I would just like to leave a…

I would just like to leave a comment about my love of both the outdoors and climbing. Ontario has a lot of land to protect and it is getting more difficult by the day as a result of climate change and slow government policy surrounding fossil fuel / carbon emissions. And I understand the need for a review of land management programs to conserve what nature we have left.

But if we are speaking of conserving culture, the history of climbing in Ontario is written on the walls of the Niagara escarpment. Devils Glen and the surrounding area crags have a rich history of incredible names such as David Smart, the founder of Griped Magazine and author of many climbing books. A history that goes back to the 1980s and has sparked many journeys for young Canadian adventures who read about these climbs and dreamed of their own adventures. So much Canadian climbing heritage is alive in this area.

We can argue about the recent popularity of climbing and the risks associated with bringing people into nature, as if we as a species are somehow separate from nature, but the fact is that, I don't know a single person who didn't leave nature with a respect not appreciated when they entered. I often say that outdoor adventurers (climbers, hikers, anglers, hunters etc ) make the best conservationists ... it is the people who have experienced these natural places who know and understand what it is that we have to lose. IT IS EVERYTHING

On a personal note ... during the COVID lockdowns, being outdoors was the only thing that made me feel semi normal, and climbing was the only thing that made me feel semi happy. Without climbing, I wouldn't be here today, I would have given up and taken the long sleep.