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If you haven’t sent a letter to the powers that be regarding the climbing closures at Massacre Rocks and Castle Rocks here is an easy way to do so. Simply go to the Access Fund’s web site and use their letter writing tool. The letter is already written, however, you can tweak it if you wish. Please take the time to do so and help save access to some of the greatest rock climbing in the area! Again go to the Access Fund and submit your letter!

On another note, we need to unite to preserve climbing resources in Eastern Idaho, please consider joining the East Idaho Climbers Coalition. The cost to become a member is minimal and the money will be used to get the coalition running. By doing this we will have a united voice in issues that affect climbing.

Costs

• Students: Free with activity card
• Individuals: $10.00
• Families: $15.00

These are introductory rates good through 12/31/2011

Mail your completed EICC Membership Form to:

Thanks for taking action!

Sorry that this is short notice but we received the following from the Boise Climbers Alliance. Volunteers will meet at the Boise Idaho, Black Cliffs Short Cliffs parking area and go to work keeping our climbing areas in tip-top shape. here are the details:

• Adopt a Crag 2011: Black Cliffs Cleanup
• October 22, 2011
• 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM
• Meet at the Short Cliffs parking area, just opposite the Diversion Dam
• For more information see email on image below

Here is the flyer:

Adopt a Crag 2011 - Black Cliffs Cleanup Flier

Click image to enlarge

The Bureau of Land Management has set the dates for the public meetings regarding the proposed closure of the Cedar Fields Archeological District area at Massacre Rocks. The meetings are:

• September 26th from 5-7 PM at the Pocatello City Hall
• September 28th from 5-7 PM at the Burley Best Western just off the interstate

Please make all efforts to attend a meeting and voice your concerns regarding the proposed closure. The more citizens we have the more influence we will have to ensure that we don’t lose this precious climbing resource.

In the last two weeks there have been at least two encounters with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at Massacre Rocks. One encounter was possibly with the BLM archeologist and some seasonal employees (don’t know for sure) and the other was with an enforcement officer, both have been documented. Both of these encounters occurred on state land and the BLM employees (including the enforcement officer) were horribly misinformed about the situation.

With cooler weather approaching rock climbing traffic is going to begin to pick up at Massacre Rocks and with the BLM working towards a climbing ban in the area it seems the BLM’s traffic at Massacre Rocks is picking up as well. If you’re going to frequent Massacre Rocks very often this fall it is very likely that you will encounter someone from the BLM out there. We want to take a moment and make sure that climbers at Massacre Rocks are better informed than the BLM employees seem to be.

• In both of the encounters mentioned above the BLM personal stated that the entire area is closed or will be closed. This is not true! First, nothing is closed at this time. If the BLM is successful only the climbing areas that are on BLM land and fall within the Cedar Fields Archeological District will be affected. This is clearly marked on the map below. Second, the BLM just began the process. They filed the notice of intent in July and it was published to the federal register last Tuesday August 23rd. It will take a while for anything to be closed.
• The BLM enforcement officer didn’t know which walls were on BLM land, which were on State, and which were on Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). The attached map should help you understand where the walls lie. As you can see, many of them are on State and BOR land and are not affected by the BLM’s proposal.

If you do encounter someone from the BLM while you’re climbing at Massacre Rocks here a some questions you might consider asking (I’m not expecting them to give you accurate answers but rather an opportunity for them to demonstrate their ignorance):

• Who initiated this process? (they may tell you that the Indian Tribes did when in fact the BLM did before consulting with the Tribes)
• Is there a comment period? When does it begin? When does it end? How do I make my comments?
• What is the reason for the closure?
• How will it be enforced?
• How will the boundaries be marked?

Provide written comment by September 22, 2011 to either (see below for more ideas/points to consider when composing your letter):

• Email:  Id_burley_fo@blm.gov
• Website:  http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/info/neap.html
• Mail:  BLM, 15 East 200 South, Burley, ID 83318

Massacre Rocks Proposed Rock Climbing Closure Map

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