Back by popular demand, the OAC’s ‘Ontario Crags’ calendar for 2014 is now available at Mountain Equipment Coop in Toronto, Barrie, and Burlington! Featuring images of Ontario’s amazing bouldering, rock and ice climbing crags, the calendar makes a great gift for any climber on your list. A big thanks to all of you who submitted photos. And thanks for your support of the OAC through your purchase! Here’s a sneak preview:
The OAC continues to increase its visibility among stakeholders by participating at this year’s Niagara Escarpment Leading Edge Conference, held October 24 at Country Heritage Park in Milton, Ontario. The Niagara Escarpment Commission hosted the conference in partnership with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act (NEPDA). The NEPDA aims, in part, to provide for outdoor recreation. Stakeholders at the event included the Niagara Escarpment Commission, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Parks, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and Parks Canada. Presentations and panel discussions ranged from how to revitalize quarry sites to the intangible values of Escarpment lands.
At the conference, the OAC displayed its informational bouldering poster, typically housed at the Niagara Glen Nature Center. The poster generated a lot of interest in the state of climbing in Ontario and the OAC’s role in protecting climbing environments. Overall, the conversations were progressive and positive. The OAC hopes that continued representation at this conference will bolster collaborative efforts between climbers and land managers in Ontario to make climbing a more sustainable and accepted form of outdoor recreation along the Niagara Escarpment.
The first annual Beaver Valley Climbing Festival (BVCF) took place on August 24th at Metcalfe Rock with great support from organizations in the climbing community and local business from the Beaver Valley area. The event was embraced by a great turnout of local climbers and local community who enjoyed outdoor climbing, slacklining and yoga clinics. A friendly outdoor competition format, aerial silk performance, bike demos, and professional massages all were very popular. Once the sun set, the evening featured generous prize draws, live music and catered food and camping at The Rob Roy Dogsled Farm.
The whole event was the brain child of Jennie Elmslie (Free Spirit Tours) and Leslie Timms (On The Rocks Climbing) who pulled it together in only about
two months. The $4500 in funds raised from the event benefited the Ontario Access Coalition whose mission is to preserve and promote sustainable access to Ontario climbing resources. The OAC has already lined the funds up for a special project in partnership with Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources to help ensure the sustainability of climbing in Kolapore Uplands where the festival occurred.
Major sponsorship for the event that made it all possible was provided by Joe Rockheads and Boulderz Climbing Centre, with a long list of other organizations providing needed support. Immediately upon the events conclusion talk turned to not only the great success, but excitement about next year’s festival! For more information about the Beaver Valley Climbing Festival please visit www.beavervalleyclimbingfestival.com
It’s that time of year again! We are working on the OAC Ontario crags calendar for 2014 and we need your fantastic photos! Send us your best pics of climbing (ice, trad, sport, bouldering) in Ontario. Note: they need to be in landscape format (i.e. horizontal). Email them to Bonnie at bonniedb @ hotmail.com. If your photo is selected, not only will you be helping out the OAC, you will get your calendar for free!
As of August 16th, 2013 the two year trial period for purchasing bouldering permits at the Niagara Glen has lapsed. If you have not done so already, make sure to purchase your bouldering permit before bouldering at the Niagara Glen. Your cooperation is critical for climbers and the OAC to maintain a positive relationship with the NPC. If you are approached by NPC personnel, please gladly show them your permit and encourage others to do the same. The NPC made this decision in concert with OAC representatives and the OAC continues to support the NPC in its environmental and recreation sustainability efforts. Bouldering without a permit may result in loss of bouldering privileges. For details see the attached NPC press release: 2013-Bouldering in the Niagara Glen (NPC Press Release)
Official NPC bouldering rules and permit information can be found here: http://www.niagaraparksnature.com/things-to-do/bouldering.html
As always, make sure to practice ‘Leave No Trace’ principles and help educate other users to mitigate potential environmental impacts to the Niagara Glen.
An opportunity to secure access to Old Baldy has arisen—the OAC and the ACC Toronto Section have been in discussions with the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority(GSCA) on the subject of land acquisition. We hope to find suitable large-scale donors to raise half of the purchase price of land next to the crag. If you, or someone you know, can help us by leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of climbers, please contact the OAC immediately. For detailed information, see attached PDF letter here: OAC – Old Baldy – Land Acquisition
The OAC and the MNR are looking to collaborate on a joint project towards the assessment the area known as “the Swamp”. This assessment will consist of the following goals:
a) an assessment of natural heritage resources of the cliff and climbing staging areas. The goal is to have this assessment conducted by Masters level Academic Professionals. Input from local climbers on specific climber use patterns and from Brock University
b) Development of a plan for the ongoing management of climbing activities at “the Swamp” including maintenance, trails, signage, etc. to help ensure “Leave no trace” climbing practices are followed
c) Creation of a research paper to help share the findings and success of the project and collaborative management practices
The OAC and MNR look forward to working together closely on the project to ensure that the ongoing use of the area for rock climbing meets the natural heritage protection goals of the MNR while providing excellent opportunities for safe and leave no trace rock climbing.
Funds raised from the upcoming Beaver Valley Climbing Festival will be used to sponsor this project (buy tickets HERE). Thank you to the “Team” – The climbing community, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Brock University and The Beaver Valley Climbing Festival for making this project possible.
The OAC and the MNR are looking to collaborate on a joint project towards the assessment the area known as “the Swamp”. This assessment will consist of the following goals:
a) an assessment of natural heritage resources of the cliff and climbing staging areas. The goal is to have this assessment conducted by Masters level Academic Professionals. Input from local climbers on specific climber use patterns and from Brock University
b) Development of a plan for the ongoing management of climbing activities at “the Swamp” including maintenance, trails, signage, etc. to help ensure “Leave no trace” climbing practices are followed
c) Creation of a research paper to help share the findings and success of the project and collaborative management practices
The OAC and MNR look forward to working together closely on the project to ensure that the ongoing use of the area for rock climbing meets the natural heritage protection goals of the MNR while providing excellent opportunities for safe and leave no trace rock climbing.
Funds raised from the upcoming Beaver Valley Climbing Festival will be used to sponsor this project (buy tickets HERE). Thank you to the “Team” – The climbing community, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Brock University and The Beaver Valley Climbing Festival for making this project possible.