February 2025 Meeting Notes

February Public Meeting

First Meeting of the year!

Meeting attended by 23 Coalition members



Land Manager Meeting updates

  • Meeting went really well - SEE BELOW

  • big thing for right now: “no changes to the current situation for bolting/climbing regulations for now”

  • BHNFS

    • Meeting update from Feb 7th from Brandon, Ron, or Jim 

      • Submitted fee proposals for approval

        • They assured- we will not see any fees at WR till 2026

          • Announced that annual pass will most likely be respected 

        • Brad will be forwarding an official update from FS for members

          • Starting May, no overnight camping at WR

            • Announced at meeting


  • Us as volunteer group

    • No trail crew this summer, they are requesting assistance with trail maintenance

    • If we volunteer through FS with coalition, we have insurance coverage: 2 options

      • Individuals can either sign up for volunteering form (permanent volunteer until ended)

      • Group volunteer form (signs participants up till end of event/day)

    • They will definitely use us as manpower

    • We should choose a day we want to volunteer

      • And stress that we are willing to help out for days/projects that they need help with as well as areas we want to work on

        • Goal: to build the relationship up to where thye feel comfortable to reach out to us when they are in need!

  • Update will come forward in future

    • Utilizing us as partner and asset

      • They may reach out soon asking us to post info about WR camping updates

  • Northern Hills discussion

    • They were unclear with how much support they can give towards N. Hills Trail Day

      • Brad - works for forest ranger and not recreation group

      •  Austin Aluise is the recreation group contact 

    • Spearfish Scramble

      • Tricky grey area with having cash prize and paid entry

      • BHSU is good first route, but SDSMT is good backup for potential sponsors

  • Dan Austin will like a tour of all the climbing areas

  • Looking Forward: the FS would like to meet once more in the fall - 

    • bi-annually


  • CSP

    • Waiting to hear back from Lydia 

  • Mt. Rushmore 

    • Email from Rylan as of Feb 5th 

      • No plans to discuss management plan (2-3 years out)

        • Suggested: we provide Access Fund with management plan to format it to make it government ready

          • Then we can present a finalized form of the management plan

        • Rushmore will most likely be doing their own thing in regards to climbing management

          • They expressed not being interested in being a part of discussion with other agencies

      • Assuming help from volunteers due to political climate

        • Weed pulling/trash cleanups/

      • Potential managing of the sign-in sheets at kiosk

    • Meeting in March/April at Rushmore 

Management Plan

  • May reach out to Access Fund for help with writing and formatting a plan

  • Brandon comment: why are there no other management plans for even larger user groups that potentially have a bigger impact?

    • In the future, maybe we will address this question

    • Additionally, there are groups pushing against climbing access

    • Discussion ensued about pros and cons of protecting access versus not putting in the effort 

  • Brief review of management plan run over to update newer BHCC meeting attendees

    • 2-3 years before management plan can start to be officially discussed

      • Our plan will be worked on in cohort with the Access Fund in order 

  • Park Act and Wilderness act bills passed with assistance Access Fund mentioned


BH Community Foundation Meeting

  • Upcoming Meeting with Eric Zimmer with Black Hills Community Foundation 

    • Thursday, Feb 13th @ 2PM

    • Mark, (Peyton?), and Ron will attend

    • Fundraising opportunities

      • Especially with NON-Profit status

      • Endowment - what level of funding would we need for endowment

        • Part time paid positions

    • Ask background on development officer

      • Someone who writes grants or helps find grants

        • For events such as pumpfest

      • Potentially a contractor/employee/agent

      • What is the best way to start this process

    • Matching donations for fundraisers

  • Meeting with Community Foundation announced

    • A little background given on community foundation

    • Endowment Idea mentioned to community to gauge response 

      • Question by Shane asked about removing funds if in the future we needed to

      • Question by Matt also asked about who can donate

    • Seems to be well received

    • Coalition wants to ask Eric Zimmer to a coalition meeting discussing the endowment idea

