Access Issue - The Needles

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Josh Higgins

Trad climber
San Diego
Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 23, 2016 - 09:07am PT
Please read more here:

http://outdooralliance.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=920d29e0352646298ab19b92f8af4034

The Access Fund has teamed up with Outdoor Alliance to create a template letter you can send in. Just scroll down the link a little and you'll find it. It takes 1-3 minutes to send the letter.

If you can and are able, please share this on all social media platforms!

Thanks!!!

Josh Higgins
President - Allied Climbers of San Diego
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Aug 23, 2016 - 11:11am PT
Access Fund has it wrong specifically about The Needles, which will not be affected by the new rules. The Needles are in Giant Sequoia National Monument, which has a current management plan in place since 2012. Also, fwiw, The Needles are not in designated wilderness.

Click project location:

Entire Inyo National Forest, entire Sequoia National Forest outside of the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and the Sierra National Forest.

From the detailed plan:

"Giant Sequoia National Monument
On April 15, 2000, President Bill Clinton proclaimed approximately 328,000 acres of the Sequoia National Forest as the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The management plan for the Giant Sequoia National Monument (monument plan) was approved by the Regional Forester in 2012. The monument plan provides management direction for all lands within the monument. The management direction in this draft land management plan applies to all National Forest System lands within the Sequoia National Forest outside the monument. Other designated areas and recommended designated areas found within the monument, as well as associated management direction, can be found in the monument plan. The 24,290 acres of the Kings River Special Management Area located within the northern portion of the monument are administered and managed by the Sierra National Forest."

This does not detract in any way from the importance of this issue, signing the petition, supporting the Access Fund, and being diligent. Just best to have the facts sorted.
D-Rail

Trad climber
Calaveras
Aug 23, 2016 - 11:12am PT
A friend sent me this yesterday.

I am in on most of the points about climbing being recognized as an official use of public lands, and all that goes with that. But lobbying against Wilderness designation in order to preserve the right to use power drills for future bolt replacement? What the?

This is dumb. Wilderness designation is the most complete way to preserve and protect an area from uses that are landscape changing (logging, home building, etc.). Hand drilling bolts is not hard. Easily completed by dedicated individuals.

Whats the deal Access Fund?

Daryl
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Aug 23, 2016 - 11:16am PT
^^^

Interesting point.
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
Aug 23, 2016 - 11:35am PT
Josh, you beat me to it by a couple of hours. I was getting ready to make the same post. I should add that this affects all of the Sierra, Inyo and Sequoia National Forests, potentially for several decades to come. This potentially affects access and, potentially, policy on permanent anchors, in places like Shuteye and Courtright, in addition to many other wonderful climbing areas. The Access Fund has excellent resources for presenting comments.

The wilderness designation has more to do with being able to drive -- and being able to fight fires with mechanized equipment - than it does with use of power drills.

John
ontheedgeandscaredtodeath

Social climber
SLO, Ca
Aug 23, 2016 - 11:49am PT
Mechanized equipment is routinely used on fires in wilderness areas.
Escopeta

Trad climber
Idaho
Aug 23, 2016 - 11:58am PT
In point of fact, there is plenty of mechanized equipment made available for use in wilderness areas. Most notably, 4 wheelers and vehicles used by ranchers while their cattle range on wilderness areas. A finer oxymoron not to be found.

You didn't think BLM walked into all those areas in the name of enforcement did you?

The concept of "wilderness" is so bastardized that all it has become is a platform for bureaucrats to pander to specific land use groups (or tree-huggers aka non-users).

You want climbing to continue to be an acceptable activity with reasonable access to your public lands? You have two choices:

1: Open your wallet and buy your way in like ranchers and other consumptive users
2: Fight the designation
ontheedgeandscaredtodeath

Social climber
SLO, Ca
Aug 23, 2016 - 12:24pm PT
Climbing restrictions are far more prevalent in non-wilderness areas.
Cragar

climber
MSLA - MT
Aug 23, 2016 - 12:30pm PT
The concept of "wilderness" is so bastardized that all it has become is a platform for bureaucrats to pander to specific land use groups (or tree-huggers aka non-users).

Bing-F'n-Go!!

This is how it is in last best place.
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
Aug 23, 2016 - 12:39pm PT
Mechanized equipment is routinely used on fires in wilderness areas.

I stand corrected. The wilderness designation limits the ability to get people and equipment in, though, through limiting roads.

Again, though, wilderness/non-wilderness isn't the only issue, or even the major issue here. It's things like climbing management plans, which too often become climbing prevention plans. Please don't ignore the chance to comment. Sometimes they even listen.

John
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Aug 23, 2016 - 02:16pm PT
Anybody else having trouble with the form? It won't let me add my name and address here:

Sincerely,

[Your name & address here]
Climberdude

Trad climber
Clovis, CA
Aug 23, 2016 - 02:38pm PT
Kris,

Yes, the form has certain formats that will not allow you to add more than a few lines. For example, I tried to put in as much detail of where I climb in the three NF areas, but apparently I reached the maximum number of characters that can be added. If you really want to make a specific response, I suggest sending a written letter.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Aug 23, 2016 - 02:45pm PT
Yeah you're right. Thanks.

I ran into the character limit on the personalize it bit and it bummed me out 'cause I couldn't spray as much as I'd like :-)
Impaler

Social climber
Oakland
Aug 23, 2016 - 03:35pm PT
It looks like the there's a character limit, but also the bottom signature will probably auto-fill it when it sends the e-mail, since it's not even in a text box that can be changed.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
Aug 23, 2016 - 03:40pm PT
Hand drilling bolts is not hard. Easily completed by dedicated individuals

As long as they don't have carpel tunnel, elbow tendonitis, etc.
Josh Higgins

Trad climber
San Diego
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 23, 2016 - 09:42pm PT
Kris, THANK YOU for the correction. Getting the facts straight is always appreciated. I stand corrected, and was going off of what AF said. I'm sure they had the best intentions, but being based in CO they might have missed on that one. I hadn't thoroughly read/researched the topic and was trying to give them a helping hand.

As someone mentioned up thread, this still applies to an ENORMOUS amount of climbing resources and your feed back would still be appreciated.

Josh Higgins
Messages 1 - 16 of total 16 in this topic
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