Instead, you're being the alarmist. Mention of avoiding one route led you to spewing about closing all the routes in the red. That sort of exaggerated reactionary mentality is just useless and counterproductive. If we were better stewards of the land, whether its protecting endangered species, common wood rats, or an endangered endemic plant, we might get to use it longer and gain wider acceptance with the rest of the population. Not to mention we'd get to enjoy the aesthetic benefits of it too, i.e. climbing in a beautiful place.
I would be in favor of closing a handful of routes, or how ever many it takes
if some animal, or plant is depending on its space for living. I mean, unfortunately, I don't think climbers are going to become the endangered ones, I don't know if you've seen, but we're spreading out like the plague. Maybe with all our masses we can construct some sort of rat relocation program, or plant re-planting initiative, so we can climb over ever inch of rock in eastern KY without harming anything. Just kidding, just kidding, don’t get started... Anyway, it's been an interesting exchange. I'm through with it now. Lets move on shall we? Its not as if its solely up to you or me anyway. Several of us have already stated that we won't be climbing on that route so the purpose of the post has been somewhat served. I just think it important, and often overlooked, that we pay attention to issues like this, and that sometimes, people step up and say what everyone has been thinking anyway.
Nice going y'all. Now the poor little critter definitely not going to make it through the winter. 