help! my favorite crag is being closed. what should i do?

Get the facts regarding the closure. Don't rely on rumors.
Key questions to ask are:
- Why is the crag being closed?
- Who owns or manages the climbing area?
- Who is making decisions regarding the closure?
- Where exactly is the closure?
Contact your local climbing organization or your Access Fund Regional coordinator. Often a local group or your Regional Coordinator will already be working on the issue.
Contact the Access Fund. We can connect you with key individuals in your area, including the Access Fund regional coordinator. Our staff can also offer strategic advice about how to handle your local access crisis.
Ask the decision-makers if you can provide input. If necessary, ask for a delay in decisions to gain time. Establish criteria for decisions:
1. If user input is wanted, do an analysis of trail and crag users.
2. If affected voters must be mobilized, circulate a petition and begin a letter-writing campaign.
3. If there is a broad base of users, form a coalition with other user-groups to help in trail and crag maintenance. Volunteer together for projects.
Help mobilize local climbers. Hold meetings, attend hearings, provide information, volunteer for trail work, clean-ups, etc.
Get businesses with economic interest in the climbing to back you, including climbing shops and gyms, resort and tourist groups, guiding services, newspapers and other local companies.
Be respectful and develop a responsible reputation. Ranting and raving will not help keep the crag open. The political process requires cooperation, patience and tenacity.
Learn from the process to anticipate future problems. It's much more effective to work with landowners, land managers, and other user groups before a situation reaches the crisis stage.