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Forkin' Awesome

Original Post
Jeffrey Snyder · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined May 2011 · Points: 3,740

Its been over a week since ForksFest V and I wanted to take a moment to thank all of the climbers and spectators that made it out this year! It was a highly successful event because of our community.

The main goal of this years FF was to bolster community, engage ourselves as stewards of our areas, continue the protection of our natural anchors and to create a legacy for future climbers of Northern Arizona.

Once again it was rad to see that all of our natural anchors were being protected against the wear and tear of use! I am optimistic that we are now in a new era of understanding the importance of protection on our trees. If you or your partners still avoid protecting the trees get on it!! You are being left behind in the ways of good style and modern ethics!

Also... Not a single climber used the Prow Tree all weekend!! This is huge! If we want our fable Prow Tree to continue to live... Stop using it! Tell your friends!

Here is a very nice write up from the LumberJack on the event: jackcentral.org/culture/for…

Here is to next year!!!

Eric D · · Gnarnia · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 235

Thanks for making this happen Jeff!

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
J. Snyder wrote: Once again it was rad to see that all of our natural anchors were being protected against the wear and tear of use!
So u guys showed peeps how to use gear for anchors rather than trees?
Jeffrey Snyder · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined May 2011 · Points: 3,740

Morgan- The turn out is a diverse group of folks and many already use a variety of different anchors out there. The main focus of one of the clinics involved the idea of completely avoiding tree use when possible. Giant slung boulders and NattyPro were common. There was also a lot of shared rappel lines which cut down on use of multiple trees.

i unfortunately don't see an end to the altogether use of the trees. I think this is mostly a lazy thing but also because of the availability of quick and quality options. Hopefully many folks ended the weekend with some new ideas for anchors. I am sorta becoming more optimistic that Forks climbers will stop using the Prow Tree but Im still not convinced that it will not be destroyed first. I still see many locals using it for rappels and top anchors without any protection at all. Maybe once we lose it we will be able to have a new conversation on the future of anchors at The Forks.

But for now... The ongoing issue will remain with local (and non) climbers completely avoiding tree protection or simply not seeing it as necessary. Each FF there is a huge push for people to grab pads from the community pile and its this simple solution that makes everyone at the event jump on board with it. It certainly is not a solution to the overall problems but it is a step in the positive direction and that is important.

Eric-CHA CHA! Missed you guys out there.

Eric D · · Gnarnia · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 235

I was in Egypt. Next year!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Arizona & New Mexico
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