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UCMAG 411 - #23 > JUNE/JULY 2008
  EnlargeTHE SIGN SAYS IT ALL. HUECO’S NOT THE MECCA IT ONCE WAS, BUT MANY CLIMBERS MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE ANYWAY, BRAVING TOUCH-AND-GO ACCESS. THE CLIMBERS OF HUECO TANKS COALITION HOPES TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION. PHOTO BY JUSTIN ROTH
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HUECO-P CALL
The Climbers of Hueco Tanks Coalition (CHTC) is born
WORDS AND PHOTO BY JUSTIN ROTH
It’s no secret that climbing access has been an issue at the Hueco Tanks State Historic Site, outside El Paso, Texas, for over two decades. The chronic climbing closures and limitations at Hueco can be attributed primarily to The Hueco Tanks State Historic site’s mandate, which is first and foremost to protect historic and cultural aspects of the area (specifically, Native American rock art and buried artifacts); as a result of this prioritizing of artifacts over recreation, boulders with significant value to climbers are being closed permanently and without warning. Now, spurred to action by one such event — the unexpected December, 2007 Mushroom Boulder closure — Hueco climbers have formed the Hueco Tanks Climbers Coalition, with help from Charlie Boas of the Access Fund and other concerned locals (including former members of the El Paso Climbers Club and local landowners).
The coalition’s mission statement, according to Rob Rice, owner of the Hueco Rock Ranch and guide service, is as follows: “The Climbers of Hueco Tanks Coalition is dedicated to preserving and enhancing rock climbing at Hueco Tanks Historic Site. We commit to working cooperatively with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to proactively assist in managing climbing areas while conserving natural and historical resources.” Ideally, the CHTC would form a strong enough working relationship with the TPWD to stall and even reverse the rising tide of closures. Another function of the CHTC, suggests Rice, could be to bring in funds that help preserve and maintain Hueco on all levels. The CHTC could apply for grants from various foundations and corporations, allowing climbers play a more active financial role in the well being on the park. “I firmly believe that if we don’t get a club going — and get the relationship started where we become a respected and necessary user group — we’ll be left with a [short] list of things that are open as opposed a list of things that are closed,” says Rice, referencing the growing list of classic areas like the 45 Degree Wall, now verboten for climbers.
Wanda Olszewski, Superintendent of the Hueco Tanks State Historic Site, welcomes the new climber’s coalition, saying, “An org within the climbing community, and a local group in particular, would be very helpful for us in terms of including them in stakeholder meetings and assistance with work projects, and as far as getting the word out.” Having access to a single point of contact within the community is critical in Hueco. “Typically here, we’re walking a fine line between maintaining access to sites and protecting them,” says Olszewski — all the more reason to get the CHTC rolling. Plans are in place to have the CHTC operational by September 1, 2008, with regular meetings on the first Friday of each month. For more information and to get involved, email climbersofhuecotankscoalition@hotmail.com.
