The Washington Climbers Coalition helped the Trust for Public Land (TPL) buy Leavenworth’s Sam Hill crags in April, 2005. A 40-acre parcel was for sale and at risk for residential development, seriously threatening access. Crags included in the purchase are Sam Hill, The Underhill, Whoopsie Pillar, Ski Tracks Crack, the Fridge Boulder, and Trundle Dome.
The Trust for Public Lands started working on the Sam Hill purchase in 2004. By the Spring of 2005, it had secured a large grant from the Icicle Fund, a Leavenworth-based environmental foundation. The purchase wasn’t fully funded, though, and the Icicle Fund asked if climbers might show their support for the purchase through fundraising.
With five weeks to go until the closing date, TPL still needed to find $16,000 to cover the purchase costs. The WCC stepped in with the modest goal of raising $8,500.00, with the hope that the remaining $7500 could be obtained from the Access Fund. Thanks to an amazing grassroots response, we blew through that goal, raising over $14,300 from over 150 individual donors like you. Special props go to the Bushwacker Climbing Club, which put on a one-night home brew fundraiser that netted $900.00!
The Sam Hill property is now managed by the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust.