Milestones

Significant Milestones & Important Contributions

The Allied Climbers of San Diego (ACSD) have had many successes since forming in early 2007. We continue to grow each day, adding to membership, adding to past accomplishments, partnering with important stakeholders in the community, reaching out to assist other climbing organizations, and working to build and strengthen the local and regional climbing community.

Here are some of our accomplishments over the years:

ACSD has established Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with the Cleveland National Forest and The City of Poway to engage in collaborative partnerships. MOUs provide for conflict resolution and development of beneficial recreational resource programs & projects.

In addition to establishing MOUs, ACSD has also coordinated and established relationships with federal, state and local land managers preserving access to climbing areas in Southern California.

ACSD became one of the first LCOs (Local Climbing Organizations) under the umbrella of the Access Fund.

ACSD has lobbied local politicians to get support for designating some of San Diegos most valuable climbing resources as Official Climbing Resources. As a result, District Congressional and State Representatives wrote letters to CNF requesting that the three climbing crags of El Cajon Mountain, Eagle Peak, & Corte Madera be designated as official climbing resources.

ACSD sent representation to Washington DC which resulted in the U.S. Forest Service funding mediation proceedings. The U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution held mediation sessions with ACSD, The CNF and other stakeholders. The result was the First Of Its Kind joint monitoring program between ACSD and the CNF. This allowed our most valuable climbing resources to remain open and the nesting raptors to be protected.

ACSD Published a climbing guidebook to Eagle Peak, Corte Madera, and El Cajon Mountain. This was the most detailed and up to date guide produced for these areas at the time it was released. It was sold in REI stores as well as online retailers with all proceeds going toward ACSDs efforts to maintain and enhance access to our outdoor recreational resources. You can currently purchase a PDF copy on our website: Buy The Pocket Guide PDF Now.

ACSD initiated Administrative Appeals with the Angeles National Forest to reopen Williamson Rock. While this effort is still ongoing, ACSDs efforts were instrumental in moving the needle on re-opening Williamson Rock and have resulted in proposed alternatives that factor in access to climbing.

ACSD has started and continues to champion the process to create recognized climbing trails in the Cleveland National Forest. Many climbers do not realize that most of the trails they use to access climbing areas are not actually officially recognized trails. As part of this initiative ACSD has mapped access trails with GPS. This was a critical first step and one the Forest Service did not have the manpower or funds to accomplish.

ACSD has participated for many years in the creation of a new Master Plan for Mission Trails Regional Park. The master plan establishes what activities can take place and where (along with many other things). With many years of attending planning meetings, ACSD has ensured that climbing will continue to be a recognized and legal activity within the park.

In addition to working on the Master Plan with Mission Trails Regional Park, ACSD has worked with rangers for over a decade on trail maintenance projects. ACSD has not only provided the manpower for many projects over the years, but has also provided building materials including thousands of pounds of treated wood beams and steel rebar to assist in construction of the trails as well as purchasing new signs to keep visitors on the designated trails.

As a result of the many years of graffiti removal at the Santee Boulders, the Mayor of Santee and the City Council formally recognized ACSD.

ACSD successfully worked with the City Of Poway to reopen Poway Crags. Poway Crags was closed permanently due to Golden Eagle nesting. ACSD worked with the city to establish a safe area for the eagles, erect signage on site and educate the community on when and where climbing is allowed. This allowed Poway Crags to once again be open to climbing. Recently we have a new challenge at Poway Crags and are continuing to work with the city and Fish and Wildlife Service.

ACSD helped save the Pine Mountain Pulldown community climbing competition from being cancelled. When locals objected to the competition, ACSD stepped in to negotiate a win-win for all parties that both allowed for the competition to take place as well as ensured that proper post competition cleanup was undertaken and the area was left as good as it was prior to the competition.

ACSD annually hosts and facilitates at least 4 service events removing trash, debris and graffiti local climbing areas including Mt. Woodson, Santee Boulders, El Cajon Mountain, Valley of The Moon and others.

ACSD has successfully removed thousands of square feet of graffiti and paint eliminating blight and destruction of our climbing areas at Mt. Woodson, Santee Boulders, and Dixon Lake.

ACSD has removed tens of thousands of pounds of trash over the years from El Monte Road, the trailhead for El Cajon Mountain.

ACSD has held numerous trailwork days at Eagle Peak, Penasquitos Canyon and the San Diego River.

ACSD has worked extensively with the City of Escondido to reopen Dixon Lake. Dixon was closed due to excessive trash and graffiti. ACSD worked to create a permit process and signage that allowed the city to reopen the area. In addition, ACSD has completed several large-scale graffiti removal events.

ACSD was recently recognized by the City of Escondido at a city council meeting for our volunteer efforts.

ACSD has worked with the Bureau Of Land Management to create and install a new kiosk at Valley of the Moon. ACSD worked with the BLM on the design of the new kiosk, provided funds to print the boards and purchase the materials as well as manpower to help install it. This new kiosk officially recognizes climbing in the Valley of the Moon area for the first time ever.

ACSD continues to work closely with land managers including the Cleveland National Forest in many ways including inviting them to ACSD meetings to better understand current federal programs that could affect climbing areas, foster positive and strong relationships and to meet members of the climbing community.