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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 14, 2012 - 11:08pm PT
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Prof. Clayton White of BYU, one of the world's leading experts on peregrines and their behavior, has sent the following letter to Santa Clara County Parks and members of the SC Parks and Recreation Commission:
As you can see, Prof. White systematically refutes each of the reasons advanced for enforcing a permanent closure of Summit Rock to climbing. He appears to endorse a seasonal closure.
This is very good news indeed!
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Mar 14, 2012 - 11:11pm PT
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thx Bruce
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 15, 2012 - 04:10pm PT
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bump
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kev
climber
A pile of dirt.
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Mar 15, 2012 - 04:36pm PT
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We will see if they will listen.
Probably not but perhaps then a lawsuit can start.
kev
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 15, 2012 - 05:07pm PT
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At our meeting in February, SC County Parks sounded much more amenable to a compromise agreement. Wait and see, but be sure to keep your powder dry!
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kev
climber
A pile of dirt.
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Mar 15, 2012 - 05:18pm PT
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I'll keep my fingers crossed. This has just taken SO long
and they haven't seemed very reasonable in this matter.
Great letter and great work done by all those involved - especially you Bruce!
thanks!
kev
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Mar 15, 2012 - 07:23pm PT
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Thanks, Bruce.
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 15, 2012 - 09:19pm PT
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As Prof. White notes, our argument for a more reasonable and typical seasonal closure of Summit Rock gets even stronger the more Peregrines that can be found nesting in the wild (not on buildings or other man-made structures) within the confines of Santa Clara County. So if anyone out there has spotted peregrines anywhere else along the Skyline, but particularly within the boundaries of Santa Clara County, it would immensely helpful if you'd say so. There are a pair in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve in the Aquarian Valley/Devil's Canyon region, but I learned that's actually in San Mateo County.
It just seems reasonable that with so much exposed rock in Castle Rock State Park, there must be some nesting peregrines situated there too? Anybody see one?
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 16, 2012 - 12:24am PT
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bump
Most gratified to receive all the encouragement coming in from ST friends! Lots of people seem to be confronting the same issues up and down the West Coast.
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all in jim
climber
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Mar 16, 2012 - 12:28am PT
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Thanks for all you've done for Summit Rock, Bruce!
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nutjob
Gym climber
Berkeley, CA
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Mar 16, 2012 - 03:19pm PT
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Bruce, thanks for the update and for all the back-end work that makes the process move forward in a rational and constructive way.
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 16, 2012 - 04:26pm PT
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Read an article in the SJ Mercury News a while back that said a group of California Condors were seen roosting on top of the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton. However, one of the dominant male condors was also seen out over the Pacific in Half Moon Bay. That means it's not inconceivable that a California Condor or two may be seen overhead at Castle Rock State Park. I know people have mentioned that they've seen some buzzards out there way bigger than Turkey Vultures and they were poo-pooed. Sounds as though it might actually be occurring. Afterall, the distance between Mt. Hamilton and Goat Rock is not that far to traverse on a good thermal.
But has anyone seen more Peregrine falcons at Castle Rock State Park or in Sanborn Skyline County Park? Would certainly counter any argument for the exceptional-ism of the nesting site at Summit.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Mar 16, 2012 - 04:38pm PT
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Bruce, if anybody has seen other falcons, it would most likely be you,
so why ask?
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 16, 2012 - 09:54pm PT
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To get other people to look too. I've never seen any except once. You're the only one who saw the pair in Aquarian Valley. I remember that Don Rocha of SC Parks told me he saw some up by the main Castle Rock. Miles Standish seems to have seen some too. He's on FB in Santa Cruz. There may be other people who've seen 'em too. The only time I've ever seen a Peregrine in the wild was at the meeting at Summit Rock last February. A male flew over and made a few noises while our group was assembled down near the eyrie. But if the pair at Summit have fledged a few times since after the blanket closure in 2008 it would stand to reason that they have also been nesting someplace out there in the wild as well. Where?
