Comment from Brian Bergeler

I am writing to express our strong support for the Protecting America’s Rock Climbing Act (PARC Act), H.R. 1380. This legislation provides important clarity for federal land managers and affirms that recreational climbing, including the use and maintenance of fixed anchors, is an appropriate use of designated Wilderness when conducted in accordance with the Wilderness Act and other applicable laws. I also support the federal land management agencies' ongoing efforts to develop updated climbing management guidance. The draft policies issued by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service focus on Wilderness climbing management, while the U.S. Forest Service draft guidance applies to both Wilderness and non-Wilderness climbing areas, encompassing roughly 30 percent of America's climbing opportunities. The current draft guidance represents a significant improvement over earlier proposals released in 2023 that would have unnecessarily restricted climbing access, threatened historic climbing routes, created safety concerns, and imposed costly and impractical management burdens. I appreciate the agencies' willingness to listen to climbers, conservation organizations, and other stakeholders and to develop a more balanced approach. The current draft guidance better aligns with the intent and framework of the PARC Act by recognizing that climbing access and Wilderness stewardship are compatible goals. As such, I support these efforts while also encouraging several important technical refinements, including consistent definitions for fixed anchors across agencies, practical approaches to new-route management, and clear direction regarding fixed-anchor maintenance. Together, the PARC Act and the revised agency guidance provide a commonsense path forward that protects recreational access, respects Wilderness character, enhances climber safety, and improves management consistency across federal lands. I believe this approach strikes the appropriate balance between conservation and recreation and will help ensure that future generations can continue to responsibly enjoy America's iconic climbing landscapes. Thank you for your consideration. I respectfully urge your support for the Protecting America’s Rock Climbing Act. 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.