EXPLORE Act Mandated Wilderness Climbing Guidance FR Notice

The commenter, identifying as a climber, opposes the proposed guidance because it creates a case-by-case permit requirement for new fixed anchors that would effectively prohibit new routes. They argue for programmatic preauthorization of anchors, a density-based definition of "bolt intensive face climbs," and the exclusion of soft goods like slings from permit requirements.

An experienced rock climber supports the proposed guidance but suggests specific modifications to protect existing routes, allow power drills for maintenance and rescues, and adjust bolt density requirements. The commenter also proposes a fee system for wilderness rescues to discourage frivolous calls.

Sam Lightner Jr, an experienced climber, opposes potential restrictions on replacing aging anchors and limiting the number of bolts in a given space. He argues that such restrictions would compromise climber safety and suggests that agencies should instead promote modern, durable hardware and the use of power drills.

The President of the Arkansas Valley Climbers Coalition supports the continued stewardship of climbing resources by local volunteer-based organizations. They argue that the Explore Act should allow for the replacement of outdated, unsafe anchors to ensure safety and minimize environmental impact without adding excessive administrative oversight.

Benjamin Warner expresses strong support for the continued use and maintenance of fixed anchors in wilderness areas, arguing that they are essential for safety and have a minimal environmental footprint. He urges agencies to adopt policies that allow for routine maintenance and modernization without requiring lengthy planning processes or arbitrary bolt counts.

The commenter, a certified rock guide and small business owner, supports the recognition of climbing as a wilderness activity and the allowance of fixed anchors. They argue for streamlined permitting processes, the use of power drills for maintenance, and pre-authorization for local climbing organizations to ensure climber safety.

The commenter argues that the proposed requirement for Special Use Permits and Minimum Requirements Analyses for power drills creates an undue administrative burden and counterproductively harms wilderness resources. They contend that forcing the use of manual hand drills increases the duration of human presence and acoustic disruption, suggesting that the NPS should instead simplify the authorization of power drills to minimize environmental impact.