How about those California Condors? You ever seen one of those big buzzards flying over Castle? Think I may have seen something much, much bigger than a Turkey Vulture flying over Last Temptation Cliff, but had no idea that Condors ventured that far north. Maybe we'll learn something new about California wildlife if everyone keeps their eyes peeled?
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 17, 2012 - 04:35pm PT
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We appear to have won! SC Parks is going to rephrase the blanket closure of Summit Rock to a more typical seasonal climbing closure to allow for peregrine nesting. This is truly great news! Thanks for all the support out there ST Forumites!
Also, I've been told by the Access Fund that Prof. White's letter can be republished. However, you shouldn't bother him to become involved in your local cases because he's 70 years old, fully retired, and does not want to become a figure embroiled in local controversies. The Internet is a free-public medium and therefore not subject to censorship (unless you live in China or Iran I guess). Prof. White was speaking strictly from a scientific and not a political perspective.
As the ancient Greeks used to say, the scent of Victory is sweet whether it's at Marathon, Salamis or Summit Rock. Again, thank you for all your support. Now we have to all work together to assure that the climbing community, County Parks, and peregrines can all interact toward realizing a common goal: healthy birds and happy climbers and, hopefully, a garbage and glass-free Summit Rock.
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2012 - 03:27pm PT
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bump-itis.
I think everyone ought to know about this.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Mar 18, 2012 - 03:45pm PT
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This is what I hate about liberal zealots. Ya know if they're not careful somebody will go up there and end their reason for a closure.
This is the same road we took on the China trade thread. You put so many stupid f*#king regs in place that do nothing but satisfy your own "good intentions", and then you f*#k everybody else.
The road to hell is paved with stupid, liberal good intentions. What's ironic is that it adversely effects them too. Meh...
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2012 - 04:18pm PT
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Blue, the regs that are going to be put in place are the typical, normal seasonal closure ones instituted in every other climbing area in the USA to ensure Peregrine breeding, nesting and fledging. Lots of other groups of climbers are using Prof. White's letter as a basis for enacting more reasonable Peregrine closures in their own areas. So, our negotiations have had far reaching consequences for climbing in the good old USA. Hating post-romantic Nature Nazi zealots might be emotionally satisfying, but remains essentially adolescent and counter-productive. When we brought real science to bear on the problem, we reached a real-world compromise solution everyone can live with. Raging feels good, but doesn't help resolve the fundamental issues. Now we have something to work with. At least we have a working compromise and climbers will be out at Summit this year between August and December and that's the best season to be there anyway.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Mar 18, 2012 - 04:36pm PT
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Bruce et al - congrats, it's been a bit of work, but this is a really fine outcome. You should feel good about digging into it, learning the facts, and seeing it through.
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2012 - 06:00pm PT
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Work! You don't know the half of it, healyje! Driving down from the Meadows to sit stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way to the Santa Clara Civic Center had to be one of the most thoroughly unpleasant things I've done in a long, long time. Sort of like giving Generalissimo Francisco Franco a root canal (or getting one yourself!). Not pretty. Plus you have to go down there again and again to press the issue home. You can see why the average citizen is not involved very much in the political process. You have to be rich or retired to actually have enough time on your hands to push an agenda to a successful conclusion. That leaves issues like this in the hands of a small coterie of political insiders, who really hold the reins of power.
But to give credit where credit is due, you have to also include Paul Minault and the Access Fund who likewise braved traffic to attend crucial meetings. Without the Access Fund and Paul's guidance, we wouldn't have gotten very far at all. He was the one who established a liaison with Prof. White. And of course, there's also the good offices of Planet Granite and Doug Robinson, who drove clear down from Utah I understand, to give his slide show in support of raising funds for Prof. White to fly in from BYU to give his scientific opinion on the peregrine nesting issue. I understand that Paul Minault also consulted with peregrine experts as far away back East as Purdue University.
