National Park Service OKs Fixed Anchors

For some time, there’s been a buzz, and somewhat of a buzzkill, regarding the potential banning of fixed climbing anchors in Wilderness. The challenges in regulating such things are many. Fixed anchors are often located in hard-to-reach places. Some fixed anchors, sure, are front and center—most are not. Fixed, too, might be webbing slung around a chockstone in a far-off couloir only accessible and useful to those seeking a remote adventure. Without the use of fixed anchors or the ability to establish them, most climbers, and some ski-mountaineers, could be caught out or worse.

Last year, fixed anchors in Wilderness were at risk of being banned outright or managed to death. As was reported, fixed anchors were slated to be considered “permanent installations.” Such a designation would have meant the possibility of banning fixed anchors in some Wilderness or requiring a somewhat cumbersome review process to establish new or maintain pre-existing fixed anchors.

Yesterday, the Access Fund broke the news with a press release titled, “National Park Service withdraws proposal that threatened climbing access and America’s climbing legacy.”