Comment from Matheson, Max
Max MathesonSupportIndividual
Summary: The commenter supports the recognition of rock climbing as a wilderness activity and the allowance of fixed anchors. They advocate for easier authorization processes for new routes and programmatic preauthorization for certain climbing areas to improve safety and accessibility.
We all want to be safe and secure. Rock climbing is an area where comfort zones can be pushed on a foundation of safety, which requires timely replacement of aging/broken down fixed gear.
Please help protect rock climbing for future generations.
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.