Muir Valley Concerns

[pawilkes]

I like the idea of more crags at Muir with the same maximum amount of people. That way you won't have to wait in lines for routes (unless you're at bruise brothers) and you can almost pretend that you're out doing something unique

[anticlmber]

nothing unique about following a trend.

[gus]

LOUD NOISES!!!

[pigsteak]

So THAT is the itch.....

[pawilkes]

no shit jr, that was kind of the point

[anticlmber]

i see the point, on top of your head. i'd wear a hat.

[weber]

So...getting back to the issue of increased traffic.

When I first learned that the Webers were going to open up several new areas to the public, one of my first thoughts ... was, "Well, what are they going to do about parking?" I assumed that with increased access there would be increased traffic and therefore a need for increased parking space. And while I understand that increased traffic means increased environmental impact, I had assumed that that impact would be mitigated by the fact that it would be spread out over a larger area. In other words, sure you've got more people, but you've got more space too.

Sorry. I don't want to belittle the Webers' concerns regarding impact. They know more about their land than I ever will. I just found Rick and Liz's reaction surprising given my earlier assumptions.

Thank you for your perspective, B.J.

You may not be aware that we have expanded the MV parking lot—not once, but 5 times in the past 3 years. The most recent was an additional two spots added two weeks ago. This is now a stone-surfaced 40-car parking lot with a security system. (See many of those in this region?)

Plans were put into effect from day one for MV, but a climbing venue such as this evolves more than it follows a plan. We had no clue as to how fast route development would occur and how popular the place would become. When we saw that route development was moving ahead faster than other needs, like trail and base building, we slowed it down to a manageable pace.

We are simply asking climbers to park in an orderly fashion (not preventing others from parking by leaving 3/4 of a parking space between them and the next car) and to respect MV capacity limitations by treating a full lot as a ‘No Vacancy’, rather than inappropriately parking off the parking lot area.

We do not plan to continually expand the parking lot. When the lot is full, attendance is at the level that the MV land and infrastructure will support without excessive damage to the environment. Other new cliffs within the Valley are being opened which will hopefully reduce the high impact at existing walls.

One final note, directed to those not familiar with exactly what Muir Valley is: MV is a privately-owned preserve with developed rock climbs, approach trails, emergency road, maintenance facilities, and parking. The owners, Rick and Liz, fund the MV expenses, including taxes, tools, maintenance equipment and services, materials, supplies, and utilities. (Developers provide most of their bolts and volunteers help with trails.) Access is free.

Climbers often tell us “Boy, it must be great to have a place like this.â€

[Steve]

B.J., you bring up a great point and something I have thought about and not just with MV. The southern region keeps increasing crags but the parking has pretty much stayed that same.

I've had the same thought about the Sore Heel parking area. This past Sunday I got to experience it first hand. Is it time to expand the Sore Heel parking lot again?

[B.J.]

We do not plan to continually expand the parking lot. When the lot is full, attendance is at the level that the MV land and infrastructure will support without excessive damage to the environment. Other new cliffs within the Valley are being opened which will hopefully reduce the high impact at existing walls.

That pretty much sums up what I was wondering.

Sorry if I made it sound like I thought you should increase parking. I wasn't trying to say that at all. I had just assumed (and we all know what happens when you assume) that you might. Thanks for clarifying your position and thanks for letting us enjoy your land!

[dmw]

There were 27 cars in the Sore Heel parking lot on Sunday..... and a few overflow ones, too.