Climbers: Please be aware that some of the cliffs at Merriam Woods are currently closed to climbing for peregrine falcon nesting. We will let everyone know once we get word from NH Audubon that the closure is lifted.

While this blog contains some common sense recommendations as we await a formal management plan, we wish to be perfectly clear that the WOODSTOCK CONSERVATION COMMISSION MANAGES MERRIAM WOODS.

The Friends of Merriam Woods is a group of people, independent from the WCC, who love the land and want to work together to take care of it and be good stewards. Please interpret any past or future references to “working with the WCC to manage the land” as simply our desire to be in harmony with the WCC and conservation-minded in our recreation.

Huge thank you to the town of Woodstock for hearing discussion on the question of climbing bolts! Hope to see you at the next meeting of the WCC April 11th at 4pm!

CLIMBERS! Please respect the moratorium on new route development, which will remain in effect until this issue can be fully addressed in the WCC management plan. We also will continue to work with the Audobon Society and let you know of any cliff closures for Peregrine nesting.

Read about the important role that climbers play in assisting biologists track peregrine falcons and protect their nests.

Local climber Kayte Knower shares a sincere apology from climbers to the town of Woodstock!

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.

There are no excuses. All we can do is ask to town to please keep safe climbing as a priority, and consider offering climbers a chance to make this right. Please, give climbers the chance to propose solutions to the town to remedy concerns; there is no need to compromise safety here. ..

Our thanks to NH attorney John Goodlander for this in depth analysis of the Merriam Woods deed, as relates to safety bolts and NH law.

It’s such a relief to know that the climbing bolts do not jeopardize the town’s adherence to the Merriam Woods deed.

PS! More good news - the latest fly-over from the Society for the Protection of US Forests did not show evidence of concerning change to the property. This good news on both fronts shows that, though there are problems to solve, the recent issues are not as alarming as some had originally feared.

Make the right choice on warrant Article 33.

What’s at stake?

This beautiful land was gifted to the town to preserve and cherish. Should the town take action to end climbing here forever?

VOTE ON MAR 14!

Vote for continued, safe climbing at Merriam Woods!

Chopping bolts risks damage to historic cliffs and will destroy this climbing area for future generations. There are better ways to solve this problem!

A young conservationist in the making shares his gratitude for Merriam Woods climbing.

Hundreds of local climbers and outdoor enthusiasts have sent postcards to say thank you to the Town of Woodstock and ask to join in conservation efforts!