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Posted by Jon Adamson on

Time to renew your Ascent membership for 2018!

Time to renew your Ascent membership for 2018!

We're now into the 2018 season and as such many members will find their memberships have expired.  Please take a moment to renew your membership today! Standard memberships are $40. You are eligible for a $20 off discount if you are a member of either Fit Rocks Climbing Gym or UNB Rock and Ice Club.  You can send us an email money transfer to ascentnb@gmail.com.

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 member pricing on all levels of rock and ice climbing classes,
  • access to events at the Welsford Rendezous in September,
  • the knowledge that you're supporting a grass-roots organization that maintains access to climbing areas in New Brunswick as its sole focus.
Posted by ascentnb on

Time to renew your Ascent membership!

Time to renew your Ascent membership!

We're now a week into the 2017 season and as such many members will find their memberships have expired.  Please take a moment to renew your membership today! You can send us an email money transfer to ascentnb@gmail.com, or you can make your purchase via Paypal (but Paypal takes about 3%, so we much prefer EMTs!)

 

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 member pricing on all levels of rock and ice climbing classes,
  • access to events at the Welsford Rendezous in September,
  • the knowledge that you're supporting a grass-roots organization that maintains access to climbing areas in New Brunswick as its sole focus.

 

Posted by ascentnb on

Progress Update

Progress Update

Summer is nearly upon us and climbing season is in full swing if you can stand the bugs. Thankfully we're not belaying in the snow anymore!

Some of you will be wondering what Ascent New Brunswick has done for its members so far. Long story short, we are on the verge of securing the two most important land use agreements for climbing in this province.

Just last week, Ascent received confirmation of its insurance policy! Through member and partner support we have raised sufficient funds to purchase our first installment of insurance coverage. We are now ready to sign official agreements with landowners.

In early June, we submitted our formal proposal to CFB Gagetown. It must now go through several stages of approval. We do not know how long this process will take, but all indications are that we should have this agreement signed in the very near future.

At the same time, now with the insurance in place we are just awaiting JDI's final approval on our agreement with them.

Thanks again to our members, to UNB Rock and Ice, and to Precision Pilates for your support. This wouldn't be possible without you.

Stay tuned!

Posted by ascentnb on

Member Stories – In their own words – Part 2

Member Stories – In their own words – Part 2

The community is showing its support of Ascent New Brunswick by becoming members. Over the next weeks we will be sharing some of their reasons for joining in their own words.

If you haven't already, please support Ascent today by becoming a member.

 

PsyFerns_Sonia2

Sonia Wilson on Psychadelic Ferns, Greenlaw Mtn, Charlotte County.

Sonia Wilson

I joined Ascent NB because I think it's the most effective way to support the organization. Climbers have been finding, developing, and climbing New Brunswick cliffs  and boulders for decades, yet access to these areas cannot be taken for granted. I've climbed all over the continent, and I wouldn't swap our real gem, Cochrane Lane Cliffs, for any other crag. So, it's logical for us climbers to be organized and united to make sure we can keep climbing where we want to in New Brunswick. When access to a crag or boulderfield is threatened or cut off, I'm convinced that Ascent NB will consistently and proactively take steps to secure it.

Oh, and the T-shirt. I also joined for the cool T-shirt I was promised.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by ascentnb on

What are we up to?

What are we up to?

What is Ascent NB up to and why should you support it?

Over the winter Ascent NB has begun to develop relationships with two major landowners in the province: C.F.B. Gagetown and J.D. Irving Ltd. Ascent NB is currently close to finalizing two agreements that could secure long-term access to the majority of the established rock routes and ice lines in N.B. If we just look at the numbers, if successful, these two agreements would cover 74% of the rock routes and 32% of the ice lines in this province. A huge leap forward!

Not only will these agreements provide security for the most important places we climb, but they will also lend our organization credibility when the time comes that we will need to approach smaller landowners who control the remaining walls.

What we'd like to raise awareness of today is that this security will come with a few costs. Ascent NB is acquiring sufficient insurance coverage to adequately protect both landowners at their request. This is a substantial burden on the organization and is both a reasonable and standard precaution. The cost of your membership will go directly towards the insurance costs. In the long-term, we'll be looking to expand our relationships with other landowners with the goal of protecting or acquiring all of the crags / walls / and ice falls we use for future climbers.

Help us achieve this vision and join Ascent NB today!

Posted by ascentnb on

Who looks after this place?

Who looks after this place?

Over the years individuals and some groups have stepped up to help maintain our trail networks and to clean climbing routes of lichen and moss buildup. At Cochrane Lane in the 2000s, UNB Rock and Ice built the stairs below the sign-in box, and NBCC-St Andrew's' Outdoor Adventure Recreation group installed wooden walkways over some of the wetter sections of trail.

The past two autumns have seen the start of an annual Trail Maintenance Day at Cochrane Lane, organized by a ragtag crew of volunteers. Their work has all but eradicated the rain water runoff issues that have been eroding the approach trail. You can't miss the french drains and other structures built at these events. Starting this Fall, Trail Maintenance Day will be conducted under the umbrella of Ascent NB. In recent years, the day has been organized on the forum with the major projects determined through consensus. Ascent intends to continue this community-based decision-making.

Stewardship of the land isn't a once-a-year event though. It's making sure that every time we go out climbing we try and leave the crag in the same shape we found it, or if possible, better. It's packing out your garbage and doing your nasty stuff well off the trail. It's cleaning up old crusty tat left by other, it's knowing whether campfires are permitted by the landowner, and it's following local ethic and custom.Anders-Sunnyside9

So, who looks after this place?

We all do.

Stewardship of our cliffs and trails is a cornerstone of our climbing world. You can contribute and as member of Ascent NB, you're making the statement that you support these principles. Wherever possible, Ascent NB will use it's resources, time, and sweat to further stewardship projects at New Brunswick's crags.

Posted by ascentnb on

Did you sign a waiver yet?

Did you sign a waiver yet?

If you have already purchased your Ascent NB membership, don't forget to sign a waiver and return it to a member of the Ascent NB executive. Without the submitted waiver your membership is not finalized.

You can find the waivers for printing in English and in French.

A big THANK YOU to Sonia Wilson for providing pro bono translation services, and to Dominic Caron for providing pro bono legal services!

Posted by ascentnb on

Membership Drive – Goals

Membership Drive – Goals

When Ascent NB was formed in September 2013, those who attended the AGM agreed on these goals as the direction of the organization.

- Acquire and preserve access to New Brunswick climbing areas.
This is our primary directive. Ascent will do everything in its power to ensure the areas we currently enjoy remain open indefinitely to climbers. By being organized now, we can be ready to spring to action if and when our access is threatened in one of these areas.

- Promote responsible climbing practices.
While Ascent NB does not exist to promote climbing in general, we do encourage and promote climbing responsibly. Responsible climbing does not end in the vertical world, but includes stewardship of the surrounding forests and trails. By helping to maintain our local cliffs and trails, Ascent seeks to lead by example.

Now we have the mandate but need the support of the community. Please help to make this happen by purchasing a membership here!

Posted by ascentnb on

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Ascent New Brunswick wesbite!  Check back regularly for updates on news and local happenings in the New Brunswick climbing community.