The Access Fund's Sixth Annual Adopt-a-Crag Kicks Off

REI Title Sponsor, GORE-TEX® products Presenting Sponsor & CLIF BAR Contributing Sponsor

September 1, 2005, Boulder, CO – The Access Fund is proud to announce that the sixth annual Adopt-a-Crag kicks off during the month of September in more than 85 locations around the country with more events being organized every day (Find an event in your area or there’s still time to organize your own event- www.accessfund.org/adopt)! Adopt-a-Crag is the Access Fund’s signature stewardship event, a national commitment by the climbing community to natural resource stewardship and volunteerism. Title Sponsor Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), Presenting Sponsor GORE-TEX® products, and Contributing Sponsor CLIF BAR are the Access Fund’s partners in presenting this event. “The commitment of REI, GORE-TEX® products, and CLIF BAR in supporting grassroots activism to protect climbing resources and climbers’ access is outstanding. This relationship is exemplary of how non-profits and businesses can partner together and accomplish important goals that directly affect climbers and the climbing environment,” states Adopt-a-Crag Coordinator Deanne Buck. Adopt-a-Crag began in 2000 as part of the Access Fund’s 10th anniversary celebration. Since its inception, it has drawn together thousands of volunteers in over 300 events. Through Adopt-a-Crag events, climbers have built and restored hundreds of miles of trails, hauled thousands of bags of trash, and completed multiple conservation initiatives. Adopt-a-Crag is the most wide-ranging initiative organized by the climbing community. Activities often include litter clean-ups, visual impact mitigation, trail construction and restoration, erosion control, and wildlife monitoring. “Adopt-a-Crag is about giving back…[but] there’s always a chance to climb a bit, watch the cliff birds fly, and have a great party with friends” says writer, long-time climber and Adopt-a-Crag organizer Jeff Achey. Since 1990, the Access Fund has been the only national advocacy organization that keeps climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. The Access Fund supports and represents over 1.6 million climbers nationwide in ALL forms of climbing; rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and bouldering. Five core programs support the mission on national and local levels: public policy, stewardship & conservation (including grants), grassroots activism, climber education, and land acquisition. For more information visit www.accessfund.org or www.boulderproject.org.

Media Contact: Robb Shurr, Access Fund 303-545-6772 x100 robb@accessfund.org Event Information Contact: Deanne Buck, Access Fund 303-545-6772 ext. 112 deanne@accessfund.org