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We are now into the 2024 membership season and it is time to renew your Ascent NB membership (or join for the first time)! We are currently accepting memberships for the 2024 season (April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025).

To complete this process click on the link below and follow the steps described on that page:

Membership – Ascent NB

All existing memberships will expire as of March 31, 2024. Join now to ensure you're ready to go as soon as that first warm, sunny day arrives! Members that renewed their memberships recently will retain their good standing. Memberships are typically processed by Thursday evening each week.

Membership rates are $40 for adults and $20 for students.

We remind all members that the Peregrine Falcon closure at Cochrane Lane is in effect as usual, and no climbing is allowed between Gollum's Cave and Pooh Corner from April 1 to August 1. Reindeer Land is fair game, as is Waterfall Layback, but not in between.

Remember, being a member of Ascent New Brunswick comes with its rewards, such as:

• special access privilege to CFB Gagetown cliffs all year-round,
• access to events like the Red Rock Rendezvous on April 29th or the Welsford Rendezous in September,
• the knowledge that you're supporting an organization that maintains access to climbing areas in New Brunswick as its focus.
• access to climbing areas in New Brunswick like McQuirks, Kingston, Parlee Brook, the Hatchery and Glebe Road Ice Crags

This year there will be two positions up for election on the Ascent Board of Directors and three on the Executive. Nominations for these positions must be submitted 14 days prior to the election. The nominees will be communicated to the membership prior to the AGM. Voting will take place at the AGM using a paper ballot. Anyone wishing to vote who cannot attend the AGM can do so via email

Timeline

August 18 - Deadline for nomination and submissions.
September 9, 2023 - Voting takes place during AGM (Welsford Rendezvous).

Descriptions of positions

Board of Directors (2): 
These are at large positions with no specific duties or responsibilities listed.
Typically, board members offer council on big picture matters and decisions usually concerning Ascent Policies and Procedures. Board members often sit on committees designed to formulate policy. These are two year term commitments.
These seats are currently held by Dom Caron and Phil Ouellette. In order to run for one of these positions candidates must have 5 years of outdoor climbing experience.

Executive (3):
President (Greg Hughes) - the President's primary responsibility is to manage access issues including concerns and agreements. Other duties include policy development and vision. This is a two-year term. Candidates for this position must have held a previous position with Ascent New Brunswick either on the Board of Directors or Executive.
Treasurer (Mike Delaney) - the primary responsibility is to manage the financial matters for Ascent. This includes deposits and expenditures and accurate record keeping of the books.
Crag Stewardship Coordinator (Luke Perrin) - this position is designed to help address issues with crags that are of an environmental nature. Everything from making signs at crags to coordinating removal of trash to organizing trail days.

Submissions

All positions listed above are open for nominations.

Note that the incumbents have indicated that they will be reoffering.
To apply, please submit your candidature to ascentnb@gmail.com (subject: Ascent NB < position > candidature) with a small paragraph about yourself and why you are applying; To be shared with the membership.

We are now into the 2023 membership season and it is time to renew your Ascent NB membership (or join for the first time)! We are currently accepting memberships for the 2023 season (April 1, 2023 - March 31, 2024).

To complete this process click on the link below and follow the steps described on that page:

Membership – Ascent NB

All existing memberships will expire as of March 31, 2023. Join now to ensure you're ready to go as soon as that first warm, sunny day arrives! Members that renewed their memberships recently will retain their good standing.

Membership rates are $40 for adults and $20 for students.

We remind all members that the Peregrine Falcon closure at Cochrane Lane is in effect as usual, and no climbing is allowed between Gollum's Cave and Pooh Corner from April 1 to August 1. Reindeer Land is fair game, as is Waterfall Layback, but not in between.

Remember, being a member of Ascent New Brunswick comes with its rewards, such as:

• special access privilege to CFB Gagetown cliffs all year-round,
• access to events like the Red Rock Rendezvous on April 29th or the Welsford Rendezous in September,
• the knowledge that you're supporting an organization that maintains access to climbing areas in New Brunswick as its focus.
• access to climbing areas in New Brunswick like McQuirks, Kingston, Parlee Brook, the Hatchery and Glebe Road Ice Crags

Ascent New Brunswick does not approve of any unilateral bolt chopping on any route by anyone other than the first ascentionist.

If someone does not like a bolt on a route, they should consult the FA and engage in dialogue in an effort to bring a satisfactory resolution to the matter. If the two individuals can not come to an agreement the general climbing community can then become involved and help determine a solution.

No one has the right to chop bolts on someone else's route! There is a long standing trad climbing ethic of no bolts next to cracks at our most prominent crag Cochrane Lane. This ethic has been extended to Eagle Rock and McQuirks Mountain as both of these cliffs have an abundance of high quality rock with cracks present providing ample protection. This is not to say that bolts are prohibited. There are bolted sport routes scattered all over Cochrane Lane. Leviathan, Tit For Tat, Bone Machine and Hitchiker are a few examples of high quality classic sport lines at CL. These two different styles of climbing can coexist at any crag, in fact it is something that we should strive for as it directly exposes sport climbers to the possibilities of trad and hopefully inspires them to pursue that style when they are ready.

All of our crags should be like this. The possibility of mixed and sport lines at predominantly trad areas should not be precluded if the opportunity exists.

The results to a survey on the climbing community in New Brunswick, conducted in June 2022 have been published. This survey includes 20 questions designed to collect demographic information, assess current climbing activity, and assess the needs of the climbing community in NB. This information will be used to enhance the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) efforts and to gather input from the climbing community on the development of a Provincial Sports Organization (PSO).

