Access Notes - Vol. 12 Winter
1995
Acquisitions
Safe Harbor,
PA
Efforts of the Friends of the Atglen-Susquehanna Trail (FAST) to
acquire
a 26-mile abandoned rail corridor which includes the climbing at
Safe
Harbor South recently stalled. During the past two years, FAST has
been
negotiating with local municipalities, Conrail and the PUC to gain
the approvals
and permits needed to proceed with the project.
Unfortunately, there has been
stiff resistance from the municipalities
because many of the local residents oppose
a trail in their backyard.
In a surprise turn of events, these municipalities have
begun
negotiating directly with Conrail to acquire the individual sections of
rail
line within their borders. If successful, they would not dedicate the
property to
recreation, but plan to install utility infrastructures or
sell the property to the
private landowners. Continued support of FASTs'
efforts is crucial to any hope of
preserving access to Safe Harbor.
Contact Access and Acquisitions Director Rick Thompson at
303.545.6772 to find out how you can help.
Golden Cliffs,
CO
In early 1996 local landowner and philanthropist Mayford Peery will
donate a second parcel to the Access Fund Land Foundation. This 12-acre
tract lies adjacent to and directly below the cliffs which he donated in
1995 and
will increase Access Fund land holdings here to 27 acres. The new
parcel will
provide an ideal location for a permanent climbers' parking
lot and trailhead facilities.
The existing parking lot is located in
an area slated for home construction and must
be abandoned. Additional
improvements planned for the permanent parking lot site
are a new access
trail to the cliffs, sanitary facilities and signage. In October the
Access Fund honored Mr. Peery for his outstanding generosity in donating
the cliffs
at North Table Mountain, enabling the preservation of this area
for future generations.
Contact Rick Thompson at the 303.545.6772
for more information.
Eagle Bluff, ME
Earlier this summer
Eagle Bluff, and the 276-acre tract it sits on, went
up for sale. Local
climbers quickly recognized the potential threat this posed
to longterm
climber access, and immediately mounted a campaign to purchase
the
property. For a short time there was uncertainty as to whether or not the
crag could be acquired but in mid-October local climber Don Nelligan was
able
to reach a purchase agreement with the seller. The Maine climbing
community
can breathe a sigh of relief as Nelligan's purchase will insure
that climber access
is protected. In addition, it is rumored that Nelligan
is considering options to sell
the cliff to the Clifton Climber's
Association for longterm ownership and management
of the property.
Call Paul First of the Clifton Climbers Association at 207.866.4895
with questions.
Next page - Area Reports
Back to Access Fund Index Page or Access Notes Vol. 12 - Contents.