The Forest Service recently reversed its February ban
on rock climbing at Cave Rock in South Lake Tahoe, despite Indian
claims that the site is sacred. Agency policy now prohibits
climbers from installing new hardware in the rock but allows them
to scale the cliff.
Washoe Indians say the
continued presence of recreationists and some 300 bolts that
climbers have drilled disturb their spiritual use of Cave Rock.
Washoe tribal chairman Brian Wallace told the Associated Press that
tribal members feel betrayed and disappointed by the agency’s
decision, though not surprised. “Why should we have expected
anything different?” he asked.
The Forest Service
is currently developing a master plan for the area, says Juan
Palma, the Lake Tahoe Basin forest supervisor. Meanwhile, most
climbers have been staying away from Cave Rock, out of respect for
the Washoe, Palma says. “I think what we really need is education.”
The Access Fund, a Boulder, Colo.-based
nonprofit climbing-advocacy group, led the charge to reverse the
ban. Paul Minault, the fund’s Northern California regional
coordinator, says the Forest Service barred rock climbing without
consulting the public.
A four-lane highway and a
public boat ramp already provide access to Cave Rock, and Minault
says he doesn’t believe that climbers are responsible for the
area’s desecration. “If they get rid of the cars and the boats and
the sightseers, then fine, we’ll go.”
* Emily
Miller
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Climbing ban fails.
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