Advocacy: SLCA Working with Utah Lawmakers
Climbing advocacy takes many forms. From managing the Gate Buttress, to long-term stewardship projects, to direct engagement with land managers and elected officials—each plays a role in protecting access to the places we climb. At the SLCA, our advocacy spans this full spectrum, grounded in local issues while engaging with national policy decisions that impact climbers in Utah and across the country.
Recently, SLCA worked with the office of Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-2) to help inform questions and talking points ahead of the January 21, 2026 hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee, which focused on the implementation and early outcomes of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. Passed in January 2025, the EXPLORE Act bundled several outdoor recreation bills, including the Protect America’s Rock Climbing (PARC) Act—legislation intended to clarify that responsible rock climbing, including the use and maintenance of fixed anchors, is an appropriate use on public lands.
During the January 21 hearing, bipartisan members of Congress, including Congresswoman Maloy, raised concerns rooted in real, on-the-ground issues we are experiencing here in Utah. Specifically, she questioned federal land management agencies about the continued misclassification of fixed climbing anchors as “prohibited installations” in Wilderness. She urged agencies to ensure that the Minimum Requirements Analysis (MRA)—a bureaucratic process intended for evaluating truly prohibited uses—is not improperly applied to routine climbing activities such as anchor maintenance and replacement.
This work is not limited to a single hearing or piece of legislation. SLCA is continually building and maintaining relationships with our elected representatives, advocating for sensible climbing policy rooted in on-the-ground experience. Developing trust, providing accurate information, and staying engaged over time requires sustained effort, but it is essential to ensuring climbers have a knowledgeable and credible voice at the table when decisions are made.
Why this matters:
The challenges we are seeing here in Utah are not isolated. When local land managers misapply tools like the Minimum Requirements Analysis to routine climbing activities, those interpretations can ripple across the country. Engaging elected officials helps ensure that national policy is implemented consistently and as intended—so climbers everywhere can safely maintain anchors, steward routes, and continue responsible access in Wilderness settings.
Huge shoutout to Congresswomen Maloy for being an advocate for climbing here in Utah!
To watch Congresswoman Maloy’s questions to federal land managers during the hearing, click here: HERE
To support more of SLCA’s advocacy work on behalf of Wasatch climbers, please consider donating today.