Iowa Breaking News
Picture Rocks, IA (10/15/2008)
By Evan Fales Access Fund Regional Coordinator and President, Iowa Climbers’ Coalition
The Jones County Conservation Board (JCCB) proposed the formation of a climbing management committee with oversight over Pictured Rocks. It will bring together climbers and land managers on an ongoing basis. The Iowa Climbers’ Coalition (ICC) elected representatives to the committee and then met with the JCCB’s executive director, the Jones County ranger, and the local DNR official at an Adopt-a-Crag in September. The land managers are eager to work with ICC to make climbing a sustainable recreational activity at Pictured Rocks. ICC will be collecting data on all routes in the area and discussing replacement of old bolts. ICC has been trying for seven years to establish a climbing management process with land managers and is looking forward to constructive dialogue.