Just hope this Summit Rock case will serve as a precedent with a ripple effect throughout the climbing community in the whole USA. But of course it's never over until it's over, but it sounds as though climbers will be once again using Summit Rock this late summer.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Mar 18, 2012 - 06:10pm PT
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Very Good Work for all involved,
i believe that birds can adapt over time to different situations,
so this could help their comeback,
if they learn to hang with humans part of the year,
then they can nest in more populated areas and not get freaked,
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 20, 2012 - 12:36am PT
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In case you still don't really believe it, the Access Fund has informed Planet Granite that the year-round closure of Summit Rock is to be rescinded and replaced with a more typical seasonal closure to allow for Peregrine nesting:
http://planetgranite.com/news/?p=202
Gosh, I'm glad it's finally in writing.
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karodrinker
Trad climber
San Jose, CA
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Mar 20, 2012 - 01:07am PT
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so awesome. I can't wait to get that place cleaned up.
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all in jim
climber
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Mar 20, 2012 - 04:14am PT
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Such good news!!!
Much gratitude to Bruce and the access fund and the climbing community.
Can't wait to go climbing there again!
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all in jim
climber
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Mar 20, 2012 - 07:44pm PT
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Hi Bruce,
Reading this again I'm a little confused... is it for sure going to open up seasonally, or is that just the recommendation of the AF?
Jim
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 21, 2012 - 12:05am PT
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I see from the wording of the announcement that there is still a certain ambivalence. I think the policy that Prof White drafts in his recommendation is going to be accepted by County Parks. Just awaiting his letter to finalize the particulars. The real decision is up to State Fish and Wildlife though, but it sounds like they already agree with him in principle. You have to defer to their power so that they are the ones making the final authorization. Remember the military: chain of command etc. etc.? But I think it's now pretty much a done deal. The Access Fund wouldn't have announced that the year-round closure was found unnecessary unless they'd received word from the higher ups.
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 25, 2012 - 01:34am PT
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I know where that is: Across Crystal Springs Reservoir on San Francisco Watershed Property. All human access forbidden anyway, except when we used to go out there in High School to go fishing and skinny dipping. Don't get caught! Huge fish, but absolutely no rocks. Remember Bald Eagles are fishing birds; they need to be near the big water. Nice that they're out there. Have to go take a pic with my 750mm Nikkor.
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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Mar 25, 2012 - 11:13am PT
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the peregrine is no longer endangered. the peregrine tolerates the presence of homo sapiens.
from my national audubon society field guide to north american birds, (c) 1994:
Following an alarming decline during the 1950s and 1960s, this spectacular falcon, also known as the "Duck Hawk," is on the increase again, now that pesticides that caused thinning of eggshells have been banned. After an intensive program of rearing birds in captivity and releasing them in the wild (a process called "hacking"), this large falcon is reclaiming nesting grounds from which it disappeared a few decades ago. A favorite nesting site nowadays is a tall building or bridge in a city; these urban Peregrines subsist mainly on pigeons.
micromanagement of peregrines is 40-year-old environmentalism. sure keeps our horseblinders on while they can kill the electric car.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Mar 25, 2012 - 01:04pm PT
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Tony Bird flips the bird to the bird.... interesting... I wish I had Tony's deep convictions that Homo sapiens (the species is capitalized when using genus/species Tony, you knew that, you got the italics correctly, but you used a colonial trick of demeaning the indigenous population by using its common colonial name, why not Falco peregrinus? easy enough) shouldn't have to think about what they do...
and about those electric cars... do you drive one, by the way?
the energy density of fossil fuels is very large, crude oil "stores" 50 mega joules per kilogram (MJ/kg). Unfortunately, battery technologies reach fundamental limits (oh, that's based on science... sorry) of something like 5 MJ/kg in our dreams... no such battery has been built even on the lab bench.
the NYTimes today had an article on its OpEd page about electric... with the weirdest ending I've seen in the Times, an unanswered question...
