Wilderness Administration and Resource Stewardship; Managing Climbing Activities in Wilderness

The commenter, a climbing enthusiast and conservation researcher, supports the recognition of climbing as an appropriate Wilderness activity and the use of fixed anchors. They advocate for streamlined authorization processes for new routes and the expedited replacement of existing anchors to ensure climber safety and preserve climbing heritage.

The commenter, a wilderness lover and climber, supports the recognition of climbing as an appropriate wilderness activity and the allowance of fixed anchors. They request improvements to the policy to expedite anchor replacement, simplify the authorization of new routes, and provide programmatic authorization for specific climbing areas.

The Vice President of the Climbing Association of Southern Arizona supports the proposed guidance recognizing climbing as an appropriate wilderness use and allowing for the maintenance of fixed anchors. The commenter advocates for a partnership approach between land managers and climbing organizations, requesting streamlined processes for anchor replacement and programmatic authorizations for established climbing areas.

David Adams, a volunteer park ranger and experienced climber, opposes the expansion of bolting in wilderness areas. He argues that bolting is unsustainable and violates the "forever wild" ethos, advocating instead for climbing within one's abilities without permanent hardware.

The commenter supports the recognition of rock climbing as an appropriate wilderness activity and the allowance of fixed anchors for safety. They advocate for streamlined authorization processes for new routes and the timely replacement of existing anchors while emphasizing the need to respect sacred Indigenous sites.

The commenter, a climber and public lands recreation professional, supports the draft guidance for managing climbing in Wilderness as it recognizes climbing as an appropriate use while protecting wilderness character. They advocate for clear, streamlined processes for maintaining existing fixed anchors and obtaining authorizations for new routes to ensure climber safety and preserve climbing history.

A climber and veteran supports the proposed guidance, noting that climbing is an appropriate wilderness activity that should be managed through partnership with the climbing community. The commenter advocates for maintaining existing routes and fixed anchors while requesting streamlined, programmatic authorization processes for new routes and anchor replacements to ensure climber safety.

The commenter supports the management of climbing activities in Wilderness areas, arguing that discrete anchor placement has a low and reversible impact. They advocate for protecting legacy routes and replacing old anchors for safety, while expressing opposition to "sport routes" that create a gym-like experience.

The commenter, a former Wilderness Ranger and Hot Shot, opposes the use of fixed permanent anchors in wilderness areas. They argue that wilderness climbing should remain "wild" and that climbers should not leave any permanent aids behind, consistent with their interpretation of the Wilderness Act.