Comment on FR Doc # N/A
AnonymousSupportIndividual
Summary: An experienced canyoneer from Utah argues that the BLM should allow for the maintenance, replacement, and installation of bolted anchors in slot canyons. The commenter contends that these anchors are essential for safety when natural anchors are absent or deteriorating and help prevent damage to rock surfaces.
I am an experienced canyoneer from Hurricane, Utah. I have been canyoneering for over 5 years and have logged 447 technical descents to date. I frequently travel the canyoneering routes in the Zion National Park wilderness and surrounding areas. Many of the rappels in these smooth slot canyons have no natural anchors available requiring the use of bolted anchors installed into the rock. Existing natural anchors such as rotting logs can deteriorate over time, or get washed out by flash floods. In these locations, quality fixed bolted hardware can be essential to descending a canyon safely. Bolted anchors installed in the proper locations can also effectively eliminate rope grooving which is damage to rock surfaces due to use of natural anchors in less than ideal positions. It is essential that provisions are made to protect existing bolted anchors. Allowing canyoneers to maintain, replace, and if necessary, install new bolted anchors when natural anchors are considered unsafe or become non existent in a slot canyon's ever changing environment.