Comment on FR Doc # 2026-12326

I am writing today to support the addition of Chapter 2355 into the Forest Service Manual. As an outdoor lover, it is very important to me that the safety of the environment and the climber take the forefront when creating the policies for Chapter 2355. According to the Crag, “Most, if not all, outdoor sport climbing areas are developed by enthusiastic individuals using their spare time and own money to put up access to the cliffs, bolt the routes (drill in the protection) and - hopefully - maintain the quality and safety of the installed equipment over time.” With an estimated 30% of climbing routes found in National Forest System (NFS) lands , the Forest Service must protect the well-being of the American constituent and not leave safety in the responsibility of zealots. Please consider tapping into the Forest Service employees, climbing community and local conservationist expertise when driving this policy because a one-size-fits-all will not work. Allowing the climbing community a seat at the decision-making table may promote more buy-in when restrictions seem unbearable. Be prepared to enforce your policies. Environmental stewardship matters and the best example of poor environmental policy making, and enforcement is Mount Everest in Nepal. With a simple search of Mount Everest on the internet, the words overcrowding, trash and garbage dumb fill the web. I have travelled to Nepal for studies and witnessed first-hand the negative impacts of poor environmental rule making and enforcement. Footage recorded one week ago and posted on Instagram shows abandoned tents and climbing gear on the face of Mount Everest . Regulations do exist, but aren’t being enforced, leading to health risks for those in the Everest watershed and living at the base of the mountain. We may not have the same ecosystem as Everest; but the 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands within the NFS; encompass a wide range of ecosystems, harbor much of the nation’s biodiversity, and provide myriad goods and services. At first glance, the proposed directive presents a conundrum between the seasoned climber yearning for the ultimate physical and mental challenge and the bureaucratic machine setting rules and limitations. However, balance can be reached if planned and managed correctly. Resources https://www.thecrag.com/en/article/beginners#climbing-history https://www.accessfund.org https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZTxyTPErwH/ https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/30612