warpedskydiver 0 #1 May 11, 2006 Park Service Bans Climbing of Utah Arches Wednesday, May 10, 2006 3:26 PM EDT The Associated Press By PAUL FOY SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Climber Dean Potter scaled Delicate Arch, the soaring desert symbol of southern Utah. Now, the National Park Service wants to make sure he doesn't do it again. Arches National Park on Tuesday announced a tightening of its rules on climbing after Potter announced with photographs and video that he made an unassisted climb of the arch just after daybreak Sunday. Arches Park Superintendent Laura Joss said she reported Potter's climb to the Interior Department's chief lawyers, and park rangers were investigating whether Potter did any damage to the arch. Joss said she was rewriting the rules to ban climbing of any named arches or natural bridges in the park. The new rules took effect Tuesday and were posted prominently on the park's Web site, www.nps.gov/arch. Potter said he will not violate them. Potter said he didn't know of any other climber going to the top, but didn't take credit for a first ascent. "I would think somebody a hundred years ago figured out a way to get up, maybe with ladders and rope," said Potter, a 34-year-old professional climber. "It's only 70 feet tall." Michael Fatali, an artist from Springdale, Utah, was convicted in 2002 of setting two fires under the arch at night and banned for two years from Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Fatali lit the fires in aluminum baking pans but the heat from the fires scorched the sandstone under the arch. To settle the misdemeanor case, Fatali paid $10,900 in restitution and completed 150 hours of community service. Quote While I think this guy didn't really do anything wrong, I can certainly see why they would ban climbing named arches. I wonder how long it will take for some POS to go there and drive protection into the rock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Nightingale 0 #2 May 11, 2006 I've been to arches and canyonlands, and some of those formations are pretty fragile. I understand why they don't want people climbing them... they could ruin the formation for everyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Nightingale 0 #2 May 11, 2006 I've been to arches and canyonlands, and some of those formations are pretty fragile. I understand why they don't want people climbing them... they could ruin the formation for everyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
