The crowds are not going away... So what do we do?

[Andrew]

The crowds are not going to go away, so what do we do as a community? I am not talking about just fixed draws, nor am I blaming any one person or group of people, but how do we as a climbing community safely manage the large amount of people. We have more parking, camping, and businesses catering to climbers than ever. How do we manage all of this?

[Clevis Hitch]

string up a few bodies and get some very loud bad press

[toad857]

A climbing community safely managing this amount of people?

It's never been done before. This would be the first. It's an opportunity to show the climbing world that it can (or can't) be done.

Any solution would have to be pretty radical, outside-of-the-box. Volunteers and donations will not cut it.

[climb2core]

how do we as a climbing community safely manage the large amount of people. We have more parking, camping, and businesses catering to climbers than ever. How do we manage all of this?

Your question is too broad in scope and vague to even begin a discussion. What objectives are you hoping to achieve?

[krampus]

How do we effectively keep kids safe? Thus preserving our access. I feel like the stewardship efforts of the webbers seems to help. I believe we all know that the best answer is to educate people as we see issues arise. Unfortunately, those of us with experience hide in the cracks and choss during prime climbing season.

[clif]

i appreciate the broad stroke issue and hoped land acquisition was the agreed upon long-term solution.

however, i consider the resolution of a toilet at the lode (or as a parking lot 'rest stop' station) to be a sign of whether coalitions of climbers can solve their own problems.

[Andrew]

how do we as a climbing community safely manage the large amount of people. We have more parking, camping, and businesses catering to climbers than ever. How do we manage all of this?

Your question is too broad in scope and vague to even begin a discussion. What objectives are you hoping to achieve?

That was the whole point. The problem is broad and complex, and we need to take a step back look at what is happening around us. All of the area businesses are encouraging growth and all of the climbers are complaining about growth. What do we do? I am not suggesting hurting businesses, I think we need to come up with ways to manage the crowds.

[pigsteak]

limit crowds at all crags..for example, only 40 people at the Lode per day... you don't get up early, then you will be destined to climb at curbside all day. ban dogs from all PMRP crags. take all climbing gear out of the hands of anyone with Ohio plates on their car. put a ban on new route development anywhere within 50 miles of Slade. do a rolling blackout/closure of each and every crag every 5 years, closing it for restoration before it gets loved to death. make it mandatory that you can lead 5.9 on gear before you are handed a gri-gri. chop all sport routes under 11b. anyone with a college ID must wear a hat identifying themselves as a danger to social order at the crag. have climbers sign a pledge that they will climb only once a month or less at the Red to lessen impact. anyone wearing blue jeans or flannel to the crag, eschews deodorant, or sports a beard or long hair should have "wannabe" tattooed on their forehead.

if you found something in the list to piss you off, then you are the problem. please take up something more delicate like knitting or mtn. biking.

[climb2core]

Ok, start with this... Why are the crowds a problem?

[goodguy]

All good until the beard part and then "something delicate like knitting or Mtn. Biking??" Really? Mtn. Biking? Let me take you Mtn. Biking, I'll even let you use one of my rigs and we'll see how delicate you think it is.

Last time I checked even pigsteak had to wipe off his feet before starting a route and he brushed his shirt off if there happened to be any chalk on it.








JK