Special Events

2006 QUARTZ FALL GATHERING

Fall is just about here, and you know what that means. The Quartz Fall Gathering is coming soon. Mark your calendars now and join the local climbing community on November 4th and 5th at Baldy Point at Quartz Mountain Nature Park for a weekend of climbing and comradery on some of the finest granite in the southwest.

The Park has once again granted the climbing community a special use permit for camping on-site at Quartz on Friday and Saturday nights. The cost is $3 per person per night, whether you pitch a tent, bivy on a boulder, or sleep in your vehicle. The fee includes free use of the showers at the main park campground.

Upon your arrival, please sign-in at the welcome tent and pay your camping fees. You will be issued a camping/parking permit to hang on the rear-view mirror of your vehicle while at the event.

Remember, open campfires are not permitted. If you plan to cook out, bring a stove. And don't forget to bring something to grill for the tailgate barbecue in the parking lot on Saturday night.

Help us protect this pristine area by minimizing your impacts. Please disperse your tent sites, make use of the new restroom facilities, and carry-out all trash. By doing so, you will insure that Baldy's natural resources are protected and that the Park continues to grant the climbing community a special use permit for future events.

Also, please note Quartz Mountain Nature Park's rules and regulations for the event:

1) No liquor or drugs. Beer is permitted.
2) No firearms.
3) No mountain bikes.
4) No campfires.
5) No tree cutting or trimming.
6) Pets on a leash at all times.
7) Barbecue grills are permitted in the parking lot.
8) Bivying and tent camping are permitted 100' east of the parking lot.
9) Sleeping in your vehicle is permitted.
10) Carry-out and dispose of all trash and waste.

WMCC STATEMENT OF NON-LIABILITY FOR QUARTZ GATHERINGS

The Wichita Mountains Climbers Coalition (WMCC) is a non-profit, volunteer climbers organization dedicated to protecting the climbing resources and natural environment of the Wichita Mountains at both the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and Baldy Point (Quartz) at Quartz Mountain Nature Park by working in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Refuge and the State of Oklahoma at Quartz. The WMCC is not a climbing club and does not offer sponsored climbing instruction, outings or events.

The Quartz Fall Gathering and Quartz Spring Fling are semi-annual gatherings of individual members of the local climbing community which were started by climbers for climbers, and which are allowed by Quartz Mountain Nature Park under a special use permit authorizing on-site camping at Baldy Point during the events. The WMCC, at the request of Quartz Mountain Nature Park, acts as campground host for the Quartz Fall Gathering and Spring Fling for the sole and only purposes of assisting Quartz Mountain Nature Park in collecting camping fees from those in attendance, insuring that camping and other activities of the event do not cause significant impacts to the natural environment of the area, and cleaning up all litter, trash and other waste resulting from the events.

The WMCC is not responsible for and makes no representations or warranties regarding the safety, or lack thereof, of those attending the Quartz Fall Gathering or Quartz Spring Fling, or for the security, or lack thereof, of the vehicles, equipment and personal belongings of those in attendance. Attendance is "at your own risk", and each person in attendance is individually responsible for his or her own safety, as well as for the security of their vehicles, equipment and personal belongings. Moreover, each person in attendance is individually responsible for abiding by all rules and regulations of Quartz Mountain Nature Park, the oversight and enforcement of which is the sole responsibility of Quartz Mountain Nature Park.

For more information on what you can do to help, contact the WMCC.