Ontario Alliance of Climbers

This year has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people who use our greenspaces every day. We all want to get outside, and it's important to do so for both mental and physical health! However, we must be mindful to ensure we're not abusing the earth while we're enjoying it. The trails get muddier with more people walking through each day, and some of our favourite outdoor spaces are seeing a noticeable trampling of plant life. Please keep to established paths, and a...void making "spider trails" or "social trails". When people veer off the main path, vegetation gets squashed and the soil slowly recedes over time. Plants protect the soil, and when the greenery dies off, soil erosion can continue even in the absence of continued foot traffic. Wear waterproof or water-resistant footwear, and be prepared to walk through muddy parts of the existing trail rather than widening it! Your shoes will dry overnight, but Mother Nature won't recover so fast. #ontario #climbing #access #thursdaytips #leavenotrace

Notice: If you are visiting Metcalfe, please be aware that parking along Line 10 has been prohibited. Parking is thus limited to the lot, without any options for overflow. Please obey all parking signs. Plan accordingly by arriving early, or heading elsewhere if the parking lot is full upon your arrival. #ontario #climbing #access #parking

Part 3 of the @brockuniversity Study on the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Outdoor Recreation Participation in Canada is available now! Researchers are trying to understand how the effects of the pandemic have changed throughout the year. You don't need to have filled out parts 1 & 2 to take part. Every submission helps demonstrate how vital open access to the outdoors is to everyone's health -- both physical and mental. Check the link below to fill out the survey to...day! https://brock.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eYhZ313HeHMfj25 #ontario #climbing #access #survey

Have you submitted any photos for our 2021 Ontario Crags Calendar yet? Don't worry, you still have time! We're looking to celebrate the diversity of Ontario climbing AND Ontario climbers in our milestone 10th anniversary of the calendar. And if you're having trouble deciding which photo to enter, send more than one! There are no limits on the number of submissions you can make Submissions are open until October 4th. See the link in our bio for more details! Here's a ni...ce little trip down memory lane with the cover shots from every edition of the calendar so far! Credits to: 2012 - Migüel Jetté 2013 - Migüel Jetté 2014 - @adamr510 2015 - Michael Williams 2016 - @heff_jiggins 2017 - @onecentmike 2018 - @onecentmike 2019 - @onecentmike 2020 - @willtam85

ZzzzzzZZZzzzzzz We love a good nap as much as the next person, but crags aren't the place for hammocks. Hammocks expand staging areas as visitors seek out trees, and force others to walk around them. As our crags become more crowded, it's important that we reduce our impact on nature in every way we can. What might seem like a harmless set up for one day slowly results in a loss of vegetation over the years. Please leave the hammock at home! Cliff bases often have enoug...h empty patches of ground or rock which serve as better low-impact resting places. #ontario #climbing #access #thursdaytips #hammock

We're accepting submissions for our 2021 Ontario Crags Calendar until October 4th! Help us celebrate outdoor climbing in Ontario by donating a photo (or two!). The OAC calendar helps us recognize the climbing community, showcase Ontario nature, and raise funds to continue supporting open access initiatives. We're looking for landscape (horizontal) photos depicting the whole gamut of Ontario climbing -- ice, trad, sport, and bouldering! Send us your best shots, and take a ...chance at getting a little slice of local fame. #ontario #climbing #access #calendar #fundraiser @willtam85 @dustin.jj

Introducing Christina, the OAC's newest communications volunteer! Christina is stoked to give back to her favourite climbing community, volunteering at events and assisting with the OAC newsletter and communications. By day, she’s a senior marketing/communications professional who loves to take on any and every creative project. Immersed in the outdoors since birth and an avid photographer since the darkroom days, Christina is happiest when she’s deep in the forest or enjoyin...g the spectacular views from the anchor. Christina also just put together our latest newsletter. Check your inbox for a quick recap on all things OAC! #ontario #climbing #access #volunteer

Part of the beauty of climbing outdoors is getting to immerse yourself in nature. Sunny skies, the rustle of a soft breeze, birds chirping, spectators yelling at climbers and shouting over each other... Well, actually, that last bit is NOT what anyone wants to experience outside. It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of a hard send, but we share the outdoors with everyone around us. There's a time and place for cheering and encouragement; however, a continuous stream of beta spray shouted at the wall can disturb others and wildlife. It's also important for a climber and belayer to be able to communicate with each other when necessary for safety reasons. Please remember that the crag is not your personal gym, and keep noise to a minimum! #ontario #climbing #access #thursdaytips #shhhhhhhhhh

