Comment from Erik Earl

As a Southern California climber who regularly climbs in Yosemite and Joshua Tree, I deeply value our public lands and the opportunity to experience them responsibly. Access to safe, sustainable climbing is an important part of how I connect with and care for these places. Please protect recreational climbing in wilderness guidance so future generations can continue to enjoy these landscapes while preserving their natural character. 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.