Carolina Climbers Coalition

Vice President
Nancy Jackson, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nancy started climbing at the now defunct Roc, Ltd in the late 90s.  In no time, she embraced bouldering as training for the trad lines that she is homesick for most days.  These experiences have motivated Nancy to travel whenever feasible to climbing areas in other parts of the country and world.  (Namely when her daughters say it's okay to leave.) Nancy credits the NC/greater southeast climbing experiences as key to her being able to climb anywhere at said grade.  She has served on CCC Board since Fall of 2006.     

Treasurer
Karen Staman, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I have been climbing for 21 years, and I hope to continue to climb for the next 40-50 years. I love to climb. I learned to climb in the Gunks (so I am overly fond of the pinkie tri-cam), and have climbed all over the United States and in Spain. NC has been my home for the last 14 years and I am continuously astounded by the quality of climbing that we have.

I have two children, Madeleine Bee (born Sept 2003) and Zach Rocket (born Jan 2006). After the birth of my daughter, Madeleine Bee, I told my non-climbing husband that I needed to lead a 5.10 before I got pregnant again. The weekend after I did it I was pregnant with Zach Rocket.

I joined the CCC because I want to help preserve and expand access to climbing. I am proud and happy to volunteer because climbing access is protected and expanded by grassroots efforts of climbers. The CCC has secured access to the Asheboro boulders and Laurel Knob - hugely wonderful achievements. I have also appreciated the bolts, anchors, trails, kiosks, and port-a-johns that they help maintain, so I am glad to give back. 

Secretary
Eddie Medina, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Eddie enjoys talking about himself in the third person, hoping that this
will create the illusion that he is so prolific a climber that others,
knowing Eddie is too busy climbing, would have written this bio for him.
Eddie wishes he had started climbing way earlier in his life, so that he
could fall back on his accomplishments as a climber and not as an activist
to elicit the respect that he no longer gets at home. His greatest
accomplishment to date is bargaining with his wife so that he can get one
day a week to climb the amazing cliffs of North Carolina in exchange for
doing all the laundry, dishes, and his sons' bath routine.

Web Admin
Brandon Calloway, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Brandon Calloway, one of the rare Asheville locals, has been climbing since the age of 13.  Lucky enough to have had a few of the WNC icons take him under their wing at an early age, he has an aged apprecation of the love, ethics, and allure of climbing in North Carolina.  While WNC granite will always hold a special place, it's the ice climbing that really gets him worked-up, even if the season is short-lived.  Brandon makes his living coding some of the best websites on earth (www.scullytown.com), while struggling to divide his time betwen a new family, work, and climbing.

Northern Mountains Rep
Terry Jennings, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I grew up in the North Carolina mountains and started climbing back in the early 70's with a manila rope and a hip belay.  My interest in helping with the CCC was sparked with the purchase of Laurel Knob.  Some of my best climbing adventures include helping pioneer several new routes at LK during the late 70's and early 80's with old friends such as Mike Fischesser and Burton Moomaw.  I realized how long I've been climbing during a recent trip to Boulder, CO. visiting my son.  He and I were in Neptune Mountaineering checking out all the great "antique" gear that was hanging around on several wall displays when Josh said, "Dad, you've got a bunch of this old stuff !!!".  ---- Anyone ever heard of wheelchair access for climbers??   

Southern Mountains Rep
Brian Williams, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Brian Williams, a native of North Carolina, has been climbing for the past six years.  "To me, climbing is the best way to get physically and mentally stronger while hanging out with close friends and enjoying our sacred and beautiful natural surroundings. I have gained so much while climbing here over the past five or six years and now I am excited to give back to the climbing community in whatever ways possible."  Brian has climbed in many areas across the country but considers North Carolina to be the best; no crowds, great rock and strict ethics. 

Southern Piedmont Rep
Mike Dean, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I've lived in Sanford, NC all my life, and am married with one son. I’m 35 and been climbing for about 11 years. Spent a couple years trad climbing, then spent a couple years sport climbing and soon after started bouldering. Bouldering is all I do now. I also enjoy skateboarding with my son. Was introduced to Asheboro boulders in the mid 90’s and fell in love with the area. Joined forces with the CCC around 1999 and been on the quest for access to the area ever since. Almost there!

The name Tim Fisher invokes a wide range of responses from folks climbing in the Piedmont.  What follows will no doubt add fuel to the rumors....

In 1980, Tim Fisher sampled climbing in its most basic form: top roping in the boulder field at Moore's Wall with a hired guide from Greensboro's Blue Ridge Outdoors.  Tim established his first 'notable' ground-up ascent, Nutsweat, in less than 10 months from that first outing.  (Super classic.  Go do it, if you haven't!) Ground-up first ascents are Tim's passion.  His unwavering reputation on this point has earned him the term of elitist and curmudgeon.  However, to anyone who seeks to establish routes, improve their traditional climbing skills, understand the best choices for fixed gear with the least impact, and so on, and so on.....Tim is approachable, generous with his time and a wealth of information.  (Tim's memory for gear placements is impeccable given his age.) Many don't realize that Tim was pro-actively working for climbing access as early as the mid 80s.  In '85, concerned that access to Moore's might be 'at risk', he, with family support, purchased the last lot on the road leading to Moore's.  Tim's land purchase secured access for ALL climbers when the locals wanted nothing more than to squelch climbing access for good.  These days, Tim still travels to crags that are difficult to measure with contemporary GPS devices, establishing routes in his staunch ground-up ethics.  But never doubt!  A good day of climbing with friends at Moore's followed with a beer and dinner is always 'memorable' and 'notable'.

At-Large Board Member
Ron funderburke, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ron has been climbing and guiding in Western North Carolina for the last five years.  He is the head guide at Fox Mountain Guides and a member of the climbing staff at NCOBS.  Though he recently became a father, Ron still finds time to hit the crag or the boulder field, tell a few jokes, and regale all listeners with grandiose tales of climbs he never actually did.  Additionally, Ron teaches writing and literature at Appalachian State University.  

At-Large Board Member
Scott Gilliam, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I grew up in Broad River, up NC 9 from Rumbling Bald.  Sadly, I didn't
discover my love of climbing until I moved to the flatlands.  It's
nice to have a basecamp near there, especially one with my Mom's
applesauce and biscuits.  I've been climbing for about 8 years or so.
Steep gear routes is where my heart lies, but I also enjoy bouldering
and clip ups.  I'd like to say I love slab, but I reckon I just too
skeered.  Now that I'm recovering from shoulder surgery, I have
discovered that I can use my feet once in a while.  Oh, and sometimes
I try to scrape my way up some scary, ice thing.