Climbing in state parks

[Patstorm]

I'll be heading to a state park in Colorado this weekend. Does anyone know the rules on climbing in a state park?? Seems like a killer spot for a rec climb...

Any and all input appreciated!

Thanks in advance

 

[monkeylove]

Call the park rangers and feel them out. Here in Pa I have been told yes and no. If you can hunt there then you might get be able to use "I am scouting for tree stand locations". That's what my game wardon told me to say if I was asked while climbing on Pa state game lands.

 

[DanburyTreeCT]

That's a pretty nice line there Monkeylove. I'll have to steal that when I do my warm up climbs in the spring.

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

[OTE="monkeylove, post: 494209, member: 7120"]Call the park rangers and feel them out. Here in Pa I have been told yes and no. If you can hunt there then you might get be able to use "I am scouting for tree stand locations". That's what my game wardon told me to say if I was asked while climbing on Pa state game lands.[/QUOTE]
The thought, that works, is SO wrong!

 

[cerviarborist]

Yep, you can climb trees, but only if you promise to try to kill animals in the future. smh.

 

[stevoflint]

Avoid climbing trees where a ranger can spot you from a car or truck. Most state employees won't leave the comfort of their vehicle to harass a tree climber. I would also avoid climbing trees on or directly adjacent too an established trail or trail head. Find a nice secluded tree and you can climb all day without issue. Also good to have an idea what type of schedule the state employees are working; climbing at shift change or during a popular meal hour will prevent a lot of run ins with the authorities. I've been asked to come down (from a tree) in Ohio state parks many times, but that's in silly conservative Ohio not ultra cool and progressive Colorado. Don't argue or panic when caught, just politely pack up and leave and come back another day. Keep in mind you usually get one warning a day from the same employee unless you make it a habit of getting caught. Another thing would be to not have a hand saw with you or at least visible. You would be less likely to get a warning if they think you are cutting the king's (state's) trees.

Where about you @ in OhiO, Bob Bob?
I'm in the Falls, close to Cuyahoga Valley state park, and want to get a rec climb party together locally....
Whadaya say?

 

[stevoflint]

Stevoflint -

I'm in the Zanesville, Ohio area. I've got some family in the Akron area. I'd be up for a recreational climb party. Lets do it....

Sounds good.
I need to find out the rules and regs for climbing in state park, and I DO know they opened it up to Bowhunters, so it might not happen till spring, but that'll give us time to get more climbers.

 

[stevoflint]

It's been said multiple times by treebuzz members and is worth repeating, it's always better to ask for forgiveness then permission. If you think you can pull up to a ranger station and get permission to have a group climb on state land, you will only be disappointed. Better to find a secluded trail in a old growth forest and stay out of site, this is Ohio, don't forget.

Hocking Hills has a designated "rock climbing area". Not to many in the state of Ohio on state land. Probably OK to climb a tree in a rock climbing area right? At least you won't look strange carting around gear and 200' of rope. Cleveland metro parks offers a permit process for rock climbers. Columbus Metro Parks seem to be friendly to tree climbers, lots of stories of successful climbs and even some organized climb facilitation allowed, but this is very atypical.

I've been thrown out of a state park in Muskingum County by an state employee. They were not happy about me climbing a publicly owned tree. That was the last time I attempted to climb a tree close to a parking lot or trail, usually worth the effort to hike into the forest a way to gain permission through the art of invisibility. On another occasion I was confronted by the mayor in a small village park about what I was doing, He was OK with it as soon as he found out I wasn't cutting the tree down but I never went back since it seemed like climbing there got a little too much attention. Best to have the codified ordinances printed off to reference if you plan on objecting to their objection. Another option is Brinkmanship, tell them to ticket you and go to court and fight it. If a judge throws out the case then you probably won't have trouble climbing there again.

Spring climbs are always good, Winter climbs are fun, summer climbs rock and fall climbs are glorious. Just let me know by private message when and where.

Right on, man.....i'll keep ya posted.
If anyone else in Ohio reads this, and wants to get together, post on here, and we'll get it together.....the more, the merrier.

 

[TimBr]

@Bob Bob; The truth is the truth.

 

[WaitakKauri]

All them policy and rule makers need something to due.... just don't try anything in a park

Seriously though, this sort of rule making scares me. We should be thinking about how to strip rules out. That would give people something to do though so we need rules stripped out first or it wouldn't happen.

Guidelines and good practices - I think there's more positive opportunity here.

... just commenting & I feel for ya bob bob

 

[Tuebor]

#occupytrees

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