A new press release from the American Access Fund says that famous climbs are under threat, it’s titled, “New Park & Forest Service Climbing Guidance Would Severely Limit Climbing, Threaten Iconic Routes, Hinder the Recreation Economy, and Add Unnecessary Bureaucracy Policies.”
It goes on to say it would classify standard climbing safety tools as prohibited “installations.” And points out that according to new government data, outdoor recreation has grown into a $1.1 trillion industry. Below is the full press release. A 60-day commenting period began last week, visit here to voice your opinions.
Press Release: The National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) recently released draft recreation management directives that would overturn decades of precedent. The directives classify fixed anchors—the bolts, pitons, and slings that technical climbers have used to safely ascend and descend technical faces since well before Congress passed the Wilderness Act—as prohibited “installations” in Wilderness areas. If approved, the directives would apply to new and existing anchors. The public has 60 days to comment on the proposals.
“Implementing these policies could jeopardise the safety of climbers around the country by deeming standard climbing practices in Wilderness as fundamentally prohibited until granted specific exceptions at each of the thousands of Wilderness crags that climbers love,” says Access Fund Interim Executive Director Erik…
