Custom Chaco Sandal Program Helps Climbers Purchase Atlanta Boulder Field
Chaco and Rock Creek Outfitters raise over $8000 in effort to help the Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition gain permanent access to one of the premier bouldering areas in the Southeast. Proceeds from custom Chaco sandal sales go to finalize land purchase.
January 11, 2007 – Rock Creek Outfitters, parent company of rockcreek.com, and Chaco announced this week that their Custom Chaco Sandal Program was successful in raising the funds needed to finalize the purchase of Boat Rock, a woodland area inside the metro of Atlanta with more than a half mile of unique egg-shaped granite boulders.
Well known for their environmental efforts and dedication to access issues, the Chattanooga-based retailer and footwear manufacturer teamed up to create two custom Chaco performance sandal designs, which were offered during the 2006 Triple Crown Bouldering Series. For every pair of Chacos sold, Rock Creek and Chaco donated $20 to the Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition to go toward the purchase of Boat Rock. Rock Creek and Chaco were pleased to announce that the program succeeded in raising over $8000, enough to pay off the amount remaining on the Boat Rock mortgage.
Boat Rock was long threatened by development, but with continued effort from the SCC and local citizens, the area is now a community park and green space. The SCC now manages 13.2-acres of this urban forest, which is home to large hardwood trees, wetlands, springs, and rare plants such as lady slippers and the Oconee azalea. 
The coalition has also developed an environmental education program, which encourages local school children to learn about the geology of the area along with the local flora and fauna.
In 2005, a similar effort from Chaco, Rock Creek Outfitters and The Triple Crown raised over $4,000 toward the purchase of Laurel Knob, a 1,200 ft. granite dome in Cashiers Valley located in the Highlands of North Carolina. Once threatened by development, Laurel Knob, renowned as the tallest crag east of the Mississippi River, is now owned by the Carolina Climbers’ Coalition and is open to hiking and rock climbing.
“For two years in a row we’ve been able to use this program to help further grassroots causes and make a big impact for the climbing community,” said Chad Wykle, Sales Representative for Chaco and former general manager of Rock Creek Outfitters. “We’ve been successful in helping organizations gain access to two incredible climbing areas.”
For more information on Boat Rock and the Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition, please visit: www.seclimbers.org.
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