drastic idea for Torrent Falls
Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:32 pm
I have an idea about how to protect climbing at Torrent Falls. It's rather extreme, but keep an open mind...
Mark should close Torrent to the public and only allow a small group of responsible climbers to climb there. Those climbers will have parking passes (that we, as climbers create and manage). We can erect signs stating that Torrent Falls is closed to the public and that unauthorized cars will be towed at the owners expense.
The climbers who have permission can sponsor other climbers, perhaps at a one-to-one ratio. The sponsors will be responsible for explaining the rules and policing these 'new' climbers. The climbers that are sponsored don't have to be locals--they can be anyone (for instance, climbers you meet at Miguel's and who are willing to bribe you with beer...). Once those climbers have proven they will respect the rules and understand the gravity of the situation, they can sponsor additional climbers. And so on. Eventually, anyone who wants to climb at Torrent will be able to do so again, but they will also have the perspective of having had Torrent closed to them. Anyone who violates the rules will be blackballed. This means that we will have to be willing to have cars that do not display permits towed, and we will have to take responsibility for the climbers we sponsor.
It could work. JR would be the ideal person to pick the first group of authorized climbers, even though he's an ass.
Mark should close Torrent to the public and only allow a small group of responsible climbers to climb there. Those climbers will have parking passes (that we, as climbers create and manage). We can erect signs stating that Torrent Falls is closed to the public and that unauthorized cars will be towed at the owners expense.
The climbers who have permission can sponsor other climbers, perhaps at a one-to-one ratio. The sponsors will be responsible for explaining the rules and policing these 'new' climbers. The climbers that are sponsored don't have to be locals--they can be anyone (for instance, climbers you meet at Miguel's and who are willing to bribe you with beer...). Once those climbers have proven they will respect the rules and understand the gravity of the situation, they can sponsor additional climbers. And so on. Eventually, anyone who wants to climb at Torrent will be able to do so again, but they will also have the perspective of having had Torrent closed to them. Anyone who violates the rules will be blackballed. This means that we will have to be willing to have cars that do not display permits towed, and we will have to take responsibility for the climbers we sponsor.
It could work. JR would be the ideal person to pick the first group of authorized climbers, even though he's an ass.