ACE Board of Directors

Board members are listed below with affiliation and term expiration date.
Send email to all ACE Directors.

President: Bill Wright (at large, 12/31/2010)

Bill's first ever rock climb was the Wind Ridge on the Wind Tower in Eldorado when he was a freshman at CU in 1980. He's been climbing ever since, doing over 200 different routes in Eldo. He lived in the Bay Area for 9 years and climbed avidly in Yosemite, but returned to Colorado in 1994. Once he had kids he turned to speed climbing so that he could get most of his climbing done before work and leave more family time on the weekends. Two or three mornings a week he can be found climbing in the Flatirons, Boulder Canyon, or Eldorado Canyon. He writes the annual Yosemite summary for the American Alpine Journal and has co-authored a book on speed climbing. Bill is a software engineer working for a small consulting company in Boulder. He wants to preserve the historical climbing experience in Eldorado for his kids and grandkids to enjoy.

bill@wwwright.com

Vice President: Beth Bennett (at large, 12/31/2009)
Beth started climbing at the ripe old age of 19, on the runout granite slabs of North Carolina, well before the bolting movement was conceived. The elegant movement won her heart and she's been addicted ever since. Although she can climb cracks, face climbing is a definite preference and she was the first woman to free climb many Colorado classics including the Naked Edge, Jules Verne, and the Yellow Wall of the Diamond. Now, older and wiser, she still likes to crank but spends more time working, probing the secrets of the genes.

bethbennett@comcast.net

Secretary: Roger Linfield (at large, 12/31/2009)
Roger's climbing career began in 1973 in Grand Ledge, Michigan (no multi-pitch routes there!). Except for a brief visit in 1983, he did not climb in Eldorado until 2001. Now he is busy making up for lost time (140 routes and counting). The steep, open faces in Eldorado make even easy routes feel exciting. When not climbing, Roger works as an astronomer. He lives in Boulder with his wife, Brenda, and their two dogs. His priority on the ACE board is to balance the goals of preservation and access in Eldorado Canyon.

rlinfiel@ball.com

Treasurer: George Bell (AAC, 12/31/2009)

George Bell has been climbing in Eldorado Canyon since 1983, when he tried to lead Rosy Crucifixion (unsuccessfully). He started climbing in 1977 at Joshua Tree, and lived in California in the 80's where long climbs in Yosemite taught him the value of making it off a climb before the sun sets. In the 80's, he went on numerous climbing expeditions to Alaska, Peru, and Canada. George is not a rock climbing specialist and has dabbled in many different types of climbing--from mountaineering and ice climbing to aid climbing and even paragliding. He even went bouldering once. His interest now lies in helping to preserve Eldorado Canyon for generations of climbers yet to come. He and his wife live in Boulder with their two kids, ages 7 and 10. He works as a software developer and scientist in a plasma physics research firm.

gibell@comcast.net

Dave Mackey (at large, 12/31/2008)
I first came to Eldorado in 1989 on a spring break trip and led Calypso, which scared the pants off me. Since then I have been a very regular visitor to Eldo and love it's climbs, trails, river, and all-around beauty. Getting on a rope to the higher, less-visited parts of Eldo gives me the experince of getting to a micro-wilderness, where few choose to go. Unique experiences are inherent in Eldorado, where I can be baked in the sun in January, blasted by a fall snowstorm, or scared into falling by a pigeon. I appreciate the unique climbing history and ethic of Eldorado, and seek to be a part of its preservation and adequate funding as a Colorado state park. When not climbing, I work as a realtor and outdoor industry consultant.

davemackd@yahoo.com

Chris Archer (Access Fund, 12/31/2008)

Chris Archer has been climbing in Eldorado since 1979. While passing through Boulder on his way to Yosemite, he stopped to climb in Eldorado and never left. The cerebral and technical nature of the climbing, the spectacular crisp edges of Dakota sandstone, the rich history of aid and free climbing, the camaraderie of the colorful characters who climb in the Canyon, and the relative ease of wiring difficult routes to sandbag visitors on make Eldorado his favorite climbing area. Chris can usually be found either climbing Eldorado’s least popular routes on yet another obscure tour or on monthly ascents of the Naked Edge. Chris is an attorney who incorporated ACE on behalf of the Access Fund. He is one of the founding members of ACE and has served on ACE’s Board of Directors since its inception. As the Access Fund’s representative on the ACE Board, Chris is committed to preserving existing routes in the condition of the first free ascent, yet is open to the establishment of quality new lines requiring fixed hardware. Chris currently acts as General Counsel for The Access Fund. When not climbing in Eldorado, he can occasionally be found in his law offices in Boulder.

archerlawoffices@aol.com

Stefan Griebel (SMSC, 12/31/2009)

Stefan's first-ever trad lead was Eldorado Canyon's famous Bastille Crack in 1995, which he led using his brand new rack - 1 cam, a set of nuts, and a few hexes. Since then, he's collected many more cams and climbed many, many more of Eldo's beautiful and inspiring routes. Hard free climbs, easy solos, moderate classics - he loves them all! Stefan is interested in protecting and preserving the nature of climbing in Eldorado Canyon State Park and has finally put his body where his mouth is by applying to the ACE Board. He loves the outdoors, and is just as frequently found with a mountain bike, skis, or trail-running shoes, as he is with a climbing rack. He currently works as an Electrical Engineer and lives in Boulder with his wife, Sheryl.

Joey Thompson (AMGA, 12/31/2009)

Joey Thompson is a rock climbing guide certified by the American Mountain Guide Association. He is pursuing full IFMGA certification. He is a national registered Emergency Medical Technician, and works for Eldora Ski Patrol in the winter months. He has a deep passion for the preservation of one the best rock climbing areas in the world, Eldo. You find him all threw out the year climbing/working in Eldorado. He started climbing in Eldo in 1994. Since then he has only seen the park grow and become more popular. He feels very strongly about the amount of “fixed hardware” and carefully honors the free climbing community.

climberjoeyt@gmail.com

Doug Haller (at large, 12/31/2010)

Doug has been climbing for over 20 years. Prior to Boulder he lived in Boston, another city with a very active and influential climbing community. The move to Boulder has allowed Doug to take advantage of climbing throughout the West. The proximity of Boulder to Eldorado Canyon and RMNP rekindled his interest in trad climbing. The ability to climb on a variety of rock from desert towers to alpine faces has increased his appreciation for the spectacular environments and opportunities climbers enjoy. After years of enjoying the national and international climbing community, Doug seeks to contribute to the preservation and growth of climbing access through active participation. In addition to climbing, his passions include backcountry skiing and mountain biking. Doug works as a science education consultant, research analyst, and project manager.

dfhaller@yahoo.com

Revised 13 February 2008