Comment from Price, Dana

I am a conservationist, backpacker and climber who treasures the wilderness areas in my home state of NM and around the West. The draft climbing guidance is important to get right for the safety of climbers and preservation of wilderness values. Please listen to climbers regarding changes to the draft that will improve safety, preserve established climbing routes, and support responsible access. Climbing in wilderness, such as the Sandia Mountains near my home, brings a rich appreciation of the landscape and respect for the mountains. Climbing by its nature offers an intricate, deliberate pace for exploring the mountains while challenging oneself; a feeling of intimacy with the rock and humility. The Sandia Mountains have a rich history of climbing going back several decades, to the 1950s if not earlier. I support the recognition that climbing is an appropriate Wilderness activity and that fixed anchors, critical pieces of the climbing safety system, are allowable in Wilderness. I also support provisions to allow climbers to place or replace fixed anchors without prior authorization in the event of an emergency. I appreciate that the policy protects existing climbing routes that were developed before the PARC Act was passed into law. Legacy Wilderness climbs should remain available in order to preserve America’s rich climbing legacy. Please improve policies to expedite timely replacement of fixed anchors in order to avoid unnecessary barriers to climber safety. The authorization process for new climbing routes that require fixed anchors should be easier to navigate. Please provide a clear path for programmatic authorization, or preauthorization, at climbing areas that do not necessitate case-by-case special use permits.