A.A.C., Sierra Nevada Section

Publication Year: 2010.

Sierra Nevada Section. Dave Riggs, Section Chair since 2006, transitioned to the AAC Board of Directors and deserves many thanks for his fine leadership these past years.

The Section again hosted its popular annual “Climb-munity” gatherings, with the first being the January ice-climbing weekend in Cold Stream Canyon near Truckee. The Sierra summer climbing season started in June with the Donner Summit Climb-munity, which was followed by the Tuolumne Meadows Climb-munity in August. Both these events afforded our members not only great rock climbing, but also great camaraderie with group camping, barbecues, parties and raffles.

In September Royal and Liz Robbins and Tom Frost hosted their final Pinecrest Climb- In. This popular gathering of members and friends enjoyed cragging at Gianelli Edges and a wonderful party at the Robbins’ cabin. The Section intends to carry on this fine tradition with Royal, Liz, and Tom as our guests.

Throughout the year the Section reached out to the climbing community and promoted the AAC. In April Section members represented the AAC at the Rockpile Rendezvous at Pinnacles National Monument. This event celebrated the 70-year history of climbing at the Pinnacles and recognized the conservation and stewardship ethics that climbers have practiced there during that time. Also, the Section continued to sponsor the year-round climbers’ coffee held every Sunday morning in Yosemite with the climbing rangers, where members interact with other climbers and spread the good word about the AAC. Further, AAC Yosemite Committee Chair Linda McMillan continued to lead the Saturday evening slideshow series in Yosemite as part of the climbers’ interpretive program, which generates further goodwill and exposure for the AAC.

As for conservation activities, in September our members represented the AAC at the Yosemite Facelift clean-up week organized by the Yosemite Climbers Association. In conjunction with the Access Fund, the Section underwrote commemorative Facelift bandanas that were given away to all the Facelift volunteers. In October the Section coordinated with the Friends Of The Inyo and the Access Fund to organize the Fall High Ball in Bishop to raise funds for a solution to the human waste management issue that exists in the nearby bouldering areas. The weekend included a volunteer trail restoration/clean-up workday and a slideshow by Section member Doug Robinson. The event raised almost $5,000.

The year ended with our Holiday Dinner, highlighted by AAC Treasurer/Board Member Jack Tackle, who presented his outstanding slideshow on “Alaska Alpine Style,” which attracted a record turnout. At the dinner special recognition was given to those members who have provided valuable leadership and support to the Section and to the entire AAC over the years.

Tom Burch, Chair