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/sunday-review/the-electric-car-unplugged.html
“Not too hard to guess,” he said. “With Americans paying $250 a month to fill up on gasoline when electricity can do the job in a Volt for $50 a month, why are we being told electric cars are failures? Who could possibly be behind this?” a quote from Chris Paine who made the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?"
The fact is that electricity to charge the batteries is cheap, the batteries are not, where as all you do with petroleum is pour it into a container (DOT approved, of course)... then into your tank and it's ready to use.
Even given the 5 times disparity in the price of the fuel, you cannot justify the expense of buying a battery operated car against a similar model petroleum burner... you can't make up the cost difference in the lifetime of the car. Probably the best you can do is a hybrid of some sort, burning high energy density fuels that are produced "carbon neutral" and/or reduce the dependence on individual transportation (walk, bike, ride public).
here's an article on energy density:
http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/columnists/kurt-zenz-house/the-limits-of-energy-storage-technology
full disclosure: The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is not affiliated with the oil industry.
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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Mar 25, 2012 - 01:52pm PT
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ed, you caught me. tami used to like my posts, but she will no longer read them because of my downstyle habits. fyi, i capitalize many acronyms, but sometimes i show my contempt by downstyling them, as with cia or ucla. i have taken to italicizing climb names just for posting on supertopo. you will have to figure out from context whether homo sapiens is a climb or yet another expression of my contempt.
stop reading the nyt. groupthink for the college-educated. all the news that's fit to have been filtered.
nature is resilient. the peregrines are back. before they closed williamson rock for the frogs, peregrines had taken over and were trying to get rid of climbers. we stood our ground for three years. they call that a mexican standoff. it works.
my wife drives a prius, a weak echo to the EV1 as far as reducing nonpoint pollution goes. i drive my old RAV (no contempt there). watch that movie, ed. who killed the electric car? people want it, but it was taken away.
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 25, 2012 - 04:15pm PT
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But the peregrines are making a spectacular comeback, at least according to a recent article in the San Jose Mercury News:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20219735/fighting-between-falcons-san-jose-is-sign-peregrine
Their appearance at Summit Rock is one more indicator of the peregrines successful return to their native range. Glenn Stewart seems to agree. He won't say where, but the Professor has indicated that there are many successful peregrine breeding sites in the wild in Santa Clara County (but maybe he means Santa Cruz County?). Summit Rock, therefore, while not an especially good nesting site, is definitely not an exception that justifies a total blanket closure. There is going to be a scientific evaluation of the Summit site, so we should wait until its publication before ranting and raving.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Mar 25, 2012 - 05:01pm PT
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I watched it, Tony, recently even...
...strange stuff indeed, but it doesn't rebut the fact that electric is problematic, at best, compared to fuel burning...
...we should be moving to higher efficiency, and to non-fossil petroleum, and maybe just walk to the store for a change.
As for the NYTimes OpEd piece today, you might have missed it, but I wasn't agreeing with it... of course, we are all victims of habit, as yours to assuming a conclusion based on your stereotyping assumptions.
By the way, the "Endangered Species Act" is not about just protecting a species, but also about protecting the habitat of that species...
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all in jim
climber
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Summit Rock is a great place to climb. Can't wait to get back out there and do some routes.
Thanks again, Bruce, Paul, etc!
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 4, 2012 - 06:22pm PT
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You'll notice too that the Audubon Society has initiated their own letter writing campaign to Santa Clara County Parks to encourage their membership to endorse a year-round closure of Summit Rock:
http://www.scvas.org/index.php?page=text&id=alert
I thought the lady from the Audubon Society walked out with a angry smile on her face after Prof. White had demolished each of their arguments for a blanket closure. This letter appeared only a few days after our meeting with County Parks at Summit, so seems like a direct response to the progress we have made. This only goes to show that if you haven't done so so far, please visit the Access Fund site and write to County Parks in favor of opening Summit to recreational rock climbing on a typical seasonal basis. Banning climbing at Summit has only allowed the lawless party and tagger elements to take over the site, which in fact poses much greater danger to the peregrines than do climbers.
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