For more information and to view the results click HERE or access the page via the drop-down menu under Links.

This year there will be three positions up for election on the Ascent Board of Directors and two on the Executive. Nominations for these positions must be submitted 30 days prior to the election. Voting will take place in two ways: online via email and in person at the AGM using a paper ballot. Online voting will be in the form of an advance poll closing at least two days prior to the AGM. Having this format will allow those not able to attend the AGM the opportunity to vote!

Timeline:

August 10 - Deadline for nominations

August 15 - Candidates will send out messages on social media outlining platforms and bios.

September 7, 8 - Advance Poll

September 10, 2022 - AGM

Descriptions of the positions: 

Board of Directors - these are at large positions with no specific duties or responsibilities listed.

Typically, board members offer council on big picture matters and decisions usually concerning Ascent Policies and Procedures. Board members often sit on committees designed to formulate policy. These are two year term commitments. These seats are currently held by Steve Adamson, Joe Kennedy and Shawn Bethune. In order to run for one of these positions candidates must have 5 years of outdoor climbing experience.

Vice President - the VP's primary responsibility is to manage the membership database and communicate with CFB Gagetown concerning the list. Other duties include social media and website posts. This is a two-year term. This position is currently held by Jon Adamson. Candidates for this position must have two years of climbing experience, one of which must be outdoors.

Secretary - the primary responsibility is to record minutes of all Ascent Meetings along with sending out meeting invites. This is a two-year term and is currently held by Philippe Labbe. Candidates for this position must have two years of climbing experience, one of which must be outdoors.

A reminder that the Peregrine Falcon closure at Cochrane Lane is in effect annually and no climbing is allowed between Gollum's Cave and Pooh Corner from April 1 to August 1. Reindeer Land is fair game, as is Waterfall Layback, but not in between.

Peregrine Falcon Closure – Ascent NB

We are nearly into the 2022 membership season and it is time to renew your Ascent NB membership (or join for the first time)! We are currently accepting memberships for the 2022 season (April 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023).

To complete this process click on the link below and follow the steps described on that page:

Membership – Ascent NB

All existing memberships will expire as of March 31, 2022. Join early to ensure you're ready to go as soon as that first warm, sunny day arrives!

Membership rates are $40 for adults and $20 for students.

We remind all members that the Peregrine Falcon closure at Cochrane Lane is in effect as usual, and no climbing is allowed between Gollum's Cave and Pooh Corner from April 1 to August 1. Reindeer Land is fair game, as is Waterfall Layback, but not in between.

Remember, being a member of Ascent New Brunswick comes with its rewards, such as:

• special access privilege to CFB Gagetown cliffs all year-round,
• access to events like the Welsford Rendezous in September,
• the knowledge that you're supporting an organization that maintains access to climbing areas in New Brunswick as its focus.
• access to climbing areas in New Brunswick like McQuirks, Kingston, Parlee Brook, the Hatchery and Glebe Road Ice Crags

Ascent New Brunswick acknowledges that the land on which we climb is the traditional unceded territory of the Wabanaki people made up of the Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), Passamaquoddy and Mi’kmaq First Nations.

This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and friendship” which was first signed with the British crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized the Wabanaki title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

It is important for us as climbers to acknowledge and remember this as all our climbing areas are on First Nation lands. We give thanks for the opportunity to climb on these cliffs and hope we will be able to continue to do so for future generations to come.

Hey folks Welsford Rendezvous is less than a week away! Here is some key beta for anyone going to the event.

Schedule:

Friday, Sept 10 - Come set up your tent at Cochrane Lane. Please do not drive your car onto the field.

Saturday, Sept 11 -

All day: Climbing Challenges (comps) at Cochrane Lane and Sunnyside (details below). A regular climbing day for anyone not participating in the challenges.

6 pm - prizes awarded to the winners of the comps

7 pm - Ascent New Brunswick AGM (if you attend you will get a free beer from Graystone Brewing)

8 pm - Evening campfire social in the pit. Someone bring a guitar!

Sunday, Sept. 12 - Regular climbing day and trail clean up. All events (other than Sunnyside Throwdown) take place at Cochrane Lane. There is no cost to participate but you do need to be a member of Ascent New Brunswick and you do need a Rendezvous ticket (free). https://www.eventbrite.ca/.../welsford-rendezvous-2021...Bring some cash as we will have some items for sale. We have Rendezvous T-Shirts and we are selling a special reprinted copy of the original guide book signed by the author, Colin Bell. Both items are $20 each. BYOB, BYOF. Booze and food are on you. Please follow LNT principles while at the Rendezvous. There will be a couple of garbage cans in the pit.

Info on Challenges (comps)

Sunnyside Throwdown - teams of two send as many routes as they can. There is both a men's and women's division.

Cochrane Lane Classics - teams of two or three climb as many of the select 13 routes from the original guide book written by Colin Bell in 1978.

Points Challenge - climb up to 12 routes of your choice and collect as many points as you can following the table below. Teams of 2 climb together and submit the sum of their individual routes climbed. Most points wins!

Three Crags - climb one route at each of the original three crags in Welsford (CL, Bald Peak and Eagle Rock). You must move between crags by some form of non motorized transport (run, bike or horseback). Best time wins.

No need to pre register for any of these comps. Make sure you return to CL by 5 pm and submit your results to Mike Delaney. Winners of each comp will be awarded prizes and there is also a special prize for the best costume.

A big thank you to our sponsors River and Trail Outfitters and Graystone Brewing.