Jason W.

Here is a quick overview of the current status of the proposed closure for parts of Massacre Rocks. The current Comment Period ends Nov. 11th, so there is still time to write the BLM with your opinion. The BLM wants to close all climbing on BLM land at Massacre Rocks. This would affect about 40% of the climbing. The reason stated is to protect cultural resources. There's a lot wrong with the thinking behind this, but the bottom line is that closing the area to climbing will not protect anything, and will only serve to set a precedent for closing access on public lands in Idaho and the West. Most of the cultural resources in the Massacre area are on Bureau of Reclamation land, not BLM land. The BLM contends that climbing, particularly staging and belaying, could potentially harm sites that are not discovered yet. Read that sentence again. In spite of the fact that climbing has been occurring there for 30+ years, the BLM wants to protect sites that don't exist by keeping people from walking or standing near cliffs. It is important to remember that we are not talking about drawings, dwellings, or anything or the sort. In the vast majority of cases, the cultural resources are "lithic deposits". The local community is not opposed to actually protecting significant cultural resources. Most of us just don't believe that a climbing ban does anything of the sort. The BLM and BOR's own documents show that over 90% of the damage to these resources are due to environmental erosion. According to the application for historic status, less than 1% of the sites were damaged due to recreation. This includes all recreation (hunting, OHV use, biking, camping, fishing, etc) and includes the sites on the south side of the river, near the state park and the interstate. Massacre is one of the best sport climbing venues in the country. It's a world class resource and losing it would be devastating to the climbing community. THE CURRENT END TO THE COMMENT PERIOD IS NOVEMBER 11TH. Send your letter and/or comments to the BLM by going to their website www.blm.gov/id/st/en/info/nepa.html, emailing them at id_burley_fo_@blm.gov, mailing them 15 East 200 South Burley, ID 83318 or faxing them at 208-677-6699. Here's some more info: Access Fund More Access Fund Local website and Massacre guidebook BLM Notice