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CASA\u2019s Spring Newsletter is Here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is spring here? Maybe, maybe not\u2026 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\u2019t wait to tell you all about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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!<\/p>\n\n\n\nProjects<\/strong><\/summary>\n\n- 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.\n
\n- 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.\n
\n- 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\u2019re available to help. Volunteers make the world go \u2018round!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 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\u2019s where things stand currently:\n
\n- Based on the wide scope of comments from our community, CASA has taken a \u201cpreserve what we can\u201d 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:\n
\n- Our priorities are 1) parking for climbing areas, 2) signage for clarity and protection of climbers, 3) safe access and approaches to crags.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- CASA, along with the Access Fund, submitted our own comments and the comments from our community members during the open comment period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n
Upcoming Events<\/strong><\/summary>\n\n- Friday, May 1st, 6:30 pm: CASA Social at Onsite Brewing Company\n
\n- 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!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Saturday, June 27th, 11 am: Hatcher Pass Community Boulder Day, Archangel Valley\n
\n- 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!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bring climbing shoes, chalk, a crashpad if you have one, layers for ANY WEATHER, snacks, and water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 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!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Wednesday, August 5th, 5:30 pm: Ladies’ Crag Day\n
\n- 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Wednesday, August 19th, 6 pm: Annual Seward Highway Clean Up\n
\n- 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!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- We need lots of volunteers for this event. Call a friend, carpool, and help us be good stewards of the earth together.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n
Needs<\/strong><\/summary>\n\n- 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dirtbags don\u2019t despair! Money isn\u2019t the only way to make a difference \u2014 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 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!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n
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Thanks to everyone for the ongoing support and feedback, and stay safe out there in the snow and on the ice. We will see you all Friday, May 1st at Onsite Brewing to share stoke for the upcoming season!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Naomi Stock<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CASA Board President<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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