03/24/2020
IMPORTANT ACCESS UPDATE! Hey fellow Coalition members. A recently published article by Alpinist Magazine states, “If someone carrying COVID-19 touched rock - or coughed or sneezed on it - there’s clear evidence suggesting that, yes, COVID-19 may be contracted via contaminated rock or plastic.” The article also adds that “coronavirus can remain infectious on a variety of surfaces, including rock, for significant periods of time.”
We’ve stated before that we, as the Coalition, have no authority to mandate closures. We DO work in collaboration with the State Game Commission and the Nockamixon State Park and relay any information that pertains to our access. With that said, below are the following guidelines we’d like to recommend.
Please limit you’re climbing at Haycock. We’d like to recommend that you simply stay home. Its still too early to know just how long COVID-19 could remain on the boulders if touched by someone carrying this virus. I know many of you may be going stir crazy with cabin fever, and this may be a drastic reaction, but many climbing areas are closing in light of the recent situation. If we had full authority to mandate a closure, we probably would. After all, public safety is a huge concern of ours.
When we decided to form this Coalition, we NEVER would have imagined putting out a post discouraging people from climbing at Haycock. If you told me I’d one day post this recommendation, I would never believe you. But this an opportunity for us, as a Coalition, to do the right thing. And thats why we exist. To band together, to be a voice, to advocate for one another, and to advocate for acceptable use of our climbing area. THIS is an opportunity to practice acceptable use (although not in a way you would have ever imagined!) .
I’ve tried to remain politically correct throughout this, but I’m going to deviate here..STAY THE F**K HOME! is trending, so we’re joining the cause!