Born out of a group of folks who simply love to climb, the Central Texas Mountaineers
(CTM) has grown into an active advocacy group for not only climbing access to public and
private land, but for the preservation of open public green spaces for all to enjoy.
With its origins as a UT climbing club, CTM has evolved into a separate entity that promotes
positive land stewardship to some of Austin's more popular parks. Recently, CTM has joined
the Austin Parks Foundation
to support the direction and goals of this non-profit organization.
First and foremost, CTM is a rock climbing club, run by climbers for the benifit of the Austin
climbing community. To this end, we take the initiative to have the following responsibilities:
- Pursue and secure climbing access to both public and private lands.
- Maintain good relationships with local and state governing bodies through positive land stewardship.
- Provide regular route maintenance for climbing safety.
- Enjoy climbing!
Climbing Access
The geology of Texas, with its far reaching ancient seabed sedimentation rock, provides Central Texas
with a wealth of limestone cliff bands on both public and private land. Since its formation, our
climbing club has sought to secure climbing access to these bouldering and sport climbing gem stones.
Some of these quality climbing areas are conveniently located right downtown in Austin's own Barton
Creek Greenbelt. Others are on the outskirts of Austin at the Enchanted Rock and McKinney Falls
State Parks. While others lie out further on private land, like the Continental Ranch on the Pecos River.
In some cases, CTM has played a pivitol role in drumming up support for purchases of private lands,
like Reimers Ranch, for public preservation by Travis County. In places where climbing access has been
threatened, like Hueco Tanks in El Paso, CTM members have played an active role in trying to negotiate
and retain access. Below are the Memoranda of Cooperation (MOC) and other legal documents that we have on file
with the City of Austin and Travis County.
Downloads and Resources Available:
Land Stewardship
One of the most recent and notable examples of CTM's cooperation with government for the preservation
of public land is the aquisition of Milton Reimers Ranch by Travis County in 2005. Not only did CTM
rally support for this purchase at each Travis County Council meeting to show how passionate we are about
keeping this land out of the hands of home builders, we have worked with Travis County since the purchase
by contributing towards their development of the master plan of the area, fundraising, and sponsoring
trail projects. The annual Limestoner Climbing Competition is one such
fundraiser that CTM puts on each year out at Reimers Ranch. In 2006, the event raised almost $3,000,
half of which went to the park and the other half to the Access Fund.
To further show good faith to Travis County, CTM organized
trail projects at Reimers Ranch over 8 weekends during 2006 to limit erosion on the climber's hiking
trails.
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The annual Limestoner Climbing Competition and fundraiser at Reimers Ranch.
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Trail project work day at Reimers Ranch.
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Further, CTM has partnered with Austin Parks Foundation,
the Greenbelt Gaurdians and the
Access Fund for various common interest projects.
Route Maintenance
As a climbing club, one of our chief responsibilities is to regularly inspect and upgrade the fixed
hardware found on the many sport climbing routes throughout Central Texas. Funds raised from the
Limestoner Climbing Competition as well as through regular
membership dues go to support this effort.
As with the trail projects, this effort is supported wholly by the selfless work of volunteers.
CTM Outings and Roadtrips
Rock climbing is more that just a past time for many of us; climbing is a way of life. As such, CTM
members come together many times each year for climbing trips and social events. One doesn’t have to
join to voice an opinion or make a proposal, to volunteer for workdays at the crags, or to enjoy our
sponsored events, but joining is encouraged.
