chossworks;
  • Were overwhelmingly rained out of our annual Hatcher Pass Community Boulder Day, which didn’t stop us from giving out (slightly soggy) prizes to our most enthusiastic attendees;
  • Were aaalso rained out of Ladies’ Crag Day, though we were able to move it to the rock gym and still get in some vertical feet, make some new friends, and give away snacks, all in collaboration with Women Climbing AK;
  • Met up with volunteers to pick up trash at the Sunshine Ridge parking lot, where we had our annual Seward Highway Cleanup (and unofficial Biggest Piece of Trash Contest).

Updates

• Let’s talk Safer Seward Highway:
  • The Safer Seward Highway (SSH) Project has been approved for funding from the Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS) plan. The way that it happened was a little… murky, and without clear public communication, but the project is scheduled for another open comment period from September 22 until October 22.
  • There will also be a public meeting on September 22rd, at the Anchorage Loussac Library, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
• So, what’s CASA doing about it?
  • 1. Attending the public meeting, well-informed on the perspectives and priorities of our community.
    • In an effort to be as prepared as possible for this meeting and the subsequent comment period, CASA has prepared a survey for you. It shouldn’t take long, and will allow us to best represent you. The survey can be found here.
      • Oh, and if you complete the survey, you’ll be entered to win a prize! Drawing will be at the end of the public comment period.
  • 2. Accumulating comments.
    • Any community members who wish to, can send their comments to CASA to be sent to the SSH team on their behalf.
    • Send comments to climbersallianceak@gmail.com with the subject line “Comments”.
  • Submitting our own comment.
    • Based on the survey results and collaboration with advocacy experts at the Access Fund, we will be drafting and submitting our own public comment.
• In other news…
  • CASA has an empty board seat (or two) available! Ideally, we would like to fill the role of Treasurer and have someone who manages public communications/social media.
    • Ideal board members are reliable, amicable, and love our climbing community!
    • Shoot us an email to hear more about our bylaws and what to expect.

Needs

• This is the hard part, but CASA is 100% dependent on donations to operate. Financial donations help us pay boring fees to the state, buy snacks for events, print marketing materials, provide equipment and materials for projects, and so much more. You can donate at the button below, or by becoming an Access Fund member and choosing the Joint Membership option (designate CASA as your Local Climbing Organization).
• CASA does not pay any employees or board members – all funds go toward projects and administration costs.
• Dirtbags don’t despair! Money isn’t the only way to make a difference — your time is so valuable to us. Volunteers make the world go ‘round! Reach out!
• We are also currently asking for photo donations for use on our social media, website, and marketing materials. Any and all photos of climbers or climbing areas in Southcentral Alaska are super helpful!
• Have a skill or a business that you want to use to help CASA? Website design, art, graphic design, and prize donation are just a few of our needs, but we welcome support in nearly every form! Email us at climbersallianceak@gmail.com to collaborate.

Naomi Stock

CASA Board President

CASA’s Spring Newsletter is Here!

Is spring here? Maybe, maybe not… but we have a brand new newsletter hot off the presses for you anyway! Here at the Climbers Alliance, we have been getting ready for an exciting summer, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

First things first, thanks to the Alaska Rock Gym for hosting us at their annual Frigid Flash, and to everyone that participated in our games upstairs at the booth, and signed up for our email list. Congratulations to Caitlin, who won our prize of two beautifully handmade pinch blocks, donated by Jason Strandir.

Keep reading to hear about our biggest project to date, summer events, updates on the Safer Seward Highway Project, and more, all happening this summer!

