Access issues come an go. Climbing areas may be closed through the reaction of land managers or property owners to concerns having to do with rock climbing activity or they may be closed through neglect of an access road, or for many other reasons. The are some common issues:
- Increasing recreational pressures are being placed on shrinking undeveloped lands.
- Environmental regulations require governmental responses that include, in some instances, limiting climbers’ access.
- Government land managers face shrinking budgets as they struggle to maintain roads and trails.
- If not properly cared for, popular climbing areas can suffer from unsightly erosion and plant destruction on the approaches and at the cliff edge or cliff base.
- Visual impact from the intensive removal of vegetation or the use of brightly colored rappel slings can disturb other visitors and land managers.
- Ignoring crag closures, camping illegally, behaving in a manner offensive to other area visitors, and letting their dogs run unleashed can erode our relationship with land managers or neighbors.
- Climbers are often unaware of, and in some cases ignore private property rights because they think their presence is not harmful.
- Parking can be a problem, with climbers’ cars getting in the way on narrow roadsides.
- Despite State law and legal precedent that land owners or managers are not liable in the event of a climbing accident, liability concerns remain.
- Bolting practices are an ongoing area of controversy. We urge all climbers to obey pertinent regulations and to treat ethical/stylistic/environmental issues related to bolting with care.