Comment from Flordeliz, Ed

As a climber, mountaineer, veteran, and public lands user in Washington State, I support guidance that protects both wilderness character and responsible climbing access. Climbing has helped me connect deeply with wild places, especially in the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest. These experiences have taught me humility, teamwork, mentorship, and respect for the land. I believe climbing can continue in Wilderness when managed responsibly and in partnership with the climbing community. I support allowing existing routes to continue to be used and maintained, including appropriate fixed-anchor maintenance where needed for safety and resource protection. Clear, practical guidance will help preserve climbing access while also protecting sensitive natural and cultural resources. Thank you for working toward a balanced approach that protects both America’s wilderness and its climbing legacy. I support the recognition that climbing is an appropriate Wilderness activity and that fixed anchors, critical pieces of the climbing safety system, are allowable in Wilderness. I also support provisions to allow climbers to place or replace fixed anchors without authorization in the event of an emergency. I appreciate that the policy protects existing climbing routes that were developed before the PARC Act was passed into law. Legacy Wilderness climbs should remain available in order to preserve America’s rich climbing legacy. Please improve policies to expedite timely replacement of fixed anchors in order to avoid unnecessary barriers to climber safety. The authorization process for new climbing routes that require fixed anchors should be easier to navigate. Please provide a clear path for programmatic authorization, or preauthorization, at climbing areas that do not necessitate case-by-case special use permits.