Projects

• The time has come my friends. The marmot-infested outhouse at the end of Archangel Road, which has been a meeting point and a staple of climbing trips in Archangel Valley for years, is getting a much needed upgrade.
  • CASA was awarded two grants, by the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation and by the Rasmuson Foundation, to replace the pit-style outhouse with a new, shiny composting toilet! This new toilet will require much less maintenance, and will be more capable of handling the increased volume of visitors to Archangel Valley that we have been seeing in recent years.
    • We are going to be in Archangel Valley a LOT as soon as the road opens to get this project completed, so feel free to reach out at climbersallianceak@gmail.com if you’re available to help. Volunteers make the world go ‘round!
• In other news, the communication between climbers and the engineers working on the Safer Seward Highway Project is an ongoing priority of CASA. Since 2022, we have been attending public hearings and private meetings with the Safer Seward Highway team. Here’s where things stand currently:
  • Based on the wide scope of comments from our community, CASA has taken a “preserve what we can” stance, with the safety of climbers as our highest priority. Our feedback to the Safer Seward Highway Project has been, and will continue to be, the following:
    • Our priorities are 1) parking for climbing areas, 2) signage for clarity and protection of climbers, 3) safe access and approaches to crags.
    • We are advocating for climbing areas with more traffic, such as Pivot Point, Sunshine Ridge, and Boy Scout Rock, to be preserved at the cost of smaller, less trafficked crags, if necessary.
  • The Safer Seward Highway Project has used our information to create a useful webpage specifically for climbers to understand the potential impacts as the project currently stands.
  • CASA, along with the Access Fund, submitted our own comments and the comments from our community members during the open comment period.
• We will continue to monitor the project, and maintain open and frequent communication with the engineers in charge. Feel free to submit comments to climbersallianceak@gmail.com for future inclusion in comment submission, and so that we can better represent the opinions of all of our community members.

Upcoming Events

• Friday, May 1st, 6:30 pm: CASA Social at Onsite Brewing Company
  • Come grab a drink with the board members of the Climbers Alliance to celebrate the beginning of the Southcentral Alaska climbing season, hear about our projects, make suggestions, and meet new climbing partners for the upcoming season! We will be upstairs from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm at the taproom, right down the street from the Alaska Rock Gym. Onsite sells beer and nonalcoholic beverages, and the event is open to climbers of all ages. Well-behaved dogs welcome!
• Saturday, June 27th, 11 am: Hatcher Pass Community Boulder Day, Archangel Valley
  • CASA is hosting our annual Community Boulder Day again! Join us in Archangel Valley, Hatcher Pass for a fun day of bouldering outside for new and experienced climbers alike. This event is a way for everyone to enjoy the abundance of boulders of varying difficulty, cheer each other on, make new friends, and have a great day out in the pass together!
  • Bring climbing shoes, chalk, a crashpad if you have one, layers for ANY WEATHER, snacks, and water.
  • Alaskan Dirtbag Company is generously sponsoring this event for the second year in a row to help ensure that we have enough crash pads for everyone. Don’t forget to thank Emma and Chris for their generosity next time you see them!
• Wednesday, August 5th, 5:30 pm: Ladies’ Crag Day
  • Calling all femme climbers! CASA is getting the girls together to climb and lift each other up (wink, wink) for an evening. We will meet at 5:30 p.m. Location TBD. All experience levels are welcome! Bring shoes, a harness, and a helmet.
• Wednesday, August 19th, 6 pm: Annual Seward Highway Clean Up
  • Every year we gather in the Sunshine Ridge parking lot on the Seward Highway to pick up trash at Sunshine Ridge and the surrounding crags, as well as on the roadside and around the parking area. Depending on attendance, we would also like to disperse and visit the other crags in the area. CASA provides trash bags and gloves! Bring appropriate footwear and dress for the weather!
  • We need lots of volunteers for this event. Call a friend, carpool, and help us be good stewards of the earth together.

Needs

• This is the hard part, but CASA is 100% dependent on donations to operate. Financial donations help us pay boring fees to the state, buy snacks for events, print marketing materials, provide equipment and materials for projects, and so much more. You can donate at the ‘Make A Donation’ tab of the website.
• Dirtbags don’t despair! Money isn’t the only way to make a difference — your time is so valuable to us. We need volunteers at all of our summer projects, especially to help install the new outhouse and for the Seward Highway Cleanup.
• We are also currently asking for photo donations for use on our social media, website, and marketing materials. Any and all photos of climbers or climbing areas in Southcentral Alaska are super helpful!
• Have a skill or a business that you want to use to help CASA? Website design, art, graphic design, and prize donation are just a few of our needs, but we welcome support in nearly every form! Email us at climbersallianceak@gmail.com to collaborate.

Naomi Stock

CASA Board President