News and Updates
Current News and Updates
The news portion of this site will provide very important information about the current issues and policies that have been agreed for Indian Creek, and of any upcoming action plans. It is important that you keep yourselves updated with the latest developments as they arise, to ensure that everyone keeps within the agreed parameters which will enable us to keep Indian Creek the way it is. We will supply information on camping, parking, toilets, Restop bags, and when we need to be aware of The Dugout Ranch moving cattle, and the things we need to do to make this easier on the ranchers (crags to avoid, places to leave vehicles etc).
Cliff Closure for Nesting Eagles and Peregrine Falcons
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has documented a pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons and a pair of Golden Eagles in the Reservoir Wall and Cat Wall climbing areas. These raptors are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the BLM is required to protect these raptors from activities that may cause stress and/or nest abandonment. Therefore, the entire portion of Reservoir Wall, Slug Wall, and Cat Wall climbing areas, as well as the access road into the area will be closed until August 31, 2009. Closure signs have been placed in the area and all the kiosks along Indian Creek. Thank you for your help in protecting our natural resources. If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Wallace, Wildlife Biologist for the BLM Monticello Field Office at 435-587-1527.
Update from the Access Fund
General Info
The Friends of Indian Creek and the Access Fund have installed 4 informational kiosks with Restop dispensers and a donation box to help pay for the Restop bags. See the waste section below for more info on human waste concerns at Indian Creek. Slide shows are being organized around Moab to help make people aware of the issues surrounding Indian Creek. We are working hard to keep Indian Creek the way we all love it - but we do need your help to make this happen. It can be easy - sign up to join the Friends of Indian Creek. Adhere to the recommendations in the BLM management plan. Leave no trace, and use Restop bags or a toilet. Pack it in, Pack it out.
Camping
During an Access Fund Adopt-A-Crag in early September, the Friends of Indian Creek assisted Dugout Ranch tenant Heidi Redd in closing approximately 10 campsites along the Bridger Jack Road that are on Dugout Property. This work, in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and the BLM, was part of a FOIC compromise with Heidi for continued climbing access across Dugout Land (such as access trails to Super Crack, Scarface and several other popular buttresses). Over thirty designated BLM campsites remain 1.5 miles further down the BJ Road, and nearly all other established Indian Creek campsites remain open for use.
Cows
Heidi Redd will keep us informed of any major cattle movement. However, please be respectful of Heidi and her operation by not blocking gates. Also, park off the road in designated parking areas, and keep all dogs on a leash when cows or horses are present.
Please pay special attention to the movement of Heidi Redd's cattle through the climbing areas. The main area of concern is the parking for Way Rambo
Parking
There is now no parking at the Way Rambo parking area, just before you go through the fence. The parking for Way Rambo is now back at the triangle junction where you turn right for Pistol Whipped. Please park off the road at this triangle and do not block the road which causes problems for Heidi when she is driving her cattle through these areas. Please also keep your dogs on a leash at all times during this time. Thanks for your co-operation, and hopefully we can avoid any upsets.
Human Waste
Update (10/10/08) - The FOIC have installed 3 port-a-loos which will be placed at Superbowl and Creek Pasture. As with the BLM toilet these are to alleviate the use of human waste bags. Please do not dump human waste bags in the toilets. The port-a-loos will be an important part in minimizing human waste and reducing the number of waste bags used. These toilets are going to be installed and cleaned out on a weekly basis during the busy climbing season. Please consider supporting your crag by making donations in the donation boxes at the kiosks. These toilets will help with the human waste problem. Don't forget to take your waste bag to the crag in case you get caught short!
Update (3/5/2007) - The BLM have installed a toilet at the Beef Basin turn off. This is not to replace the use of human waste bags, just to alleviate it. Please keep the toilet clean and do not dispose of your human waste bags in the toilet.
Update (10/13/2006) - The pilot program for self management of human waste at Indian Creek continues. The success of this trial program is key to maintaining the unique primitive camping and climbing experience found at Indian Creek. See Timmy O'Neil taking care of business the right way at the Creek: www.accessfund.org/extras/tic.php
BLM News
The BLM has made it's decision on the management plan. This plan is very favorable to climbers. It is now up to us, as climbers, to make this plan work and keep Indian Creek the way we love it. Please read the management plan documents (accessed via the links in the next paragraph), and inform yourself of the plan, and please talk to others who are unaware, and encourage them to adhere to the recommendations that the plan outlines. If this does not happen, Indian Creek WILL change forever. Fees will be introduced, and camping will be restricted with developed campsites. If you don't want this to happen, then each of you need to do your part, use Restop bags, thereby helping to preserve Indian Creek. Many people have a nonchalant and negative attitude about using Restop bags, writing it off that no one will do it, so why bother. This way of thinking is going to turn Indian Creek into a fee area. This cannot be stressed enough. Using a Restop is easy. Go to the 'How to do an Indian Creek Pooh' link and see a funny and entertaining DVD starring Timmy O'Neil, and you'll see that it just isn't that bad. Restop bags and a pack it in pack it out policy are used and have been used on the rivers for years. If they can do it, why can't we? Restop bags are also in use in other areas in the States - Castleton Tower to name one area close to home. So please take off the blinders, and think about the consequences if we don't start to use these bags. With money we are raising, we are going to provide bags to start with, so it couldn't be easier.
For those of you who have joined the FOIC and have asked what you can do to help, this is how you can help - read the documents and learn about what they mean, and help us to get the word out there. Act as a Steward for the land you love. Let's not be complacent, this is a unique opportunity for climbers to take care of their own land and keep it the way we want it.
Click the following links to read the the documents regarding the managment plan .
Access Fund Comments to Indian Creek Corridor Recreation Plan
Access Fund Scoping Comment for Indian Creek Corridor Recreation Plan
Click the following link to learn about other BLM projects: BLM Project Page.
