Climbing in Washington during the COVID-19 pandemic<\/strong><\/h1>\nWhile access to climbing areas has been reopened as of June 4, many or most toilet facilities remain closed.<\/h2>\n
What can we do as a community to recreate safely without putting human lives and climbing access at risk?<\/p>\n
Why should we follow these guidelines as a community?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- We need to\u00a0maintain trust and good relationships with land managers and respect local residents<\/strong>.\u00a0Not following guidelines will put access at risk in some cases.<\/li>\n
- SAVE LIVES<\/strong>\u00a0— COVID-19 is no joke and asymptomatic people can transmit the virus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Guidelines for climbing in WA:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n- Stay home if you are sick<\/strong>, and consider that you may be contagious without experiencing any symptoms.<\/li>\n
- Avoid crowds.<\/strong> Be prepared to go somewhere else or come back another time if your destination looks crowded.<\/li>\n
- Practice physical distancing.<\/strong> Keep 6 feet between you and those outside your immediate household.<\/li>\n
- Follow the rules.\u00a0<\/strong>Rule enforcement puts visitors and staff at risk. Please follow all rules to reduce the need for interaction with rangers and other park staff. Never leave a campfire unattended.<\/li>\n
- Keep your outdoor objectives conservative<\/strong>. Climbing accidents will place further stress on first responders, search and rescue teams, and hospital staff.<\/li>\n
- Pack out what you pack in.\u00a0<\/strong>Take any garbage with you, including disposable gloves and masks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are based on guidelines from the American Alpine Club<\/a> the Access Fund, and \u00a0Washington State Parks<\/a><\/p>\nMessage from Methow Valley Climbers<\/h2>\n
Our friends at the Methow Valley Climbers ask that vistors consider the following (May 19):<\/p>\n
\n- If you choose to climb in or near the Methow Valley, please follow all State and Forest Service guidelines<\/em><\/li>\n
- Please follow the WA state travel mandates to day trips only.<\/em><\/li>\n
- Most regional Public Bathrooms will remain closed TBD please use Blue Bags.\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n
- Dispersed Camping under Goat Wall is always discouraged.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How to make your own toilet<\/h2>\n
Our river rafting friends have been doing this forever. If you are camping, the bathrooms are still mostly closed. Bring your own: Five Gallon Bucket and Pipe Insulation.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Additional Links<\/h2><\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>List of State Parks Open\/Closed (June 1)
\nhttps:\/\/parks.state.wa.us\/1181\/Parks-opening<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nState Park Guidelines (May 29)
\nhttps:\/\/parks.state.wa.us\/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=613<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nForest Service: Pacific NW Region general guidelines as of June 4<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/detail\/r6\/home\/?cid=fseprd716206<\/a><\/p>\nMount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (Darrington, Mt. Baker, Skykomish, Snoqualmie) (May 29)<\/strong>: https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/alerts\/mbs\/alerts-notices<\/a><\/p>\nOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Chelan, CleElum, Entiat, Methow Valley, Naches, Tonsaket, Wenatchee River) (June 4)<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/detailfull\/okawen\/alerts-notices\/?cid=fseprd717017&width=ful<\/a><\/p>\nBlewitt Pass Highway area closed for manhunt (June 1)<\/strong>:<\/p>\nOlympic National Forest (May 22)<\/strong>: \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/detailfull\/olympic\/home\/?cid=fseprd716032&width=full<\/a><\/p>\nColville National Forest (June 4): https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/Internet\/FSE_DOCUMENTS\/fseprd743421.pdf<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nDNR (May5)<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/www.dnr.wa.gov\/open\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0https:\/\/www.dnr.wa.gov\/rec_open<\/a><\/p>\nNorth Cascades National Park\/Ross Lake National Recreation Area (May 28)<\/strong>: news release<\/a> (note Newhalem crag nesting closure: link<\/a><\/p>\nMount Rainier National Park (June 4)<\/strong>: \u00a0Longmire-Paradise road closed; highway 410 and Cayuse Pass open.<\/a><\/p>\nFor more information:\u00a0\u00a0Watch Access Fund May 15 1 hr video<\/a>.<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" "\\"OPEN")
<\/span><\/div>DAY USE ONLY \/ NO CAMPING \/ STAY LOCAL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- State parks<\/li>\n
- State public lands managed by DNR<\/li>\n
- State public lands managed by WDFW<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Bring a wag bag (bag to put poop in like your dog) because toilets may not be open.<\/p>\n
We are still in a pandemic, consider not climbing.<\/strong>
\nIf you go, these areas and others are open with restrictions (including no camping):<\/p>\n\n- Index (including Lower Town Wall owned by WCC, where we ask climbers to follow State Park guidelines)<\/li>\n
- Vantage<\/li>\n
- Tieton River<\/li>\n
- Leavenworth<\/li>\n
- Mazama<\/li>\n
- Vantage<\/li>\n
- Exit 38<\/li>\n
- Little Si<\/li>\n
- Larrabee State Park<\/li>\n
- Mt. Erie<\/li>\n
- Gold Bar Boulders
\nVantage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nDO NOT OVERCROWD CRAGS
\nRECREATION MAY BE CLOSED IF CROWDING HAPPENS.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>REMAINING CLOSED \/ DRIVE THROUGH ONLY<\/strong><\/p>\nNorth Cascades National Park\/Newhalem Gorge<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-link","hentry","category-uncategorized","post_format-post-format-link"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15232\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- \n
- We need to\u00a0maintain trust and good relationships with land managers and respect local residents<\/strong>.\u00a0Not following guidelines will put access at risk in some cases.<\/li>\n
