Photo Courtesy of:R. Tyler Gross
Groups
More people can mean more fun—and more impact. If you are rolling with a large crew, be extra diligent to share the cliff and minimize your impact to other visitors and the environment. Keeping a low profile is the name of the game.
Essential Skills
- Carpool so that your group isn't taking up limited parking.
- Disperse your group into smaller pairs so you're not hogging an entire section of climbing.
- Don't block trails. Forcing people to walk around your group causes social trails and erosion.
- If you’re on the ground watching, stay in the staging area so that you’re not spreading your impact by trampling sensitive plants.
- Be respectful of other visitors and don’t bogart an entire area by hanging ropes. Once you're done with a route, pull your rope and move on.
- Keep your gear organized, contained, and on durable surfaces. Plan ahead to avoid bringing unnecessary gear and pads that will clutter up the base of the climb.
- Leave the music at home and enjoy the sounds of your environment.
- Know the regulations. Federally designated Wilderness areas, for instance, have a limitation on group size.
KEEP EXPLORING
Resource Center
Loud music and excessive noise may cause social impacts and ruin other climbers experience. Keep a low profile.
When transitioning from climbing indoors to outdoors, be prepared to venture outside by gaining awareness and skills to minimize your impact.