Yard sales. Urban sprawl. Junkyards. Those aren't phrases we want associated with our crags! When we park ourselves at the base of our climb, we should be ensuring that we're not leaving gear on the trail for others to stumble over. What might seem like a quiet day with no one around can easily change during your time on the wall. Please make sure to place your belongings so they're not blocking the path, and leave them off of sensitive vegetation! An organized and tidy belay station will also help ensure that you don't forget anything when you're packing up to go #ontario #climbing #access #leavenotrace #thursdaytips #leaveitbetterthanyoufoundit #sharethecrag

Mini Access Update: The peregrine falcon chicks at Bon Echo have fledged! We're always excited to celebrate Mother Nature's little wins. Seasonal cliff closures to protect wildlife are just one of the many ways climbers respect the lands we play on. Thank you to the community for staying away from the nest site, we're happy to report that access to routes 1-23 is now permitted again! #ontario #climbing #access #bonecho #wildlife #falcon

It's that time of year again -- we're opening up submissions for next year's Ontario Crags Calendar! The 2021 Calendar isn't going to be just any calendar either... this is going to be our special 10th edition! Help celebrate this milestone by seeing your work published and hanging on all your friends' walls The Ontario Crags Calendar aims to celebrate and highlight the wide variety of climbing that Ontario has to offer. We want to showcase everything from as many differe...nt crags, seasons, and climbers as possible ICE, SPORT, TRAD and BOULDERING are all honoured here. We want to celebrate the diversity of our province and our community! Valid photo submissions must have LANDSCAPE orientation (i.e. horizontal), and be of climbers at Ontario crags only (of course!). 2020 hasn't been your typical climbing year, and that's okay. Submissions do not need to be dated from this year, but they DO need to showcase your love for Ontario climbing. So make the most of this tail end of the season, or take some time to venture down memory lane and rediscover some forgotten gems! The Crags Calendar helps us raise awareness and funds in support of Ontario access. Please consider donating a photo! Send your best shots to [email protected] by SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH for a chance to be featured. Chosen entrants will receive a free copy of the calendar, credit complete with name and website, and a little slice of local fame Please see additional rules of submission at : https://www.ontarioallianceofclimbers.ca//2021-calendar-p/ #ontario #climbing #access #photography #calendar #fundraiser #iceclimbing #tradclimbing #bouldering #climbingphotography @ccyn108 @wkkchan_photo

It's a mosquito... it's a bee... no, wait, it's a loud, buzzingdrone! Did you know that Parks Canada does not permit visitors to operate aircraft (includingdrones) in provincial parks or reserves, unless given authorization from the park superintendent? Ontario Parks similarly limits the use of drones under theProvincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, and Conservation Halton restricts usage on their properties. At Halfway Log Dump, which is located in Bruce Penin...sula National Park, the fine for flying an unauthorizeddronecan be as high as $10,000! Dronescan pose risks to visitors, disturb wildlife and detract from the experience of nature for others. Before you plan to take your tech toys to the crag, it's best to double check if you're permitted to do so. Whether you're visiting a local conservation area or a provincial park, do your research before you go. And if you are able to take yourdrone, please be considerate. Your hobby may be creating a loud, disruptive environment -- keep yourdronefar away from others! #ontario #climbing #access #knowbeforeyougo #thursdaytips

When it comes to busy days at the crag, particularly long weekends, it's good to remember that we're all hoping to get some time on the wall. Best practices include climbing in small groups and being considerate of those around you. If you're busy resting, consider letting another party attempt a burn! Please don't route hog and leave your lines up if you're not on them. And if you like to toprope solo, it's probably best to save it for less busy days -- you'll enjoy it more without impatient faces watching you the whole time anyway #ontario #climbing #access #sharingiscaring

On behalf of Conservation Halton: Hey, rock climbers, we need your help! We are looking to make some changes to our reservations, timing and pricing in order to better serve our community of rock climbers, so if you have ever climbed at Rattlesnake Point, Mount Nemo or Kelso, we are asking that you take a few minutes to complete a short survey! Click here to take the survey. We need your feedback to make sure that these changes work best for you! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rockclimbsurvey