From the linked article:


Talk is cheap.

it certainly is, my friend, including your very constructive comment you have made.

Hi Chris,

Your sarcasm might make sense if you or the GCC had done something constructive to promote good relationships between the climbing community and private landowners with climbable cliff face, but you haven't.

Do I have to point out the dereliction of the the GCC again? Prior to the cliff closure in the Nears, no one from the GCC approached any private landowner in the Nears, Bayards or at Millbrook. After the Nears closure, you contacted that one landowner but it was, of course, too late.

Astonishingly, you and your fellow board members at the GCC have yet to contact any other private landowner at the aforementioned three cliffs.

Why?

do you have anything of substance to contribute to the topic that I originally posted, Kent?

if not, you can please take your rants elsewhere. you are a sorry, bitter pathetic old man. we are proud of our accomplishments and have done nothing but good for our community. we have received accolades and awards for our work. what good have you contributed to the community, Dude? posts like these really show your true colors.

Chris,

The link in your original post contains public relations spin, which deserves to be challenged.

If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

Edited to add:

And really Chris, as the chair of the GCC, the local organization supposedly promoting climbing access, and the local representative of the Access Fund, you should be able to engage in a public dialog without having a vitriolic meltdown.

there is no spin that I can see. your caustic remark, was not appropriate and not appreciated. it is typical of your inane and small minded attacks which obviously are the result of you sitting around with time on your hands and nothing better to do.

and, since you bring it up, I am no longer chair of the GCC. we have some new blood taking over, and they will do an excellent job of continuing the organization's tradition of service. I am no longer the AF representative, the site is not updated.

I'm sure that you will continue jeering from the sidelines, but know that has never distracted the GCC from our mission.

I posted this thread with the link because it is the result of a lot of personal time and hard work for me and our other members over the last 8 years, and it is with a good sense of closure that I do so.

while I'm at this I also want to thank everyone who has helped us with this project over the last 8 years, from Pat McDonough Town of Rosendale Town Board, to Rich Gottlieb of Rock and Snow, many many local climbers and boulderers, Open Space Institute and the Mohonk Preserve.

First, if you don't want your posts or your opinions to be challenged, don't post them on an open discussion forum. That you don't see spin reflects you're biased perspective. Another perspective might hold there is a lot of spin in the line I quoted up-thread, considering the number of climbers who feel as though they are entitled to climb on private land, and how little the GCC and The Access Fund have done to foster a respectful relationship between climbers and private landowners.


That you have stepped down from being chair, just one year into your current two-year term, is news. Why isn't this posted anywhere? Who is the new chair? Why is the climbing community so often kept in the dark by the organization that represents them? Regarding traditions, hopefully any new blood on the board won't continue the tradition of not speaking with landowners in the Nears, Bayards, and at Millbrook.


It's interesting that you consider valid questions and commentary jeers. For example, just what is the GCC's Mission? I've asked previously how an organization started by trad climbers for trad climbing access, specifically Skytop access, has become about raising money to give to the Preserve so they can afford to manage a bouldering area. Bouldering seems great, but it also seems as though the GCC mission has crept a great deal since its inception.


That's great Chris but it's unfortunate however, for all involved, that a lasting part of your legacy is also a broken relationship between some private landowners and the Mohonk Preserve, including some climbers. A broken relationship that has resulted in the closure of five pieces of land so far, resulting in 1700' of the Millbrook Ridge Trail being rerouted off private land, and 900' of climbable cliff face being closed to climbing, including the chunk in the Nears.

Lastly Chris, if you want to discus this or anything else in a respectful manner, I'm all for it. You're personal attacks, however, say much more about you than they do me, and also they only detract from the points you are trying to make.

"The area is bounded by private land and respect for these
boundaries is essential if we are to enjoy the privilege of climbing here, as everywhere, when private residences are so close."

There has already been a police report filed for repeated trespass violations....

Thanks,MPNA

nice. I am happy to personally take the blame for every single thing that has gone wrong in the Gunks for the last 10 years. excellent awesome post there. none of this surprises me, of course... : )