OAC members were just invited to attend club night occurring at MEC Burlington on June 23 from 7-9 pm.
OAC members are welcome and will receive 10% off products in the store and 5% on boats.
For more information contact MEC Burlington at 905.333.8559 and ask for Jay Thompson or Susan Andrew.
A reminder to everyone that our Annual General Meeting is happening Wednesday, June 15th 2011, at True North Climbing Gym at 7pm.
Please join us following the meeting for an abridged version of Madaleine Sorkin’s “MAD tour”, which was originally scheduled. Due to unforeseen circumstances, she is unable to join us in person. However, we will be showing a short film of her trip to climb Mt. Proboscis as well as slides and video-clips from other big-wall adventures, including her ascent of Free Rider with Kate Rutherford!
Hope to see you all at the AGM and post-AGM presentation, which is also a fund-raiser for Girls Education International!
We are pleased to announce the annual general meeting of the OAC on Wednesday, June 15 at True North climbing gym. The meeting begins promptly at 7pm.
More details to follow shortly so stay tuned. We hope to see you there!
Halfway Log Dump- site hosts 2011
Another great season of bouldering at Halfway Log Dump is here. So many people are asking how they can help the OAC keep crags open. Well, this is your chance to help!
The OAC and Bruce Peninsula National Park are looking for help from the climbing community in the form of volunteer weekend Site Hosts. Site Hosts, like a Camp host act as stewards or Caretakers for the area during their time volunteering. The Site Host program was a huge success in 2010. and we are asking again for the support of the climbing community for volunteers for 2011. If you want to help access efforts and become a Site Host for a weekend click here to fill in the volunteer application.
The OAC has updated the popular and free bouldering guide for 2011. The guide this year features more problems, more projects, more pictures, and better topos. If you download this guide we hope that you will take the time to become an OAC member, or make donation if you already are a member. Click HERE to download the new “2011 HWLD Interpretive bouldering guide”. You can print this guide to for a cool guidebook.
What’s a Site Host do?
Site hosts act as the ambassador for Halfway Log Dump while they volunteer. The host acts to ensure everyone is having a good time, communicates the rules that are in place, points the endangered Lakeside Daisy, explains bouldering to curious tourists, and of course knows all the beta on every problem 
These honoured volunteers will receive luxurious pre-paid parking ($11.70 per day) courtesy of Bruce Peninsula National Park, the thanks and respect of their fellow climbers, and the knowledge that you did something for the sport you love!
Who makes a good site host?
If you like to boulder outside, can get yourself to the Bruce Peninsula, and are interested in helping access in Ontario you would be a great site host.
I would like to help, but I have never been to Halfway Log Dump. Can I still volunteer as a site host?
It might be your first visit or your hundred and first visit to Halfway Log Dump. This honour is still open to you. We can tell you what you need to know. It’s not hard. You can put it on your resume and land that promotion you’ve been after.
But if I go there I want to focus on climbing
The time commitment of site host at the boulders is minimal and can be incorporated into a regular day out easily. You will be walking by other boulderers and they will be walking by you. Talking other boulders you may discover that they know something you don’t about the latest lines, newest beta, local weather, local dining, local plants, your future spouse, etc.
Join the OAC and Free Spirit tours for a “Clean & Climb” at Metcalfe Rock on Sunday, May 29 from 10:00am until 1:30pm
http://www.freespirit-tours.com/events/
Free Spirit tours originally started this event as a garbage clean up around Metcalfe Rock after the spring melt in the year 2000. Since then they have added to it by to spreading wood chips along the trails thanks to “Blue Mountain Four Season Landscaping”. If you have a wheelbarrow or a rake please bring it along.
In exchange for people coming out and donating their time and energy we have some great prizes to give away that have been donated by local stores. Additionally, the OAC will be chipping in on the prize front with two sets of draws and more for the lucky winners.
We hope you can join the OAC and Free Spirit tours for this great chance to help keep Metcalfe rock clean and to show the local community and land managers that climbers care.
On Sunday May 1st, the OAC held its annual Earth Day event at Rattlesnake Point. After a one year hiatus it was good to be back. About 30 volunteers from the climbing community showed up in cold and rainy weather to help eliminate the invasive garlic mustard plant. Climbers were educated about garlic mustard by a Halton Conservation ecologist before heading into the field to start the work. When all was said and done, climbers collected about 30 garbage bags full of the pesky plant. This significant haul was a great start, but is only a dent in the population; it goes to show just how invasive this plant can be. Garlic mustard will spread on the forest floor and prevent all other species from growing, including young trees!
garlic mustard
A few veggies for the burgers
After the work was done, climbers and Conservation Authority staff got together to enjoy a tasty BBQ lunch, a raffle for great prizes donated by our sponsors, and some camaraderie. Lucky winners left with a full belly, a 70m 9.8 rope, Black Diamond quick draws, crag packs and more. A special thanks to those in the climbing community who came out in the cold and the rain to make this event a success. If you know someone who was there, give him/her a pat on the back!
After the event, a crew headed down to Climber’s Rock to take advantage of the discounted day passes for Earth Day volunteers and had a great session of climbing and bouldering. Climber’s Rock generously donated a portion of the proceeds from those day passes and has since donated an additional $100 to the OAC. Thanks Climber’s Rock!
Joking around at Climber's Rock after Earth Day 2011
Many climbers have asked us for more events and more ways to help. The OAC is listening and we are proud to announce our third event this spring, in conjunction with Free Spirit Tours. We hope you can make it on May 29th to help show some love to Metcalfe Rock in the form of a clean up and trail work… more info coming shortly. Plan on being there!
MEC is hosting a ACC and OAC members’ appreciation night
The Alpine Club of Canada – Toronto chapter and The Ontario Access Coalition Club Night
7:30pm – 9pm Tuesday May 10th at Mountain Equipment Co-op
400 King Street West – Toronto
CLUB NIGHT DETAILS:
10% off everything except bikes and boats, which are 5% off
0% off already discounted packaged deals
*You need to be a member of MEC to shop at the store, $5 for a lifetime membership*
If you need to load up on gear for the season, this is your chance!
Another climbing season is finally here! Spring is the ideal time get the permit for Old Baldy so you can get the most from this great cliff. You can get your 2011 annual permits for climbing at Old Baldy by downloading the form from here
Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) who manages Old Baldy, continues to work with climbers and listen to our needs. GSCA is currently working with the OAC, MEC and local volunteers to facilitate replacement of aging hardware at the cliff. You can read more about the project here and here.
One of the first cliffs to dry in wet weather, Old Baldy features pocketed limestone sport and trad routes in a beautiful setting looking out over the Beaver Valley. Get your permit today.
Climber’s Rock in Burlington has stepped up and is making a great offer in support of OAC Earth Day: Invasion Elimination, taking place on Sunday May 1st at Rattlesnake Point.
Here’s the deal – for any person who takes part in the OAC Earth Day event, Climber’s Rock is happy to offer you a special day pass rate of $11.50 + tax. From this discounted rate, Climber’s Rock will donate $2.00 to the OAC in support of access efforts in Ontario. Thanks Climber’s Rock!
Please note that the OAC Earth Day event is rain or shine, and so is the offer at Climber’s Rock. Please show your stamp from Earth Day at the time of day pass purchase. Climber’s Rock is open until 9pm on May 1st.
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