NC WALL NOW OPEN!
A new development in the Peregrine Falcon closure has occured. Effective immediately, the entire NC Wall is open to climbing. The birds decided to nest at Shortoff Mountain this year so all of Shortoff is NOW CLOSED to climbing.
In talking to the forest service official about the birds, she indicated that they just this week found the birds. They had thought that one member of the pair had disappeared and went so far as to do a search for them by helicopter (needle in a hay stack?). Hopefully Shortoff will be a better site for them given the problems they have always had at the NC Wall. The Linville pair has traditionaly had the lowest nesting success rate of any in the NC release program (Whiteside=best, Looking=#2, Linville=#3).
In another conversation with the official in charge of recreational use of the gorge, she said that they want to do some spot checks of commercial user permits this year. Anyone doing any kind of commercial activity in national forest is required to obtain a permit. This applies to boy scouts, church groups, climbing gyms, guide services,
out-of-state commercial visitors, summer camps, and anyone taking people climbing in an organized group. There is a sign on the climbing board in the parking lot concerning who must obtain a permit and where to apply..
There will also be a seasonal ranger about on the east side this summer enforcing camping locations. The picnic area is off limits, the area on the ridge past the trail signs is the place. She discourages camping in the sites on the ridge out toward the chimneys. The area is fragile and
the impact in the sites is spreading. Climbers should camp in the correct places to help our cause as a responsible user group.
Special thanks to Burton Moomaw for this information!
