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Closure Threat Becomes Reality at Torrent
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by Bill Strachan
In response to continued disrespectful behavior by some climbers, the owners of Torrent Falls, a popular Red River Gorge crag, have decided to close the area to climbing except for guests of the Torrent Falls Resort. This closure was announced and made effective on Friday, November 24, 2006. When closure was first threatened earlier this spring, the RRGCC convinced the owners to write down a set of rules and give climbers a chance to show that they could follow them. Unfortunately not all climbers were following the rules. Recent flagrant incidents cited by the owners in explaining their reasons for moving forward with the closure included someone who leashed their dog right by where a “No Dogs Allowed” sign was displayed. Another disturbing incident occurred when the owners were showing close friends around the area and came across a woman urinating out in the open despite the fact that the owners have provided a port-o-let for use by climbers.
In addition to the Torrent rules having been posted on the property and at the RRGCC kiosk at Miguel’s, the rules and the tenuous situation at Torrent was made widely known to the climbing community on various websites, in the Access Fund e-news, and in the RRGCC newsletter. All indications are that 2006 was the busiest season yet for Red River Gorge. While the RRGCC will look at ways to improve climber education about access issues during its’ planning for 2007, we are somewhat at a loss as to how to deal with climbers who blatantly disregard very simple and common sense behavioral guidelines.
It is asked that climbers please respect the tough decision made by Mark and Kathy Meyer to discontinue open climbing access at Torrent. Also please remember that disrespectful behavior and failure to follow rules at any climbing area in Red River Gorge whether on private or public land has the potential to negatively affect access. Know whose property you are climbing on and what is expected of you as a guest on that property. Detailed information on the various areas and guidelines for those areas is readily available in Ray Ellington’s Red River Gorge guidebook.
Bill Strachan, Executive Director Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition
7 Comments
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overlord    2006-11-30 |
wow, some climbers can really be idiots. we had a similar situation at a VERY popular (and really good) crag here in slovenia, but we were fortunate that some climbers have a really good relationship with the landowner so we only had to change the access trails. bul, like in RRG, the reason was climbers being disrespectfull. |
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gripster 2006-12-01 |
this makes me very sad, i hope the few idiots who caused this are happy, you have just closed an awesome crag. there are so many routes there that i never got to finish. |
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fishman 2006-12-03 |
Torrent was awesome!! :( |
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climbappalachia 2006-12-04 |
This sucks. People need to wake up and realize what their actions are causing. The RRGCC is such an amazing group and it's sad to think they were unable to get everbody on board for this crag after all the hard work they have done in the Red. Thanks to those people who tried to save this little jewel. I really had my sights set on Bandolier for my next trip to the Red. Oh well. |
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sonso45 2006-12-04 |
This is a sad commentary on how people can be so uncaring and thoughtless. Kathy and Mark are wonderful folks and I don't blame them a bit. |
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jake_kuenzli 2006-12-04 |
yes, torrent was, and still is a great crag, but the two events listed in this notice were only the finishing touches to the closure. it has been the consistant neglect of many climbers that do not know about, or continue to ignore the donation box at the torent climbing information board. I know that we are dirtbags, but thats why there is not some 15 dollar fee like at the gunks, he simply asks for a couple bucks. if you are still interested in climbing there, contact either of the guiding services in the red, true north outfitters, or red river outdoors, as they will be (as far as i have heard) able to guide at torent falls. |
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kikibatlubbin 2006-12-05 |
There are many more instances than noted. There is no shortage of climbing bums ruining places with their litter, butts, body wastes, and noise. As a guest who paid to rent a cabin there, I say good move Mark and Cathy. The place will be better without the losers. |
