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phaedrus
Oct 1, 2004, 5:52 PM
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http://www.freep.com/...cliff8e_20040908.htm Climbers debate the use of cliffs in Grand Ledge ASSOCIATED PRESS September 8, 2004 GRAND LEDGE -- Citing ecological concerns, climbers and others want to ban rock climbing at the only natural recreational climbing spot in the Lower Peninsula. Over the years, thousands of climbers have visited Grand Ledge's 40-foot sandstone cliffs along the Grand River in Eaton County. But professional climber Mike Hood, who led classes there until last fall, said climbing has destroyed the 14,000-year-old cliff's vegetation and plants. "Climbing here, in whatever numbers, continues to inflict a heavy toll on the flora and fauna," Hood told the Lansing State Journal for a Tuesday article. Hood plans to ask the Grand Ledge Parks and Recreation Commission later this month to ban climbing at the site. But other climbers have formed a group -- the Grand Ledge Climbers Coalition -- to both preserve the cliffs and allow climbers to keep using them. "Grand Ledge is lower Michigan's only climbing area, and we will do what it takes to preserve it," said Frank Abissi Jr. of Higher Ground Rock Climbing in Grand Rapids. Abissi and local climbers said they have done more good than bad for the ledges. They said climbers, with their own time and money, created a drainage system to reduce erosion. Kevin Kincare, a geologist with the state's Department of Environmental Quality, said sandstone is a soft, flaky rock held together by calcium carbonate that is more likely to suffer from erosion than from climbers' feet. Most of the change is the result of natural processes, he said. But Michigan State University geologist Thomas Vogel said climbing should be banned to protect the cliffs. "And my son is a professional climber in California, who first learned at the ledges," Vogel said.
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chossmonkey
Oct 1, 2004, 6:17 PM
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Registered: Feb 1, 2003
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What kind of an ass destroys a climbing area by bringing in groups, then asks for a closure? He should be flogged with big yellow tricams and #11 hexes.
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ax
Oct 1, 2004, 6:43 PM
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Yeah this Hood guy seems to be quite a character. I've never met him personally but I've heard many stories from many different people. Judging from what I've heard he definately has a few, no wait, a lot of screws loose.
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snowboardercarl
Oct 27, 2004, 10:46 PM
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Registered: Oct 27, 2004
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Yeah, seems like the whole world's gone crazy, I leaned how to climb at GL when I was 11 in a group let by Mike Hood. When I was a student at MSU I participated in volenteer work at GL to repair and replace damaged vegitation at the top of the cliffs, these volenteer activities were led by Mike Hood. I think the climbers at GL do a great job taking care of the park. If it weren't for the climbers the ledges would just be another place for the local high school students to smoke pot, drink beer, and litter all over the place. I personally think Mike Hood owes his livlihood to the cliffs at GL, He must have taken a huge whipper at some point and hit his head really hard to turn his back on them.
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johnnyrambo9er
Oct 27, 2004, 11:11 PM
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Registered: Oct 26, 2004
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I have climbed there many times, and I have meet (Captian Vertical) as we call him many times. He is messed up in the head for sure.
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timmr21
Oct 27, 2004, 11:22 PM
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Registered: Oct 27, 2004
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i agree with rambo there the guys crazy
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