Comment from Fixsen, Rachel

Rock climbing is a cherished outdoor activity in the U.S., and many wilderness areas, parks and forests are even more beloved for the climbing routes they hold. Please continue to support this activity and to consult climbing experts in developing policy. Also, please be sure to ensure consultation with Indigenous tribes where possible and appropriate, particularly in Bears Ears National Monument/Indian Creek. While climbers value the opportunity to develop new routes, it's even more important to respect areas that continue to be held sacred by tribes. Balancing wilderness character and protection of natural and cultural resources with recreational use is a delicate and important effort that will require ongoing assessment of use and impact. 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.