The Climbing Advocate
The Climbing Advocate
The Climbing Advocate
Episode #56- Erik Murdock
1 hour 17 minutes Posted Dec 21, 2023 at 9:36 pm.
The early conversations around wilderness - are fixed anchors allowable or prohibited?
Erik's opening on fixed anchors and wilderness
Why are fixed anchors being managed now?
Managing fixed anchors outside of wilderness
Climbers supporting past wilderness designations
Protect America's Rock Climbing (PARC) Act
Minimum Requirements Analysis (MRA) in more depth
Will fixed hardware be removed from existing routes?
Where do we go from here?
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Show notes
On today’s episode, Erik Murdock returns to take a deep dive into an issue that Access Fund and the climbing community have worked on for decades: how fixed anchors are managed in Wilderness areas. It’s an issue that requires context, history, and nuance, which is what this episode delivers.
Erik begins with a thorough history of climbing in America’s Wilderness areas, then we get into the finer details of why managing fixed anchors in these places is a big deal right now. As Erik explains, recently released guidance from the National Park Service and US Forest Service will have serious implications if implemented. Join us for a deep dive into this issue, and submit your comment to the NPS and USFS on their management guidance before January 30th here.
Wilderness Climbing FAQ: https://www.accessfund.org/latest-news/wilderness-climbing-faq
Bolt Prohibition Action Alert: https://www.accessfund.org/latest-news/action-alert-stop-the-bolt-prohibition
National Park Service Comment Submission Form (due by Jan 30th, 2024): https://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=132387
US Forest Service Comment Submission Form (due by Jan 30th, 2024): https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=ORMS-3524