Stewardship Spotlight: Joe’s Valley Coalition’s 2023 Projects
2023 was the Joe’s Valley Coalition’s busiest year yet, full of trail planning, rock-hauling, and trash-collecting. Backed by paying members and volunteers, a lean team of Coalition organizers maintained direct communication with land management agencies, especially the local offices of the BLM and US Forest Service, as well as local officials in Emery County, to advocate for the continued and sustainable use of Joe’s Valley climbing areas.
“The governing bodies will look to us for advice if we’re the ones taking care of the land,” said Steven Jeffery, one of the Coalition’s organizers and a longtime developer of Joe’s Valley. “If we become the stewards of that land, we can help develop it to where we can all continue to use it.”
On top of maintaining these crucial relationships, the Coalition teaches climbers exactly how to care for the crag, through educational resources, volunteer opportunities, and membership options.
“More and more climbers are showing up in Joe’s Valley,” said Julie Janus, another Coalition organizer and the Executive Director of the Joe’s Valley Festival. “We want to share best practices with everyone so we can all protect access and drive sustainability together.”
In total, the Coalition completed 10 trail projects, landing projects for over 120 boulder problems, and 4 community projects in 2023:
2023 Trail Projects (10 Total Projects):
Pimper’s Paradise to Cabin Fever: new trail with the help of volunteers!
8.1 Mile Trails: new trails!
Wishing Well Trails: new trails!
Right Sign to Eden Connector Trail: new trail with the help of Snow College!
Man Size - Great White to Scrawny & Brawny Trail (replacing spider web of social trails): new trail with the help of volunteers!
Roan’s Canyon Main Trail System: new trails with the help of Joe’s Valley Fest volunteers!
Rolling Earth Trail: improved trail!
No Substance to Pimper’s Paradise: improved trail with the help of volunteers!
Right Sign Trails (to Wills, Mr. Duck, Snaggletooth, Sunshine Daydream): improved trails!
Man Size Main Trail: improved trail with the help of volunteers!
2023 Landing Projects (120 Total Boulder Problems, 43 Total Boulders):
Rolling Earth Area: Rolling Earth, Blue Planet, Mars, Uranus, Horizontal Heat boulders (15+ problems)
Minute Man Area: Miniature Man, Just a Minute, Minute Man, Pot Belly Baby (4 problems)
Above Jitterbug (8+ problems)
No Substance Area: What Goes Around Comes Around, South Face No Substance (3 problems)
Heartless (1 problem)
RIght Sign Area: Wills A Fire, Lumberjack, Mr. Duck, Snaggletooth, Tubesnake Boogie, America’s Playground, Bowtie Bailout, Broke Down Palace (12+ problems)
8.1 Mile area, including Everest (~10 problems)
Captain Ron’s boulder above Pimper’s Paradise (3 problems)
New V0 and V2 boulders at New Joe’s (2 problems)
New Joe’s: Big Lebowski (2 problems)
High Priest (1 problem)
Sailor Moon and 3 new nearby climbs (4 problems)
Thighmaster Boulder (4 problems)
World Cup Boulder (2 problems)
New Joe’s: Hump the Rump (3 problems)
Roan’s Canyon (~40 problems)
Man Size: Slab Land, Up & Down, Double Delicious (6 problems)
2023 Community Projects (4 Total Projects)
2 Orangeville city clean-ups
Youth craft project at Castle Dale Christmas party
Free geode cracking at Green River Rocks festival
Want to support more of these projects in 2024? Become a member of the Joe’s Valley Coalition! You’ll be able to choose a donation level based on what you’re comfortable with, plus you’ll have a positive impact on one of the fastest-growing climbing areas in the United States. You’ll also receive custom Joe’s Valley Coalition swag to show off your dedication to maintaining climbing access.
Climbing in Joe’s Valley? The Coalition hosts monthly volunteer projects during the climbing season if you’d like to donate your time.