- SAVE LIVES<\/strong>\u00a0— COVID-19 is no joke and asymptomatic people can transmit the virus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Guidelines for climbing in WA:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- \n
- Stay home if you are sick<\/strong>, and consider that you may be contagious without experiencing any symptoms.<\/li>\n
- Avoid crowds.<\/strong> Be prepared to go somewhere else or come back another time if your destination looks crowded.<\/li>\n
- Practice physical distancing.<\/strong> Keep 6 feet between you and those outside your immediate household.<\/li>\n
- Follow the rules.\u00a0<\/strong>Rule enforcement puts visitors and staff at risk. Please follow all rules to reduce the need for interaction with rangers and other park staff. Never leave a campfire unattended.<\/li>\n
- Keep your outdoor objectives conservative<\/strong>. Climbing accidents will place further stress on first responders, search and rescue teams, and hospital staff.<\/li>\n
- Pack out what you pack in.\u00a0<\/strong>Take any garbage with you, including disposable gloves and masks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are based on guidelines from the American Alpine Club<\/a> the Access Fund, and \u00a0Washington State Parks<\/a><\/p>\n
Message from Methow Valley Climbers<\/h2>\n
Our friends at the Methow Valley Climbers ask that vistors consider the following (May 19):<\/p>\n
- \n
- If you choose to climb in or near the Methow Valley, please follow all State and Forest Service guidelines<\/em><\/li>\n
- Please follow the WA state travel mandates to day trips only.<\/em><\/li>\n
- Most regional Public Bathrooms will remain closed TBD please use Blue Bags.\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n
- Dispersed Camping under Goat Wall is always discouraged.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How to make your own toilet<\/h2>\n
Our river rafting friends have been doing this forever. If you are camping, the bathrooms are still mostly closed. Bring your own: Five Gallon Bucket and Pipe Insulation.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Additional Links<\/h2><\/h1><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>List of State Parks Open\/Closed (June 1)
\nhttps:\/\/parks.state.wa.us\/1181\/Parks-opening<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nState Park Guidelines (May 29)
\nhttps:\/\/parks.state.wa.us\/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=613<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nForest Service: Pacific NW Region general guidelines as of June 4<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/detail\/r6\/home\/?cid=fseprd716206<\/a><\/p>\nMount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (Darrington, Mt. Baker, Skykomish, Snoqualmie) (May 29)<\/strong>: https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/alerts\/mbs\/alerts-notices<\/a><\/p>\n
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Chelan, CleElum, Entiat, Methow Valley, Naches, Tonsaket, Wenatchee River) (June 4)<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/detailfull\/okawen\/alerts-notices\/?cid=fseprd717017&width=ful<\/a><\/p>\n
Blewitt Pass Highway area closed for manhunt (June 1)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
Olympic National Forest (May 22)<\/strong>: \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/detailfull\/olympic\/home\/?cid=fseprd716032&width=full<\/a><\/p>\n
Colville National Forest (June 4): https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/Internet\/FSE_DOCUMENTS\/fseprd743421.pdf<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
DNR (May5)<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/www.dnr.wa.gov\/open\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0https:\/\/www.dnr.wa.gov\/rec_open<\/a><\/p>\n
North Cascades National Park\/Ross Lake National Recreation Area (May 28)<\/strong>: news release<\/a> (note Newhalem crag nesting closure: link<\/a><\/p>\n
Mount Rainier National Park (June 4)<\/strong>: \u00a0Longmire-Paradise road closed; highway 410 and Cayuse Pass open.<\/a><\/p>\n
For more information:\u00a0\u00a0Watch Access Fund May 15 1 hr video<\/a>.<\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>DAY USE ONLY \/ NO CAMPING \/ STAY LOCAL<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- State parks<\/li>\n
- State public lands managed by DNR<\/li>\n
- State public lands managed by WDFW<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Bring a wag bag (bag to put poop in like your dog) because toilets may not be open.<\/p>\n
We are still in a pandemic, consider not climbing.<\/strong>
\nIf you go, these areas and others are open with restrictions (including no camping):<\/p>\n- \n
- Index (including Lower Town Wall owned by WCC, where we ask climbers to follow State Park guidelines)<\/li>\n
- Vantage<\/li>\n
- Tieton River<\/li>\n
- Leavenworth<\/li>\n
- Mazama<\/li>\n
- Vantage<\/li>\n
- Exit 38<\/li>\n
- Little Si<\/li>\n
- Larrabee State Park<\/li>\n
- Mt. Erie<\/li>\n
- Gold Bar Boulders
\nVantage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nDO NOT OVERCROWD CRAGS
\nRECREATION MAY BE CLOSED IF CROWDING HAPPENS.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>REMAINING CLOSED \/ DRIVE THROUGH ONLY<\/strong><\/p>\n
North Cascades National Park\/Newhalem Gorge<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-link","hentry","category-uncategorized","post_format-post-format-link"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15232\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonclimbers.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Please follow the WA state travel mandates to day trips only.<\/em><\/li>\n
- Avoid crowds.<\/strong> Be prepared to go somewhere else or come back another time if your destination looks crowded.<\/li>\n
- SAVE LIVES<\/strong>\u00a0— COVID-19 is no joke and asymptomatic people can transmit the virus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![](\"https:\/\/washingt770stg.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/OPEN-NO-CAMPING.png\" "\\"OPEN")
<\/span><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/washingt770stg.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/OPEN-NO-CAMPING-1.png\" "\\"OPEN")
<\/span><\/div>