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Rock Climbing Guidelines Prentice Cooper State Forest

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry and the Southeastern Climbers Coalition will work together to provide rock climbing opportunities on Prentice Cooper State Forest while conserving its natural resources. Rock climbing will be allowed in most areas except for specific no-climb zones. Permanent bolts or anchors require permission. The groups will cooperate on projects, education, and annual meetings to discuss policies and plans. Their goals are to promote responsible climbing and protect the forest.

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72 views3 pages

Rock Climbing Guidelines Prentice Cooper State Forest

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry and the Southeastern Climbers Coalition will work together to provide rock climbing opportunities on Prentice Cooper State Forest while conserving its natural resources. Rock climbing will be allowed in most areas except for specific no-climb zones. Permanent bolts or anchors require permission. The groups will cooperate on projects, education, and annual meetings to discuss policies and plans. Their goals are to promote responsible climbing and protect the forest.

Uploaded by

Ravi Gupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Rock Climbing Guidelines

Prentice Cooper State Forest

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry and the Southeastern


Climbers Coalition will work together in cooperation to provide rock climbing
opportunities on Prentice Cooper State Forest to meet the growing public demand for
rock climbing, while conserving the natural and scenic resources of the forest.

Background:

Prentice Cooper State Forest is home to one of the premiere rock climbing areas in
the United States. The “Tennessee Wall” has some of the best rock climbing
anywhere. People travel from all over the country and the world to climb here. The
Forest’s unique geographic location on the Tennessee River Gorge with miles of
bluffs offers numerous opportunities for rock climbing. As use has increased,
interest has expanded from the traditional “Tennessee Wall” site to other areas of
the Forest. The purpose of these policies is to set a framework that will guide the
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Forestry Division and the Southeast Climbers
Coalition in forging a continuing working relationship for planning and
accomplishing mutually beneficial projects and activities on Prentice Cooper State
Forest.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Forestry Division is responsible for the


management and protection of the natural resources of the Prentice Cooper State
Forest. The Forest is managed for multiple-use. This includes timber, wildlife,
recreation, aesthetics and watershed protection. The Tennessee Department of
Agriculture Forestry Division works in cooperation with the Tennessee Wildlife
Resources Agency in managing the forest as a designated Wildlife Management
Area.

The Southeastern Climbers Coalition is a private non-profit organization dedicated


to the preservation of climbing areas for future generations to enjoy. The
Coalition’s goal is to protect, ensure and promote responsible climbing through self-
awareness, education and support with climbers, non-climbers and land managers.

General Guidelines:

Rock Climbing will be allowed on all the bluffs of Prentice Cooper State Forest with
the exception of those sites designated as no climb zones. Those sites will need to be
posted. Those would include:
Snoopers Rock
Indian Rockhouse
Bluffview at the end of Hicks Mountain
Additional sites may be added as needed.
No permanent bolts or anchors will be allowed to be placed in the bluffs without
permission of the Tennessee Division of Forestry. Placement of permanent bolts or
anchors without permission would be considered vandalism.

Requests for permission to place permanent bolts and anchors would be done
through the Southeastern Climbers Coalition. Only designated individuals would
be allowed to install the permitted hardware.

Responsibilities of respective parties:

The Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) shall:

• Provide Forestry with a list of proposed projects. These would include


campsite improvements, access trail development and maintenance,
placement of permanent anchors and any planned promotion of new
climbing sites on the Forest. These projects will be consistent with the
multiple use status of the Forest. Allow for adequate time for planning and
approvals before the project commences.
• Maintain existing trails as necessary to prevent soil erosion.
• Contact Forestry prior to working on new trails or relocating existing trails.
• Manage the use of fixed anchors as necessary for climber safety, climber
enjoyment, to protect the scenic resources and to minimize the impacts of
cliff-top vegetation. SCC will request permission from Forestry for
placement of any permanent bolts and anchors and provide designated
expert personnel to install approved anchors. SCC will monitor the cliffs on
the Forest for unapproved bolts and anchors and remove them.
• Work with Forestry to post closures of cliffs and trails as necessary to protect
rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) species or cultural resources.
• Educate visitors on the extent and timing of seasonal closures as to insure
visitor compliance.
• Educate its membership in the conservation of climbing resources, principles
of “Leave No Trace” and stewardship of the Forest and facilities.
• Inform Forestry of any matters which may affect the administration and/or
management of the climbing resources of the Forest.
• Report locations of any RTE species or archaeological resources encountered
while climbing in the Forest.
• Provide a primary liaison person for coordination with the Forestry Division.
• Participate in an annual meeting with the leaders of the Southeastern
Climbers Coalition, supervisors of the Tennessee Division of Forestry and
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency on Prentice Cooper State Forest to
discuss rock climbing policies and future plans and projects.
• Comply with all rules and regulations which apply to the Forest.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Forestry Division (Forestry) shall:

• Maintain personal communications between SCC and State Forest


Personnel. The Forester over the State Forest will be the primary
contact.
• Participate in an annual meeting with the leaders of the Southeastern
Climbers Coalition, supervisors of the Tennessee Division of Forestry and
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency on Prentice Cooper State Forest to
discuss rock climbing policies and future plans and projects.
• Review proposed projects for approval. Recommend projects that
Forestry deems necessary. Set guidelines and standards for completion of
projects.
• Help provide tools and/or materials to assist in completion of projects
when possible.
• Keep SCC informed in a timely manner of scheduled closure dates of the
Forest due to “Managed Hunts” and any road closures.
• Post those areas where climbing is not allowed.
• Keep SCC informed on any changes in the guidelines for climbing on the
Forest.

The primary contacts are:

Jim Lane Kirk Brode


Forester President and Prentice-Cooper Rep
Prentice Cooper State Forest Southeastern Climbers Coalition
Tennessee Division of Forestry 505-A Colville St
P. O. Box 160 Chattanooga TN 37405
Hixson, TN 37343 Phone: 423/309-0294
Phone: 423/634-3091
423/658-5551

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