Comment from Gross, Emily

Climbing has not only shaped how I recreate, but also the direction of my career and my commitment to conserving public lands. Early in my climbing journey I visited Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, where I developed a deep appreciation for both the climbing community and the ecosystems surrounding climbing areas. That connection eventually led me to study how climbers can contribute to conservation, including research focused on engaging climbers in citizen science for bat conservation. Through this work, I have seen that climbers are not simply visitors to public lands. They can be knowledgeable and committed partners in stewardship by engaging in behaviors like reporting wildlife observations, supporting conservation organizations, maintaining trails, educating other visitors, and advocating for responsible recreation. These contributions grow from the lasting relationships people develop in the climbing community in these climbing areas. Climbing management policies have consequences beyond whether an individual route remains available. Practical, consistent policies can preserve opportunities for people to develop meaningful connections with public lands while encouraging them to take responsibility for those places. I support guidance that protects Wilderness character while also allowing for the responsible use and maintenance of existing climbing routes and equipment. Clear and workable policies will help ensure that climbing remains safe, sustainable, and capable of inspiring future generations of public-land stewards. 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.