Friends of Great Falls - Climbing at Old Rag

Shenandoah Rock Outcrop Management Plan

You may have encountered rangers handing out surveys directed at recreational climbing if you went to Old Rag or Little Stoney Man in September 2005. These are two of the better known climbing areas in Shenandoah National Park. The survey is part of the NPS research for a proposed Rock Outcrop Management Plan in the park. Although it is in the early stages, this research may have implications for climbing, particularly if followed by a Climbing Management Plan.

Local climbers have started working with the Shenandoah NPS and have formed a local action group. They can be contacted through MatthewWilkso at wikswo@cstone.net

A recent e-mail from Steve Blair at the NPS provides an update on the status of the ROMP. The e-mail is reproduced below (with e-mails and phone numbers removed):

From: Steve Bair (National Park Service)
Date: Feb 7, 2008 4:25 PM
Subject: Rock Outcrop Mgmt Plan project update

Greetings,

Shenandoah National Park continues to forge ahead with the Rock Outcrop
Management Plan (ROMP) project, and this is to inform you of the current
status and planning for the project.

The Park halted the ROMP Environmental Assessment (EA) public review
process late last year due to technical problems with the document.
Presently, we are working closely with a specialist in our regional office
to revise and re-issue the Rock Outcrop Management Plan and EA. We
anticipate having an internal review draft EA completed by late April.
There is not yet a definite release date for the final EA for public review
and comment, but we expect that it will be available by mid to late May.
The information contained in the final document will be very similar to
that in the original version, but it will be packaged a bit differently and
will have more elaborate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
documentation.

Meanwhile, we are proceeding with some activities driven by ROMP research
and public involvement with ROMP: The Park is working with local Master
Naturalist chapters to develop a volunteer Adopt-an-Outcrop program to help
monitor and protect rock outcrop resources. Also, in cooperation with
Teamlink/Shenandoah Mountain Guides and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, we are developing the Old Rag Mountain Steward program utilizing
well-trained volunteers to contact Old Rag visitors on weekends to educate
visitors about recreational impacts to resources and Leave No Trace
practices, provide information about Old Rag and the park, and provide
assistance and initial response for injured or lost hikers.

Thank you for your continuing interest in Shenandoah National Park and the
Rock Outcrop Management Plan project. If you have comments or questions,
please contact Wendy or Steve at the information provided below.

Wendy and Steve

Steve Bair
Backcountry, Wilderness and Trails Manager

Wendy Cass
Botanist

Shenandoah National Park
3655 US Hwy 211 E.
Luray, VA 22835