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johnely
Nov 16, 2012, 1:39 AM
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Registered: Sep 1, 2005
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There is one month starting 11/14/12 to get involved and stop this threat to access. Contact PATC or Access Fund and get involved! Contact me (John Ely) for more info. JohnDEly@gmail.com 2012 Impacts of Alternative B: Balance Between Natural Resource Protection and Visitor Use (NPS Preferred Alternative) Impact Analysis: Under Alternative B, climbing management would be implemented through the proposed Climbing Management Guidelines. Most rock outcrop management would rely on minimal management tactics like displays, internet and print information and educational programs. North Marshall Summit and Marys Rock would be monitored for climbing impacts and may have further restrictions or prohibitions imposed in the future. Rock climbing access would be maintained for the majority of climbs, but low National Park Service Rock Outcrop Management Plan Shenandoah National Park Environmental Assessment/Assessment of Effect Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences 112 barriers and signs would be installed on some access points and informal trail routes. Running anchor ropes and webbing across the AT or other trials would be prohibited. Climbing activities on cliff areas within 35 meters north of the “chute” trail all points south and climbing activity in the area of large boulders on the northern most end of the cliffs would be prohibited. Some improvements would be made to the “chute” trail. The AT may be relocated to the existing Passamaquoddy Trail to help reduce visitor congestion at upper cliffs. This action is contingent upon approval for simultaneous relocation of the AT to its original path through the Skyland Resort development one mile south of Little Stony Man Mountain. Anchor ropes and webbing that cross the AT or other trails would be prohibited. Rock climbing access would be maintained to the majority of climbs on the Little Stony Man Cliffs. The ability of rock climbers to use or establish routes on the southern cliff or far northern boulders would be eliminated. At Old Rag Mountain the western summit would be closed to visitation and a trail rerouted and hardened to prevent trampling of the rare species Huperzia. Rock climbers would encounter low barriers and signs on informal access trails and would encounter short trail-re-routes, educational signs, and low barriers that direct them around rare plant populations adjacent to climbing staging areas or trails. Actions at Management Category 1 sites include restricting rock climbing and closing informal trails at North Marshall. At South Marshall, use of the Appalachian Trail would be re-routed away from the cliff and rock outcrops. At Overall Run Falls North informal trails to outcrops would be closed. Visitor access would be focused at non-sensitive areas. At Hawksbill Summit, rock and ice climbing would be prohibited and the multiple informal trails to the cliffs between the Byrds Nest Shelter and the summit viewing platform would be closed. Signage and physical barriers on the Frazier Discovery Trail at Loft Mountain’s northern most summit outcrop would reduce use of the site, protecting plant communities. Actions at Management Category 2 sites include containing visitation at the overlook outcrop and closing informal trails at Marys Rock. Off-trail rock scrambling in the lichen community would be reduced at Blackrock South District. For Management Category 3 and 4 sites, monitoring would be established. At Category 3 sites monitoring would be done to assess impacts of visitor use at Franklin Cliffs. No climbing regulations would be implemented for sites in Management Category 5. Adverse impacts to Little Stony Man Mountain would be minor and impacts to Old Rag Mountain and sites in Management Categories 1 and 2 would be negligible. There would be no impacts to Management Category 3-5 sites. There would also be beneficial impacts from improvements to climbing facilities at Little Stony Man Mountain. Overall, impacts to Climbing Activities would be negligible to minor with beneficial impacts. National Park Service Rock Outcrop Management Plan Shenandoah National Park Environmental Assessment/Assessment of Effect Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences 113 Cumulative Impacts: The Old Rag parking lot project would not impact climbing activities associated with the rock outcrops nor are there any actions associated with the project that would impact other climbing activities in the Park. Therefore, it would not contribute to cumulative impacts to climbing activities; there are no cumulative impacts. Conclusion: There would be adverse, site-specific minor, short-term impacts from the installation of signs and barriers. Actions under Alternative B would result in adverse, site-specific, negligible to minor, long-term impacts on climbing activities. There would be beneficial impacts at Little Stony Man Mountain. There would be no cumulative impacts from past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions. 2008 Impacts of Alternative B: Balance Between Natural Resource Protection and Visitor Use (NPS Preferred Alternative) Impact Analysis: Under Alternative B, climbing management would be implemented through the proposed Climbing Management Guidelines. Most rock outcrop management would rely on minimal management tactics like displays, internet and print information and educational programs. North Marshall Summit and Marys Rock would be monitored for climbing impacts and may have further restrictions or prohibitions imposed in the future. Rock climbing access would be maintained for the majority of climbs, but low barriers and signs would be installed on some access points and informal trail routes. Use of tree anchors across the trail (presently the AT) would be prohibited. At Little Stony Man Mountain fixed anchors would be allowed to be installed as authorized by the Superintendent’s Office and not installed or maintained by the NPS, and climbing access to some areas would be prohibited. Climbing activities on cliff areas within 35 meters north of the “chute” trail all points south and climbing