      • We could also do it during/after events

      • Coalition feels they need more information but generally in support

    • Coalition member Matt Emrich appreciates the idea of hiring a part-time employee to support needs of coalition 

Upcoming Fundraiser Events 

Yearly Event Sponsorship Newsletter

  • Sent to brands

  • Sent to local businesses 

    • Responses thus far: 

      • Dark Canyon 

      • Access Fund 

      • Lost Cabin 

Reel Rock Film Tour

  • End of March 

    • Waiting to hear back from BHSU

    • Multiple dates available for Custer Beacon 

      • Friday and Saturday open on last week of March

      • Vote is for Saturday, March 22th at Beacon - time TBD

      • And Friday, March 21th??? in BHSU Spearfish on campus - 6 pm

  • Cost of film = $1200

    • Renting Beacon ~ $500

    • BHSU ~ $120

    • Swag giveaways 

      • Waiting for updates on sponsors from local businesses


  • Publicity 

    • Create and send material by Feb 16th 

      • To social media, BHSU, and Louie at the Beacon

  • Mountain Hardcare and Camp want to be large sponsors of pumpfest

  • Pumpfest Inquiry

    • Liability concerns mentioned at meeting

    • Eric Zimmer stressed his concerns with taking out the coalition 

    • BHSU mentioned - maybe we can utilize their insurance 

      • SDSMT - mentioned

        • President of SDSMT climbing club also mentioned:

          • Making a Pumpfest LLC in order to avoid liability concerns for this event

          • He will speak with Corey about sponsoring an event such as pumpfest or scramble

          • President of SDSMT Climbing Club

            • Jordan Howard :


Upcoming Events

  • Earth Day Clean Up (April 26th) 

    • Spoke about Cici Lepa with BHNFS about collaboration: offered to haul out trash, supply bags, and other supplies 

  • Spearfish Scramble

    • Emailed Horseshoe Canyon for information - still waiting

    • History: event sponsored by BH Crux club

      • Competition in the Canyon

      • Liability Concerns 

      • Rab and Camp were also interested in 


  • Wyatt Brumbaugh wanted to mention a Baldy trail day

    • Or spearfish day at darkside

      • Fixing moss erosion and bridge at spearfish creek

  • Big Picture gulley mentioned - a little overgrown 

  • Wyatt mentioned White Rock near newcastle

    • For clean up day 

    • Access fund got access to it years ago

    • Full of glass and rugs and needs some touching up - esp


Public Meeting

Sunday at Lost Cabin Sunday at 5pm 

Lets ask the members what time and place is best

We will still be planning on flipping between Rapid, Spearfish, and Custer


Open Comment period

  • Questions about sylvan lake trail

    • When will it be opening? What are some updates from CSP

  • Questions about working on trail in state park

    • We work with Jaimie the superintendent of CSP

      • The BHCC maintains good relationship with him


  • The SDSMT CLIMBING club wants to work with coalition and provide manpower for trail days

    • Jordan will reach out with a list


  • Wyatt has massive group of highschoolers in NHS who need hours for volunteering

  • Waste Disposal Stations: do we want to add more in spearfish?

    • Sunshine, botany, or even dark side


  • Election Year: 

    • We will be needing new board members of coalition by the end of year**

      • 2 year commitment 

      • We should consider staggering the rotation of board member renewals

  • Basecomp Feb. 22nd

  • February 27th Biking film showing at Dakota Point

    • We will be there with our flyers 

    • Wyatt will volunteer tentatively

  • Booth update needed for events

    • Business cards

    • Poster with our mission statement

    • Stickers

  • Lawrence County Search and Rescue 

    • Interested in having a presence at events (spearfish scramble, Reel rock  - kristin Hintz 414-333-7136)

  • Send Wyatt - earth day info for NHS sponsors

Meeting Adjourned at 6:32




 



Black Hills Climbers Coalition