Author: jhorniak

Traffic Delays and Road Closures Scheduled – Beginning on July 6 running thru October 15, Donner Pass Road from Rainbow Bridge to the Town of Truckee Limits , will be closed to all traffic from 7:00 am Monday- 5:00 Friday. The road will be open with one way traffic control on the weekends.

As reported on Nevada County’s website:
https://www.mynevadacounty.com/230/Donner-Pass-Road-Reconstruction
This project consists of road rehabilitation and shoulder widening on 6.5 miles of Donner Pass Road beginning at the Soda Springs exit and ending at the Truckee town limit east of the summit. A typical road section will consist of two 11-foot lanes with 4-foot shoulders plus safety edges, except in the downhill direction on the east side due to topographical constraints. The project will also improve recreational and sightseeing access, with enhanced parking on the east side of the summit that connects to rock climbing, hiking, and biking amenities, as well as to historic and prehistoric features. Bicycling conditions will be improved with bike lanes in both directions on the west side and in the uphill direction on the east side. Enhanced pullouts and parking areas include the Rainbow Bridge parking lot, School House pullout, Star Wall pullout, Snow shed North and South pullouts, Space Wall pullout, and Black Wall pullout. During the winter the widening will also provide additional snow storage and improve access to winter recreational destinations. Nevada County received California Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funding for this project in 2015. The project is being managed and delivered by the Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD). More information can be found at CFLHD’s website at https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/projects/ca/donner-pass

As reported in the Sierra Sun on April, 9 2020 by Justin Scacco.

As temperatures warm and snow melts from granite walls and crags, climbers are gearing up for another season at their favorite locations around the region.

Climbing coalitions from around the nation, however, are urging individuals to keep their gear packed away for now, sending the message to stay at home and out of the backcountry until the spread of COVID-19 is under control.

“We think the right thing to do at this point is to strongly discourage climbing,” said Gary Allan, executive director of the recently formed North Lake Tahoe Climber Coalition.

Popular climbing areas like those in Bishop, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Gunks in New York have all taken aggressive stances on climbing at this time, and in some cases, like at Yosemite National Park, are enforcing full closures.

“We don’t want to have to take the steps of closure, we would rather see voluntary compliance through education,” Allan said. “Lets think about others’ health first and not our own personal needs and desires.”

The coalition maintains several climbing areas around the region, including Black Wall on Donner Summit, which was purchased by the Truckee Land Trust several years ago. In the coming months, Allan said the coalition is planning on working to improve sites by maintaining trails and routes, while addressing such problems like graffiti, human waste, and litter. In the meantime, however, the board of 11 experienced climbers from around the area are urging users to stay off the region’s granite.

“The scientific community still doesn’t know how long the virus can stay on climbing holds, and it would be impossible to properly disinfect a route,” he said. “Please encourage your friends, climbing partners and colleagues to respect and abide by this request.”

Being in the backcountry at this time also brings about the potential for an accident, which could end up exposing dozens of rescue workers to the coronavirus, while also adding stress to an already burdened health system.

Other issues are also present, said Allan, such as the amount of time the virus might stay on gear like ropes and carabineers.

Along with the coalition asking individuals to stay out of the backcountry, officials from Tahoe National Forest are sending a similar message.

“We are asking folks now more than ever to be prepared, and recreate responsibly,” said Tahoe National Forest Public Affairs Officer Joe Flannery. “High risk activities … these can increase your chance of injury and distress and should be avoided.”

The North Lake Tahoe Climbers Coalition is a climbing advocacy and stewardship group of dedicated local climbers working toward nonprofit status while currently working under the fiscal sponsorship of the Truckee Donner Land Trust.

View this article as it was originally posted in the Sierra Sun newspaper.

TRUCKEE, Calif. – The recently formed North Lake Tahoe Climbers Coalition is strongly urging both visiting and local climbers to not climb in the North Lake Tahoe/greater Donner Summit region due to COVID-19.

Joining climbing organizations from across the country and around the world, the Climber’s Coalition is asking climbers to stay home through this health crisis – voluntarily making the right call so land managers aren’t forced to close the area’s climbing crags. Social distancing, gear hygiene and even possible contamination of holds on a climbing route are all concerns of the Coalition.

“The scientific community still doesn’t know how long the virus can stay on climbing holds, and it would be impossible to properly disinfect a route,” said Gary Allan, executive director of the coalition. “Please encourage your friends, climbing partners and colleagues to respect and abide by this request.”

Beyond the issues of social distancing at the crag, the implications of an accident while climbing have been well documented in other sports – including backcountry skiing – where an accident ends up exposing a large number of search and rescue and medical personnel to close contact, as well as taxing an already stressed medical system.

Other popular areas including Yosemite National Park, Bishop, Joshua Tree National Park and the Gunks in New York have all taken similar aggressive stances in the interest of public health, in some case including enforced closures.

“We don’t want to have to take the steps of closure, we would rather see voluntary compliance through education,” Allan said. “Lets think about others’ health first and not our own personal needs and desires.”

For those interested in learning more about the Coalition and getting involved, please visit our membership page.

We care about the health and vitality of the communities we serve and are on continued alert as to how the Covid-19 can affect climbing in the Tahoe region. This Access Fund article sums up many of our shared thoughts on outdoor climbing and the Covid-19 virus. With the unpredictable nature of this virus and crisis, we ask you to consider the following;

• The CDC has discouraged all discretionary travel. 
• Climbing gyms across the country have closed to try to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Outdoor hand holds could carry the virus as well. Consider the CDC’s discouragement of travel and the reason for it before deciding to go climb. Some counties have additional travel restrictions.  Consider that now is not the best time to go climbing. 
• If you are climbing and in need of services, the local EMS or hospital systems will be taxed. Considering this, the NTCC discourages climbing until this virus is under control.  

A full list of California state park closures is available online at parks.ca.gov/FlattenTheCurve.

Thank you and be well.