The climber’s apology and respectful request….
Dear Town of Woodstock,
My name is Kayte, and I’m one of the climbers who added safety bolts on Merriam Woods conservation land. Since receiving a letter from the town attorney in fall of 2022, I’ve also been serving as a representative for climbers to the Woodstock Conservation Committee (WCC). I can’t say that I have talked to all of the climbers who installed safety bolts on this land. But I’ve done my best to reach as many as I can.
First, let me say, clearly, together with over 100 climbers who have contacted me, that we are so very sorry. Our actions were narrow-minded, disrespectful, and upsetting. Climbers made mistakes; we get it. We are sorry. Truly. So sorry.
Second, please believe me when I say that we are on the same team here! Or at least, we really want to be. Even though climbers really screwed up, our intentions were good. Climbers care about the land, the peregrines, the environment. We did fail to ask permission from the WCC, but that mistake was unintentional. Worse, we made far too much impact, in some cases destroyed fragile vegetation, and posted too much online. We are responsible for this, and we apologize. After labor day weekend, climbers got organized and made changes. We DO care and want to make this right.
I, and every climber I have spoken with, agree wholeheartedly with the concerns voiced by the WCC and neighboring landowners about recent happenings at Merriam Woods.
No one looks back at 2022 Labor Day Weekend, with the line of cars and slew of tourists on the road, as a good thing. We can only hope the town will see the good intent in our hearts, and give us the chance to show that we can do better. Now, we are organized and following appropriate steps with the town. We are dedicated to being good partners and stewards of the land moving forward.
I, and the climbers I represent, only debate one point, captured in Article 33, which proposes chopping climbing bolts.
Due to the Merriam Woods deed and current NH law, rock climbing is allowed on this land as a form of outdoor recreation. Multiple lawyers and the WCC have all said this. Let’s make sure that the climbing remains safe; while we’re at it, let’s work together to make it more conservation-focused. Please, don’t let the voice of anger win out to destroy these cliffs and and jeopardize safety. Allowing climbing but not allowing proper safety equipment? - it just doesn’t make sense.
Rock climbing is allowed on this land. Limiting the use of safety equipment, including chopping bolts, is not a solution. It’s dangerous - plain and simple.
Instead of limiting the use of safety equipment, climbers need to operate under a management plan that is approved by the WCC and the town, one that remedies concerns and reflects the desires of the town as a whole, not just the climbers. Please, give climbers the chance to propose solutions to the town to remedy concerns; there is no need to compromise safety here.
Though I have said these words to the Woodstock Conservation Committee (WCC) and those residents who have contacted me - we have seen posts that show that some people in the town are still angry. And that’s very understandable. The apology needs to be said again, and beyond the members of the Conservation Commission. I hope everyone in the town will read this and share it with your neighbors and anyone else who may feel wronged or disrespected because of what happened. I also hope you will give climbers the chance to make this right.
A legitimate apology means you have thought long and hard about what you did wrong. There might be reasons why you did what you did, but there are no excuses. Here is a zero excuses, legitimate and sincere apology to the town of Woodstock that I share as the voice of all of the climbers who installed safety bolts on your land without permission:
“Climbers are so sorry for this outcome! We went way too far. All we can hope is that the town will come to understand that we made mistakes with good intentions, and that neither disrespect to the town, nor injury to this land, was ever our intent.”
I could not be more sorry for the fact that I did not follow the correct processes that the good people of Woodstock have used to run their town since long before I was born. Also - WE - all of the climbers who installed safety bolts on your land - are so very sorry. Since we learned that this is conservation property managed by the WCC, the local climbing community has been doing everything we can to try to make things right with the WCC and the town. People are angry, and I don’t for one second blame them for that. All we can do is apologize and ask for the chance to prove we can do better.
