02/14/2020

Conservation Teams Head Out on 2020 Tour to Restore Climbing Areas

Meet your 2020 Access Fund–Jeep Conservation Team crews—six expert trail-builders and conservation specialists who are on a mission to restore deteriorating climbing areas and inspire climbers toward volunteerism.

These crews will spend 10 months this year traveling throughout the U.S. and living out of their Jeep Cherokees, to help local communities mitigate climber impacts and build sustainable climbing areas that will withstand the impacts of our growing sport.

Loryn & Kyle – Conservation Team National

Loryn Posladek and Kyle Leihsing are joining for their first year as the Conservation Team National crew. They’ll be traveling the entire country, engaging local climbing communities in stewardship work and minimum-impact climbing. Prior to joining Access Fund, both Loryn and Kyle cut their teeth constructing and improving trails as part of the Idaho Conservation Corps.

Spring Tour Stops

  • Houston, Texas – Visit Taxa Outdoors sponsor
  • San Diego, Calif. – Trail roundtable with Allied Climbers of San Diego
  • Big Rock, Calif. – Erosion control and trail stabilization
  • Joshua Tree, Calif. – Map social trails with NPS staff and climber coffee
  • Indian Creek, Utah – Rebuild sections of Scarface Wall approach
  • Red Rock Canyon, Nev. – Train volunteers on closing and restoring social trails

AnnaMarie & Jake – Conservation Team West

AnnaMarie Rodenhausen and Jake Groth are excited to start their first year as the Conservation Team West crew. Prior to joining Access Fund, both Jake and AnnaMarie managed projects and constructed trails for American Conservation Experience AmeriCorps programs.

Spring Tour Stops

  • The Homestead, Ariz. – Repair a stone staircase impacted by seasonal monsoons
  • Tucson, Ariz. – Adopt a Crag at Baboquivari Peak
  • Indian Creek, Utah – Reconstruct approach to Scarface Wall
  • Joe’s Valley, Utah – Continue stabilization efforts in New Joe’s
  • Index, Wash. – Improve staging areas
  • Smith Rock, Ore. – Lead volunteers at annual Smith Rock Spring Thing

Annie & Mat – Conservation Team East

Annie Friesen and Mat Landis are returning for their second year as the Conservation Team East crew. Prior to joining Access Fund, they spent two years working in the Appalachian region, doing conservation work and trail-building at places like Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Daniel Boone National Forest.

Spring Tour Stops

  • Hueco Tanks, Texas – Engage climbers at the Hueco Rock Rodeo
  • Inks Ranch, Texas – Begin establishing a trails system at this new bouldering destination
  • Mount Magazine, Ark. – Trail stabilization efforts
  • Moss Rock Preserve, Ala. – Continue restoration efforts at this urban bouldering park
  • Buckeye Knob, N.C. – Establish a sustainable trail system throughout boulder field

Follow the Conservation Team Tour

Be sure to say hello if you run into any of these hardworking crews in your area. They love chatting up Access Fund members and giving you the inside scoop on what we’re working on. You can follow the Conservation Team Tour on Facebook by searching @ConservationTeam.

The Access Fund–Jeep Conservation Team program is made possible by the generous support of title sponsor Jeep brand and supporting sponsors REI, La Sportiva, YETI, Yakima, CLIF, Therm-a-Rest, and Mountain Hardwear.