The Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. Founded in 1991, the Access Fund supports and represents over 2.3 million climbers nationwide in all forms of climbing: rock, ice, mountaineering, and bouldering. While it is a national organization, they have done plenty right here in Pennsylvania:

• 1996: Ralph Stover Climber’s Coalition wins a state award and national recognition for pro-active efforts from the Access Fund for the High Rocks Newsletter.
• 1997: The Ralph Stover Climber’s Coalition drafted a land management document to assist land managers and help solidify climbing access.
• 2000’s: Access Fund works with Climbing Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania to address access issues on various public and private lands.
• 2008: Access Fund rep Bob Value helps draft the “Rock climbing , Rappelling, and Bouldering Management Policy and Guidelines ” for DCNR. Before the Access Fund and other advocates stepped in to the process, the document was full of egregious rules.
• 2010: Access Fund works with the Friends of Governors Stables so they could enter into a lease agreement with the landowners and reopen the boulders.
• 2011: Access Fund assists Eric Horst in reopening Safe Harbor. The Access Fund also kick started the trail head fundraiser with a $1500 grant.
• 2014: Access Fund Conservation Team stops for a 3 day visit to High Rocks.
• 2015: LCOs and Access Fund rally to STOP the Pennsylvania Game Commission from prohibiting hiking, climbing and other activities on State Game Land…we won – for now!
• 2016: Access Fund attends meeting with state officials regarding raptor closure at The Narrows.
• 2020: Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance of Climbers established in September

*Please note the above timeline may contain errors or omissions. Please contact us with any corrections.