Original Kenny Reveg Poster

Last year, NRAC had a great idea for the New River Rendezvous: take one longhaired, old-school New-River first-ascentionist and NRAC VP (Kenny Parker), add one game Rendezvous sponsor (La Sportiva), and you get one funny fundraiser.

Here's a little history. We approached Kenny Parker, long time climber and co-owner of Water Stone Outdoors, with a proposition. "If we (Rendezvous attendees) can raise $1000 by the last day of the Rendezvous, we get to shave your head." The kicker: La Sportiva would match the $1000 and $2000 would go towards planting native flora at two of the NRG's most heavily used crags, the Bridge Buttress and Junkyard Wall. Kenny boldly agreed to the arrangement.

Well, not only did we reach our goal, we destroyed it. Rendezvous participants dug deep to the tune of $2500, and Sportiva matched it!

Lots of Volunteers Helped Out

Months later, on November 14th, climbers from all over the region and staff from the New River Gorge National River partnered to implement the "Bridge Buttress and Junkyard Wall Re-Vegetation Project," AKA, the stuff Kenny’s hair bought. We planted a whole slew of native trees and shrubs at Junkyard and the Bridge. Participants also installed several split-rail fence enclosures to decrease impact in high-use and re-vegetated areas. Since that time, the enclosure areas have had time to "heal," and generate a small soil profile and slope stabilization, as well as enhance the natural beauty of these two locations.

Below are some pictures from the re-vegetation project (and the Kenny-Parker DE-vegetation project).

Bridge Buttress

Planting Rhododendron

Freshly Planted Rhodos

Fencing w/a Bench at Junkyard

Split-rail Fencing