Apparently the NPS is planning to hold a public meeting to solicit
comments on two proposed alternatives for
future use of Great Falls Park, VA. The meeting is Saturday,
September 17,
from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the Great Falls Park visitor center.

The future of rock climbing in the Park is being considered.

Alternative A provides for no change to existing policy which is
to "allow
climbing activities on a first-come basis."

Alternative B, stated to be the "preferred" alternative, provides for
preparing a Climbing Management Plan (CMP) including :

1) Designate climbing sites with anchors;
2) Explore options to reduce climbing sites to protect
sensitive
natural and cultural resources; and
3) Control access through permitting.

If you have any opinion about the above two Alternatives then you
should
attend the meeting on September 17 to voice your opinion. YOUR
OPINION DOES MATTER!

The proposed future use of the Park is now being considered within the
context of a draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact
Statement. The comment period is August 15 to October 7, 2005. For
details
please see
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/...998&documentID=12262
and specifically, recreational management in Chapter 2, page 2.8.

A form for submitting comments and/or email address for submitting
comments
can be found at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/...998&documentId=12262

There's a lot of group overlap anyway, but I think
everyone who wants to be involved in this should hook
up with the PATC. They have the same interests we do
(protect access, manage the area in a sustainable
fashion, prevent the imposition of a permitting system
or anything else that would favor guided groups over
individual users), and they're already out ahead on
this issue. We can certainly provide our input as
individuals as well, but in situations like this it
helps if all everybody is on the same page.

Below is an email that went out to the PATC listserv
about a pre-meeting they're having, people might also
want to get on their listserv to stay abreast of this.
The PATC-MS web site is at
http://www.patc.net/chapters/mtn_sect/

The PMC will hold a pre-meeting meeting September 8th
at 1900 at the PATC headqtrs where we will discuss
this urgent matter at hand.

I hope EVERYONE can attend.

I hope you will be able to bring your much needed
ideas and energy to our table and in turn be there on
the 17th to also represent our club along with
everyone else.

This is the normal process with the NPS in regard to
resource use in any given community.

They want to work out a plan to satisfy all users of
the resource so be patient and think positive. We are
not alone!

I am confident that we will have some very positive
input on the 8th so please plan to attend.

At this time, everyone is welcome to attend until a
notice is sent out to the contrary.

Hopefully most of you will be aware of the recently released
Management Plan for Great Falls - available at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/...998&documentID=12262
which indicates that a Climbing Management Plan will be prepared as
part of the overall Management Plan.
The NPS preferred option suggests the possibility of closing areas,
the establishment of permanent anchors and the introduction of a
permit system. These are significant issues for the future of
climbing at Great Falls.

There will be a meeting to discuss this in the upstairs room of the
Patagonia store in Georgetown, tomorrow evening Thursday 8 September
from 7 - 8:30pm. This is being held in advance of a public meeting
with the NPS at the Great Falls Visitor Center, 1-3 pm Saturday
September 17.

The Patagonia store in Georgetown is at 1048 Wisconsin Ave.,
Washington, DC 20007 (202) 333-1776.
PATC, the Blue Ridge Section of the AAC and She-Climbs are preparing
a common response and a draft of this should be available tomorrow
evening. This response will specifically ask the NPS to explain more
fully at the September 17 meeting exactly what is being considered -
the NPS documents are vague.

It is crucial that climbers in the DC area familiarize themselves
with the NPS plans and take advantage of the opportunity to reply in
the period for comment - August 15 to October 7, 2005. The stakes
are potentially high - failure by the climbing community to comment
may lead to an unsatisfactory Climbing Management Plan which could
effectively eliminate access to Great Falls for climbing.

The meeting is open to all interested climbers, not just PATC
members, so please encourage other climbers to attend - and arrive
between 6:30 and 7pm.

Also consider replying yourself to the NPS, and/or attending the Sep
17 meeting at Great Falls.

A form for submitting comments and/or email address for submitting
comments can be found at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/...998&documentId=12262

Please recognize the generosity of Patagonia in providing this
facility at short notice.

Please join park staff and planners to discuss the proposed alternatives for the Great Falls Park General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.
Description: To solicit comments from the community on the proposed GMP/EIS alternatives.
Meeting Directions: From the Beltway (I-495):

Take exit 44 for Route 193, Georgetown Pike.

At the top of the exit ramp, there is a traffic light. If you are exiting from I-495 South, coming from Maryland and the George Washington Memorial Parkway, take a right at the light onto Route 193 West. If you are coming from I-495 North (the Inner Loop) from points south or I-66, you will take a left at the traffic light onto Route 193 West.

About three miles down the road, you will come to another traffic light at the intersection of Old Dominion Dr. At the traffic light, you will see a sign for the park. Make a right at the light. Old Dominion Drive will dead end at our entrance station, about one mile down the road. Map Quest Directions

Date Start Time End Time Location
09/17/2005 1:00 PM 3:00 PM Great Falls Park Visitor Center
9200 Old Dominion Drive
McLean, Virginia
(703) 285-2965