The ICA is composed of a wide variety of climbers and boulderers, from Illinois and other states. These climbers are active in different ways, climbing at differing levels of challenge, and contributing their efforts and resources for the betterment of all.
The ICA has continued to build on the foundation of effective advocacy for climbers' interests established by the Southern Illinois Climbers Alliance (SICA) and other ad hoc local advocacy efforts.
The ICA has continued to build on the foundation of effective advocacy for climbers' interests established by the Southern Illinois Climbers Alliance (SICA) and other ad hoc local advocacy efforts.
[From Eric Ulner’s 3rd edition of "Vertical Heartland" guidebook, "A Climbing History Finally Told"]
"...in 1991, two significant events occurred that would affect southern Illinois climbing as whole. The Shawnee National Forest was revisiting its forest-wide management plan, and had announced a pending land trade with the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources. The Shawnee owned the public portion of Cedar and Draper’s Bluffs,... Acting upon the advice given by The Access Fund, local climbers formed the Southern Illinois Climbers Alliance. John Payne led the organization as President until 2001, when it was absorbed into the Illinois Climbers Association. Today’s climbers owe a large debt of thanks to John for his service. The overall climbing freedoms that we enjoy now could be very different were it not for the SICA and its leadership.
The SICA petitioned the Shawnee National Forest to add rock climbers to the management plan as a recongnized user-group of the Forest... Fast forwarding, the Shawnee National Forest accepted climbing as a legitimate user-group activitiy into the revised management plan."
"...in 1991, two significant events occurred that would affect southern Illinois climbing as whole. The Shawnee National Forest was revisiting its forest-wide management plan, and had announced a pending land trade with the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources. The Shawnee owned the public portion of Cedar and Draper’s Bluffs,... Acting upon the advice given by The Access Fund, local climbers formed the Southern Illinois Climbers Alliance. John Payne led the organization as President until 2001, when it was absorbed into the Illinois Climbers Association. Today’s climbers owe a large debt of thanks to John for his service. The overall climbing freedoms that we enjoy now could be very different were it not for the SICA and its leadership.
The SICA petitioned the Shawnee National Forest to add rock climbers to the management plan as a recongnized user-group of the Forest... Fast forwarding, the Shawnee National Forest accepted climbing as a legitimate user-group activitiy into the revised management plan."
Climbers' voices were heard and well-represented in another more recent bout of Shawnee Forest management plan review, particularly with respect to user-group interaction and potential conflict arising therefrom. The ICA has represented climbers' interests in other local, state and federal access matters in Illinois, as well as working with private land owners, as needed, in a constructive and positive manner, being proactive, not just reactive.
Not all decisions are finalized in our favor, but the ICA consistently earns the respect of the people on the other side of the table. To the extent that the ICA has a long-term mission, we're happy to count these results as victories in and of themselves. The mission is statewide and ongoing.
Not all decisions are finalized in our favor, but the ICA consistently earns the respect of the people on the other side of the table. To the extent that the ICA has a long-term mission, we're happy to count these results as victories in and of themselves. The mission is statewide and ongoing.
On the web at www.iclimb-ica.org or www.illinoisclimbersassociation.org Copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved
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