Willamette Area Climbers Coalition

Our Mission & Vision

Willamette Area Climbers Coalition supports the sustainable development and stewardship of Willamette area climbing resources, advocates for high quality and accessible climbing experiences, and growing authentic connections within the climbing community.

We believe that climbing is best pursued as a part of a community. We want to expand our region's climbing opportunities and deepen the connection between the people and places that nurture our collective climbing experience.

Nathan Villiger on Second Day Error at Lookout Point [Credit: Emily Villiger]

The Willamette Area Climbing Coalition, or WACC (pronounced like “that’s whack!”), was started in 2023 by a group of passionate and curious local rock climbers who wanted to support the sustainable development of our local crags in the Willamette Valley and promote inclusive community building among local climbers.

Preserving access to local crags by...
- - working with national, state, and local governments and public land managers to preserve access on public lands
  - working with private landowners to open and preserve access on private lands
Education and information about crag access and stewardship through...
- - hosting and supporting educational events and workshops
  - tracking and sharing out up to date crag access information and issues
Growing an inclusive climbing community by...
- - hosting quarterly events
  - supporting other relevant local efforts in the climbing community

Why a local climbing organization (LCO)?

Local climbing organizations can have different roles in the climbing community and each one has their own flavor. LCOs are our front-line defense against access issues, leveraging their organizational status to work with national and local orgs and landowners. They’re the folks out at your favorite crags picking up trash, rebolting routes, and talking with landowners. They’re also hosting events like crag cleanups and movie nights!

WACC is interested in nurturing connection between climbers and the lands we try hard and play on. We’re reflecting on what it means to be on these lands, how they’re changing, and how we collectively steward the land to ensure these places we love can thrive decades into the future.

We are leaning into how we can holistically steward connection within the climbing community. Who feels like the crag is not for them and why? What kind of mentorships can we support between young, seasoned or more practiced climbers? Are there outdoor curious folks who just need a simple invite to the crag? How can we support other climbing/outdoor organizations’ goals?

These are things we’re thinking about, and hopefully you are too.

What we mean when we say...

Stewardship happens when all people respect and contribute to protecting and valuing our public lands. If we’re climbing, hiking, swimming, or camping, we are accountable to leaving the crag, trail, river, or campsite better than we found it.

Access exists when any climber can physically, culturally, and legally utilize sustainable and safe climbing areas.

Maryne Dana on Imaginary Mirror at Eagle's Rest [Credit: John Sullivan]

How we're structured:

We know that how we do our work is important. Based on our initial immediate goals of ensuring long term access to local climbing areas, many of which exist on BLM and private logging boundaries, we decided that becoming a 501(c)3 nonprofit and partnering with the Access Fund would help us better work with government agencies and private land managers. Individual climbers have attempted to do this work in the past, but land managers (with little to no stake in the climbing game) are more willing to work with groups who have some form of “authority” and accountability.

Our Board members are all volunteers and, although we are required to have a traditional hierarchical structure with a President, VP, Treasurer, etc., we maintain a collaborative decision making structure, with shared power between board members, and an openness to partnering with other community organizations, who may operate in less hierarchical ways.

Vania Wang on Bones of Ymir at Eagle's Rest [Credit: John Sullivan]

BECOME A MEMBER

DONATE TO WACC

SUPPORT WACC BY THROUGH THE ACCESS FUND

How you can be involved:

Our work is driven directly by Board members. So, if anything that we’ve shared is interesting to you, we would love to talk with you! If you have a great idea or are passionate about something relevant to the climbing community and climbing areas, we would love to talk with you! No experience is necessary to contribute to WACC’s efforts.

Become a member! You can vote on new board members and join annual membership events.
Join future events and workshops!
Join the Board! Consider serving as a Board member (what’s two years really?)
Contact us! Send us an email (willamette.area.climbers@gmail.com) or a message on Instagram @climb_willamette
Donate to us through the Access Fund! You can support local and national climbing areas through the Access Fund and a portion of your funds will go to WACC.
DONATE directly to support WACCs efforts!

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