23/12/2023
It is our responsibility to protect these places and allow safe access! Please consider writing to our parks service and let them know we need fixed anchors!
Wilderness climbing within National Forest and National Park lands are facing major threats. We need your voice! Take 10-20 minutes out of your day to join us - the future of climbing is at stake.
The National Park Service and National Forest Service have issued draft climbing management guidance that could impact climbing in Wilderness Areas and create unnecessary red tape for non-wilderness areas. They want to prohibit fixed anchors like bolts, bail slings, and pitons. Your feedback is crucial to preserve climbing as we know it. We urge you to provide your input via the NPS and USFS comment portals.
This proposed language would affect climbing areas nationwide, including North Carolina's Linville Gorge Wilderness. If enacted, all bolts in these areas will be prohibited overnight. The proposed language for non-wilderness areas will also burden local land managers and create confusion. Popular climbing spots like Whiteside, Looking Glass, and Cedar Rock will be affected.
We want to clarify that we are not advocating for new sport routes in Wilderness areas, nor do we seek to add fixed anchors where removable protection is possible. But there are times when fixed anchors are essential for safety. Tens of thousands of climbers, including recreational climbers, guide services, military, church groups, and summer camps, rely on fixed anchors each year. We must change this proposed national language before it becomes law and threatens our ability to responsibly place and replace fixed anchors.
Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests have already released their 20-year Forest Plan. CCC and Access Fund have worked tirelessly with our partners to ensure reasonable and sustainable climbing management. However, this newly proposed national guidance hinders our ability to manage local climbing areas by classifying fixed anchors as prohibited installations.
Help us protect our climbing areas by submitting your comment to the Forest Service and National Park Service. Your voice matters! Head to the Access Fund link: . It only takes a few minutes but is much needed https://www.accessfund.org/action-alerts/stop-the-bolt-prohibition?fbclid=IwAR1ekufYiZcpti2ve_luDhXXlvGdbgaNDtrQ3SrJWY5RVV-GAYrcioFGNuA 🗣️🌍🧗♂️
📸 : Bryan Miller, Fixed Line Media
