2024 Year in Review
It has been a pleasure serving as the Ragged Mountain Foundation president for a 2nd year. It is always easier to serve as a volunteer of an organization that has great members and an equally dedicated board of directors. Thanks to the other 14 amazing board members, the RMF achieved a lot in 2024.
The RMF continues to move in the direction of representing all types of climbing in Connecticut. We are well on our way of breaking down the assumption that the RMF is a climbing advocacy organization strictly for traditional climbing at the Main Cliff. Our name makes this effort a challenging task, but one we will continue working on. We strive to uphold our mission of preserving Connecticut’s High and Wild places which include all forms of climbing access.
New retention wall underneath Vanishing Point
Access and Advocacy
Bradley
The challenge with access work is that it takes time. We are still fighting for access to Bradley Boulders and the climbing areas owned by the New Britain Water Department. The letter writing campaign from the fall of 2023 to the spring of 2024 has now brought us to the next stage of our advocacy efforts. This fall, select RMF members have attended several New Britain city meetings. Our efforts to attend these meetings on a regular basis is an important step in showing our continued interest in obtaining access to this beloved recreational resource.
Call to Action:
We need help! Our board can not do it alone. Meetings take place every month and we want to have representation as often as we can in 2025! Check out our website for the list of talking points and if you feel moved to address either the Common Council or New Britain Water Department, please contact the RMF to learn more about our current direction. Click here for more information.
One of the many fixed anchors at Ragged Main Cliff
Conservation efforts
Fixed Anchors
I never thought we would see the day, but the Main Cliff is now equipped with roughly 20 sets of top anchors. With the help from our partners at the Berlin Land Trust, we can celebrate this monumental occurrence. This work could not have been possible without the help from several key members including Dimosthenis Sampatakos, Scott Sampietro and John Adams. The RMF would also like to thank Matt Shove for donating countless of work on this project. The locations that received anchors are now shown on the updated version of the Ragged app on Gunksapps.com.
In addition the RMF also:
Increased our Fundraising efforts: The RMF has positioned ourselves for long term sustainability. Our long term strategy will help us have funds readily accessible when landowners are willing to sell properties.
Launched a new membership program: This new membership tier system gives Traprock members, those who donate $60 or more, access to discount incentives and are mailed the annual RMF T-shirt.
Climbing Policy: We continue our work with DEEP. The RMF and DEEP have both reviewed the first draft of a state level climbing policy. More to come in 2025.
Trail Work: our continued effort to improve the network of trails around Castle Craig and other areas of East Peak took place this spring with several dedicated trail days. We also continued our efforts expanding the retention wall on the undercliff trail of the Main Cliff at Ragged.
For a full list of trail days for 2025 or to get involved with our Crag Stewardship program please visit the volunteer section of our website.
To learn more about the future direction and for additional information about what the foundation accomplished in 2024 join us for our upcoming annual meeting on Tuesday, February 11th at Witch Doctor Brewing in Southington Connecticut.
Other upcoming events include:
Saturday, March 8th: Reel Rock 19: 7pm showing at Cinestuido in Hartford, CT.
Tuesday, April, 8th: RMF in person Board meeting at Ascent Rock Gym, New Haven, CT 7pm (all are welcome).
Sunday, April 13th: spring trail days kick off: The Main Cliff of Ragged.