The Southeastern Climbers Coalition - Message from the SCC President

Recently, I have taken the position as President of the Southeastern Climbers Coalition, and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to all of you. My name is Paul Morley and I am a climber. It is what I do, what keeps me sane, and what I live for. Climbing has been a very integral part of my life that has simply given me much of the experiences in life that I appreciate today. For the past four years, I have been a Board Member for the SCC which has provided me a medium of giving back to the community for a life that has given me much. At some point, the importance of access and community was something that was made brilliantly clear. Giving back was something that I knew was a responsibility.

Photo by Andrew Kornylak

Before I go on, I want to take the time and thank Michelle Connell for the time that she has spent over the past few years as President of the SCC. It is because of her and her husband Johnny Connell that I became involved in the SCC, and Michelle has been a major player in the history of access in the Deep South. During her time with the SCC, one of our most significant achievements, the acquisition of Jamestown, was made possible. And in continuation of ownership, trail work, and neighborly presence of that land, as well as other climbing areas such as Sandrock and Horse Pens 40, a precedence and example of climber responsibility was made evident. We all owe Michelle a debt of gratitude for the hard work and countless hours put into resolving access issues, analyzing tax maps, working with landowners, and holding climbing events. So if you see her out at the crag, please open a beer for her. I tip my hat to Michelle.

Each of us has a history and a story to tell. Many of our dreams, obsessions, and aspirations become manifested in some kind of physical expression. For some reason, climbing always seems to provide the perfect vehicle for expressing who we are, where we are, who we want to be, and where we are going. Before I was introduced to climbing, I spent almost every dollar I had at Vinyl Solutions in Tuscaloosa, thumbing through used CDs and records. I literally saw the world through music. Whenever I was listening to music, be it at a concert, in my car, or just in my room, I felt completely alive. I always loved the outdoors but it wasn’t until I found climbing that everything started to click, and I consequently found that climbing gave me the same excitement and understanding that I found in music. At that point in time, many things made more sense, and I began living completely. Motivation, drive, and the absolute exhilaration of being in the moment. Every time we rope up, throw down a pad, or place a stopper, it is an opportunity to live out those dreams through a send, to grow, and to abandon everything that holds us back from achieving what we didn’t think was possible. And every climber I have ever met knows this feeling. It is our common thread.

Climbing is engrained in me. I’ve been lucky to experience climbing all across the country from doing multi-pitch scary chickenhead protected run outs in the Cochise Stronghold to bolt clipping at Smith Rock to swinging ice tools in Colorado. All styles of climbing are equal to me and I see us as just climbers. Some styles just get us psyched more than others and motivate more. But you are at heart, a climber. I can honestly say that as much as I have traveled, I find that climbing in the South is the best. Period. Nothing compares to the excitement of steep roof thugging in Little River Canyon, barely holding onto a sloper at HP40, pulling pockets for 75 feet at Red River Gorge, and looking out at the valley while clipping anchors at Sunset. At any point in the day, you are likely to find me daydreaming about whatever project I’m currently working on, or planning the ultimate road trip.

But enough about me. Let’s talk about the South for a minute. The past year has really laid the foundation for the future of access in the Deep South. With three new crags opened, 20 plus trail days held, and continuing background work on many access projects, it is apparent that a change is occurring in and outside our crags. And it isn’t just the SCC doing the work. It is the work coming out of Birmingham with the Alabama Bouldering Fund. It is legwork being done on many levels by the Triple Crown. And where to begin with what the Access Fund is doing? Look around and you will see that we are living in an era where grassroots movements have truly taken our concerns into successful action. Oh yeah. It is also nationally recognized. Read through any Rock and Ice, Urban Climber, or Climbing and you will see the SCC, Access Fund, Triple Crown, and Alabama Bouldering Fund mentioned. Five crags are climber owned and climber managed? Climbers are now being welcomed by landowners? Seriously. What is going on the South is UNPRECEDENTED. Ten years ago, this would not have been the case. Every success in access or trail clean up has built upon the previous, providing the credibility that we truly mean business. You have yourself to thank for that. For staying involved. Coming to trail days. And more so than anything, giving a care.

Yeah. It is a good time to get involved on what is happening around you.

So why access? Why put so much energy into it? I’ve been asked these questions in one form or another several times. At the core of every facet of access work is the fact that concern for access is every climbers’ responsibility and our only way of ensuring that the next generation coming behind us has the same opportunity to experience the incredible ride that we have had. It is that simple. The details of access such as working with landowners, hammering rebar, and organizing events are always justified because of the simplicity of the reason behind the actions.

Everything that we envision happening will be possible if we continue to work together.

I pledge to each of you that I will do the absolute best that I can in order to properly uphold this position as President of the Southeastern Climbers Coalition. The next year is going to a whirlwind of excitement and I’m looking forward to it. The Southeastern Climbers Coalition will answer the call.

Get Psyched.

Paul Morley
President
Southeastern Climbers Coalition