Access Fund Conservation Team Sweeps the Nation

You've probably heard of the Access Fund and associate the name with preserving climbing access, dealing with land managers and government agencies, and generally taking care of the stuff you don't want to so you can keep climbing. They spend a lot of time pushing papers and speaking legalese to keep our crags open, but their newest endeavor involves a more grassroots approach. These guys are out there getting their hands dirty and breaking their backs to make your walk to the crag more pleasant. The Access Fund Conservation Team is a crew of folks that travel the country building trails. Their title sponsor, Jeep, gave them a Jeep Patriot that they use to pull their trailer full of shovels, rockbars, and other supplies, from crag to crag. It's an awesome project and their work is not going unnoticed.

The Access Fund Conservation Team drives around the country in a sweet-ass Jeep. Photo: Access Fund Website

They just finished up a two-week-long project at Summersville Lake, West Virginia, that turned a treacherous muddy hillside into a stone staircase that Julius Caesar would be proud of. Click the image below for video.

Driving the Jeep over the New River Gorge. Click for video.

The crew is currently on the way to work at Devil's Lake, Wisconsin. Follow their travels on their Facebook page here. Read about their mission at their website here and follow the links they provide. A few things to check out on their webpage:

They have a few videos of work they've done at the Red River Gorge, Joshua Tree, Granite Dells, Bishop, Jailhouse, and Rumbling Bald. Click here to see the work in action.

If your climbing area is in need of some serious work, you can request a visit. Click here to fill out the form and apply for their help.

And finally, if you're a climber and not a member of the Access Fund, consider joining. You'll feel good about yourself. Click here to become a member.