Black Dome’s Asheville Outdoors Guide

Source:
Chris Kelly
Mountain Nongame Wildlife Biologist
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Asheville, NC
wk cell: 828-230-1320
kellych@earthlink.netThe closure order signed by Forest Supervisor John Ramey, prohibits going into or upon the area within the orange painted or posted boundary from January 15 to August 15 of each year, to provide solitude and protection of the Peregrine Falcon under 36 CFR 261.53 (a). The closure order is in effect for the areas listed regardless of whether or not posted signs are present and prohibit entry for camping, climbing, or other use. Due to increased violations of this closure, law enforcement presence will be increased. These violations are both intentional and unintentional due to vandalism of the closure signage. Please assist us in spreading the word on thses closures and maintaining the signage.

NEW- 4/14/07

ATTENTION CLIMBERS: SEASONAL WILDLIFE CLOSURES ARE IN EFFECT TO PROTECT THE NESTING AND ROOSTING SITES OF PEREGRINE FALCONS.

The north end of Moores’s Wall will be closed to all users from January 1^st – August 31^st or until further notice. This includes the following climbing routes:

1. The Recommendation 9. Boogie Till Ya Puke 17. Bat Attack

2. Enduro Man Rides Again 10. Vascular Disaster 18. Reckless Abandon

3. Filet-O-Fish 11. Nevermore 19. Unnamed Corner

4. Roof Awakening 12. Fiddlers on the Roof 20. Juggernaut

5. Rastafari 13. Spice 21. Nevermore

6. Mighty Mouse 14. Shadowdance 22. Indian Head

7. Nicotine 15. Nutsweat 23. The Corner

8. Middle Road 16. Death Wish

These closures are in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes GS-113-322 and GS-113-35.

RAPTORS ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO HUMAN DISTURBANCE. PLEASE ABIDE BY THIS SEASONAL CLOSURE. For more information please call (336) 593-8480.

As of 1/15/2007:

2007 North Carolina Climbing-Site Closures for Peregrine Falcons

Site Name	Area Closed	Landowner
Whitesides Mountain	All climbing routes between and including Southwest Arete and Mainline are closed.	USFS, Highlands Ranger District (828) 526-3765
Table Rock (Linville Gorge)	All climbing routes between and including Blood, Sweat, and Tears and My Route are closed.	USFS, Grandfather Ranger District (828) 652-2144
Shortoff Mountain (Linville Gorge)	All climbing routes between and including C.O. to and including Paradigm Shift are closed.	USFS, Grandfather Ranger District (828) 652-2144
Big Lost Cove Cliffs	All climbing routes are closed.	USFS, Grandfather Ranger District (828) 652-2144
Looking Glass Rock(North Face)	All routes to the right* of Glass Menagerie and to the left of and including Twisted Laurel on the North Face of Looking Glass Rock are closed.	USFS, Pisgah Ranger District (828) 877-3350
Whiterock Cliff and Eagle Cliff	All climbing routes are closed	USFS, Appalachian Ranger District (828) 682-6146

* As seen from the base of Looking Glass Rock

Climbing route names are taken from: Kelly, Thomas. 1995. The Climber’s Guide to North Carolina 3^rd Edition. Earthbound Sports Inc., Chapel Hill, NC 332pp. and from Lambert and Shull. 2002. Selected Climbs in North Carolina. 1^st Edition. The Mountaineers Books. Seattle, WA. 326pp.

All sites are closed from January 15 – August 15, 2007; except that in the event that falcons are not using the site or nesting terminates at an earlier date than August 15^th, the site may be opened to public use, as determined by the appropriate landowners. The specified closed (or open) routes will change if the falcons nest on a part of the cliff outside the existing closed area, or if they do not nest in an existing closed area, as determined by monitoring throughout the breeding season.

Eagle Cliff, Appalachian Ranger District, is closed for protection of rare plants.

This summary of climbing-site closures represents the best available knowledge regarding closure orders issued by the U.S. Forest Service and North Carolina State Parks as compiled by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission works in collaboration with the above landowners to recommend closure areas that protect peregrine falcon nest sites and minimize restrictions on climbers. Changes in the specific closures, and publication of the notices are the responsibility of the respective landowners.

US Forest Service Closure Orders are available for viewing at: http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc