HOW IT WORKS
The fundraising efforts of the RRG FGI can be broken down into 3 separate categories.
Community Subsidized Stainless Steel Fixed Gear for New Development
Community donations are pooled with developer's contribution to purchase stainless steel bolts. We offer both stainless steel expansion bolts and glue ins to developers at a reduced price that allows continued development with more sustainable materials. From November, 2013 to current over 8500 stainless steel subsidized bolts have been purchased and distributed to developers. All bolts are placed at crags that have, or are expected to have public access and routes will follow a normal grade distribution that is common of the Red.
Community Funded Stainless Steel Fixed Gear for Re-bolting
Much of the zinc-plated fixed gear in the Red River Gorge is well past it's first decade of use and is showing it's age. A group of a few dedicated developers have been willing to donate their time and effort to the critical enterprise of re-bolting routes. Until this year, the majority of the costs were the burden of those who chose to help out. RRG FGI is proud to fund-raise directly for bad bolt replacement and has supported the annual Rebolt the Red Event since 2015. Each year developers partner with community volunteers to form teams allowing hundreds of bolts to be replaced at different crags in one day. Our re-bolting efforts are ongoing through the year. You can stay up-to-date of events and re-bolting days by joining the Facebook group.
Permadraws & Mussy Hooks
It is our goal to provide developers with long-lasting and durable lower off hardware for sport routes. The American Alpine Club and American Safe Climbing Association alike, advocate for lowering off sport routes due to the decreased risk of error vs. rappelling. It's no secret to RRG regulars however, that sand laden ropes quickly abrade lower off hardware which can wear down and become unsafe. Mussy Hooks intended for climbing lower-offs, like the Sport Bolting Top Anchor Hook, hold up phenomenally to this wear providing and long lasting and economical solution. We DO NOT advocate top roping through fixed gear, and one should never climb above mussy hooks due to the risk of unintentional unclipping.
Permadraws are also considered fixed gear in the Red. Due to the steep nature of climbing in the area, some routes necessitate fixed draws which allow the route to be cleaned more easily. Aluminum carabiners wear grooves quickly and become dangerously sharp, due to this fixed draws should be made of steel. Still though, steel permadraws are anything but and they too will wear, albeit about ten times slower than their aluminum counterpart. We aim to provide developers with high quality steel permadraws when necessary.