RRC Archives

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:43 am Post subject: Temporary Closure of Red River Gorge Geologic Area


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In response to the black bear attack the Forest Service has temporarily closed the Red River Gorge Gorge Geologic Area. This affects all Red River Gorge proper crags except those located in the Indian Creek drainage plus Long Wall, Fortress Wall, and Phantasia that remain open. Crags affected by the closure include, but are not limited to - Funk Rock City, Wall of Denial, Sky Bridge Ridge, the Small Walls, Frenchburg Overhangs, Military Wall, Left Flank, and Raven Rock.

Black bear attack prompts temporary closure of Red River Gorge Geological Area
WINCHESTER, Ky., June 28, 2010 – On Sunday, June 27, the Daniel Boone National Forest issued a temporary emergency closure of the Red River Gorge Geological Area. The closure resulted after a hiker was attacked by a black bear.
The closed area includes all national forest system lands north of Natural Bridge State Resort Park to U.S. Highway 460 in Menifee, Powell and Wolfe counties. The area will remain closed until further notice.
“Public safety is our highest priority,â€

And yes I obviously and shamelessly cut and pasted this.......

So what does it actually means? I need a translation.

"Closed until further notice"?

Does it mean that I can still go there at my own risk (e.i. this is just a legal thing: don't blame the forest service if I get mauled, they warned me and I disregarded it)?

Does it mean that there won't be rescuers allowed to come to any of the closed areas, even if there was an attack (or a cimbing accident)?

Does it mean that I will be fined/ticketed if a ranger sees my car parked in one of the closed areas?

Does the failure to comply affect climbing access?





I don't have a burning need to go to any of the affected areas right this moment, so I might as well obey the closure and climb elsewhere. I am just curious about this...

They are controlling access points today. Driving in there--if you were to somehow get through--and climbing at one of those crags would be a very bad idea right now, for yourself and climber-USFS relations. Just go to a crag that isn't affected--like the other 80% of them.

I wouldn't risk hiking or climbing right now in that area. Not afraid of the bear(and certainly not of that bumbling and slightly dopey Redpoint's Bear), but more afraid of getting shot by someone with a happy trigger-finger.

Is 715 closed through the Red?

dustonian-- thanks. That's what i was looking for, the information on how seriously this was taken/enforced. Controling access points and roadblocks sounds like they really mean it.

As I said earlier, I had no intention of going to the closed-off areas, just curious about the legalities and details.

Grrrrrr I miss everybody camping and climbing - it sure is quiet here now. I'm almost afraid to sleep. Grrrr the berries are nice though. Grrrr does anybody have any spare berries I could have to eat? Grrrrrrr

any word on when the closures expire. I have some spare berries if I can go work Mercy the Huff.

It has been on for a long time now. Probably in their plan to keep it closed for a while.