activity in the area of large boulders on the northern most end of the cliffs would be prohibited. Some improvements would be made to the “chute” trail. The AT may be relocated to the existing Passamaquoddy Trail to help reduce visitor congestion at upper cliffs. This action is contingent upon approval for simultaneous relocation of the AT to its original path through the Skyland Resort development one mile south of Little Stony Man Mountain. Anchor ropes and webbing that cross the trail would be prohibited. Rock climbing access would be maintained to the majority of climbs on the Little Stony Man Cliffs. Rock climbers would have access to installed fixed anchors, and a more stable and safe return to the base of the cliffs using the “chute” trail. The ability of rock climbers to use or establish routes on the southern cliff or far northern boulders will be eliminated. Fixed anchors would be allowed to be installed as authorized by the Superintendent’s Office and not installed or maintained by the NPS at the Little Stony Man Mountain upper cliffs as a safe alternative to tree anchors or less experienced climbers not comfortable with using rock anchors. At Old Rag Mountain the western summit would be closed to visitation and a trail rerouted and hardened to prevent trampling of the rare species Huperzia. Rock climbers would encounter low barriers and signs on informal access trails and would encounter short trail-re-routes, educational signs, and low barriers that direct them around rare plant populations adjacent to climbing staging areas or trails. Actions at Management Category 1 sites include restricting rock climbing and closing informal trails at North Marshall. At South Marshall, use of the Appalachian Trail would be re-routed away from the cliff and rock outcrops. At Overall Run Falls North informal trails to outcrops would be closed. Visitor access would be focused at non-sensitive areas. At Hawksbill Summit, rock and ice climbing would be prohibited and the multiple informal trails to the cliffs between the Byrds Nest Shelter and the summit viewing platform would be closed. Signage and physical barriers on the Frazier Discovery Trail at Loft Mountain’s northern most summit outcrop would reduce use of the site, protecting plant communities. National Park Service Rock Outcrop Management Plan Shenandoah National Park Environmental Assessment/Assessment of Effect Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences 118 Actions at Management Category 2 sites include containing visitation at the overlook outcrop and closing informal trails at Marys Rock. Off-trail rock scrambling in the lichen community would be reduced at Blackrock South District. For Management Category 3 and 4 sites, monitoring would be established. At Category 3 sites monitoring would be done to assess impacts of visitor use at Franklin Cliffs. No climbing regulations would be implemented for sites in Management Category 5. Adverse impacts to Little Stony Man Mountain would be minor and impacts to Old Rag Mountain and sites in Management Categories 1 and 2 would be negligible. There would be no impacts to Management Category 3-5 sites. There would also be beneficial impacts from improvements to climbing facilities at Little Stony Man Mountain. Overall, impacts to Climbing Activities would be negligible to minor with beneficial impacts. Cumulative Impacts: The Old Rag parking lot project would not impact climbing activities associated with the rock outcrops nor are there any actions associated with the project that would impact other climbing activities in the Park. Therefore, it would not contribute to cumulative impacts to climbing activities; there are no cumulative impacts. Conclusion: There would be adverse, site-specific minor, short-term impacts from the installation of signs and barriers. Actions under Alternative B would result in adverse, site-specific, negligible to minor, long-term impacts on climbing activities. There would be beneficial impacts at Little Stony Man Mountain. There would be no cumulative impacts from past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions.
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kikitastrophe
Nov 16, 2012, 4:45 PM
Post #2 of 4
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Registered: Oct 19, 2009
Posts: 25
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This is a lot of words, can you make an executive summary so people don't ignore this very important issue? I might be confused, but this is what I was able to get out of your post: 1. They want to restrict climbing access 2. New rule to forbid Anchors/ropes from crossing the Appalachian Trail/Other Trails 3. They say they will "maintain access to the majority of climbs" at Little Stony Man 4. They want to forbid use/development of southern cliffs and northern boulders At Little Stony Man 5. Restrict access to Western Old Rag summit to protect Huperzia plants 6. Prohibit rock and ice climbing at Hawksbill Summit
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marc801
Nov 16, 2012, 5:52 PM
Post #3 of 4
(4952 views)
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Registered: Aug 1, 2005
Posts: 2806
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kikitastrophe wrote: This is a lot of words, can you make an executive summary so people don't ignore this very important issue? +1 To the OP: TL;DR
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Spydamunkey
Jun 1, 2015, 12:44 PM
Post #4 of 4
(3462 views)
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Registered: Jul 29, 2012
Posts: 5
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On the National Park Service Website, in their link to their Rock Climbing brochure (pdf file), it states that there are permanent closures at Little Stony Man cliffs and shows a little map of those closed areas (http://www.nps.gov/...egulations-Final.pdf): In reply to:Permanent Closures •Little Stony Man Cliffs -- All off-trail areas on Little Stony Man located south of a line placed 28.3 yards (35 meters) north of the Chute Trail (Figure 1) are closed to visitor use. The large boulders on the northernmost end of Little Stony Man cliffs between the A.T. and Passamaquoddy Trail are also closed.
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