Carl Marrs
For a few days in late August, a group of students from our Mountaineers Adventure Club (MAC) joined the Access Fund's Conservation Team for stewardship work at Washington Pass. The project improved the well-used, but ill-maintained climber’s path that branches off of the Blue Lake Trail to access climbs on Liberty Bell, one of Washington’s most coveted and impressive peaks.
The trip contributed to the Liberty Bell Conservation Initiative, a two-year project to restore the eroding slopes leading to classic climbs like the Beckey Route and the West Face of North Early Winter Spire. The Mountaineers and our partners have contributed funds and volunteers to support the effort.
This trip represents one of the many ways The Mountaineers helps lead the climbing community in giving back to our public lands.
For those unfamiliar with MAC, the program provides young adults with year-round opportunities to learn a variety of outdoor skills while also "adventuring with purpose" through projects and trips like this one.
Our teens worked on the trail in the morning with supervision provided by the Access Fund’s stewardship experts. Students dug new trail, built drainages, and set up natural blockades for social trails (unintended side trails). It was a valuable opportunity for MAC students to contribute to the wider climbing community and learn what it takes to preserve access to the areas we all love and share.
In the afternoon, they headed to a nearby crag to practice their lead climbing skills on both bolts and traditional gear, all under the supervision of skilled Mountaineers staff and volunteers.
MAC is currently open for enrollment through the end of October and will reopen for enrollment in January. If you're interested in learning more, please visit:
MAC student Ada Kuhtz prepares to rappel after climbing a route in the Ice Box area of the Hairpin Crags.
Ada evaluates a cam placement while climbing a route on the Quicksilver Slab area of the Hairpin Crags.
Access Fund team member Carolyn directs and works with MAC students as they dig new trail.