Update by the RRGCC on TEMPORARY Closures

Post by **discojett** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 12:30 am

How is this going to be enforced? Camping in rock shelters is still quite popular, regardless if its illegal. Popular rappelling places are far from the roads and designated trails. Just curious.

Post by **Gretchen** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 12:32 am

Law enforcement. I don't know if there was in increase in budget to support that but that the FS' answer.

Post by **gulliver** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 1:07 am

Regardless of the resources being streched, I'd like to think something would have been said. The distinctions we seem to all make at times between climbers and sport rappelers are nothing but generalizations. the nalgene bottle / beer bottle thing can go either way. So too the indescriminate polluting or cleaning up. Excessive wear at certain sites that seem to be caused by the rappelers could justify a closure , but that 'broad brush' that I'm reading in your post denotes a mentality in the FS decision makers that is scary. Are we looking for fair compromise with this group (reaching understandings) , or are we just the squeeky wheel ?

PS goldline , 13' of tape, 1 caribiner - I'm pretty sure that's what lead to this whole climbing thing for me.

Post by **Gretchen** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 1:11 am

I was only joking around gulliver. The point being is that the rappelling community has not stepped up to bat on this issue. The fact is there are two few of us at the RRGCC to react for every user group. We are forced to pick our battles. Unless one of you wants to stand up and volunteer to organise the rappellers, what are the options

I know I have my hands full thank you very much.

Post by **gulliver** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 1:51 am

Ahhh humor . We don't get a lot of that in Paint Lick! I was slipping into my ninja suit, thanks for the heads up.

signed , gullible

Post by **Gretchen** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 2:43 am

We can educate he FS to the best of our abilities. They will form their opinion as they go. I think on the whole that we as a community have forged a solid relationship an opinion w/ the FS.

I guess we need to come up with a power point presention depicting the natural behaviors of the indigenous climber vs. the transplanted rappeller

Sorry my spelling went to hell after a couple glasses of vino! BUSY Day!

Post by **Legion** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 3:32 am

I'm still a little fuzzy...So the plan isn't to ban rapelling itself, but rather to close off access to rappelling at certain locations? The problem caused by rappelling being erosion of cliffline, so the fix would be to close off the top of the cliff. This is similar to my local crag where the damage caused by rappelling created a pretty severe erosion problem. The result has been a ban on rappelling and also on topping out. How about take places like Half Moon and write them off. Let the sport rappers have it. At least that way you can keep tabs on them. Otherwise they will just find somewhere else to go, far enough off the beaten track that the FS won't bother to check up, and cause further damage.

Post by **Gretchen** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 11:43 am

My understanding is that the areas as well as the sport of rappelling has been banned. I will double check to be sure & let you know.

Post by **gulliver** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 1:23 am

Now I'm totally confused. Where was the joke?
If they are banning rappelling , that's a bad thing.
What is it based on?

their demographic and ours can't look that differant from a little green truck

Post by **ynot** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:46 am

"their demographic and ours can't look that differant from a little green truck"
finaly! someone gets it!