Church Signs Lease Granting Rock Climbers Access to Church-Owned Land in Canyon

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A joint press release noted "the Church's teachings include a belief that we have a responsibility to work with others to care for God's creations."

A lease signed Thursday between climbing advocates and the LDS Church has solidified access to hundreds of routes in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

For decades rock climbers have been drawn to the popular granite crags at Gate Buttress, benefitting from years of negotiation between the sport's enthusiasts and the land's owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But until now, the understanding carried no formal agreement.

The lease places the 140-acre Gate Buttress parcel under the care of the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, a local advocacy group whose goals include educating climbers and maintaining the areas they frequent, and the Access Fund, a national climbing and environmental group.

Lead image from Deseret News
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