Explore Act to open up recreation on federal land
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - Congress has passed a large piece of legislation that could open up more federal land for recreation. It’s called the Explore Act.
The legislation is large and includes creating new biking and climbing routes on federal land, allowing tribal nations to apply directly for federal conservation funding, and making it easier for guides to take people onto public lands.
One of those groups is Arizona Climbing Guides. Jayci Ferrimani, the owner, has been helping people climb for more than two decades.
“We get a lot of visitors out, that’s probably our primary thing,” Ferrimani said. “A lot of people who are out here visiting for the Winter and family trips, but we also take people on higher-end adventures down to Cochise Stronghold.”
He told 13 News this new law could help bring access to a part of Arizona that hasn’t really been touched by climbers, the Grand Canyon.
“For a long time, guide companies could only take people hiking, so perhaps that would ease some of the restrictions on that,” he said. “That would be amazing because there’s climbing out there in the Grand Canyon that would be the trip of a lifetime for somebody.”
Recently, the National Forest Service proposed a ban on fixed anchors used by climbers. That proposal was recently dropped, but Ferrimani said we should still be careful about their environmental impact when setting new routes.
“You’re engaging with the wilderness and you want to keep it a wild place, so be responsible with how you develop climbing areas,” he said.
Included in this large piece of legislation is another outdoor activity Tucsonans hold dear: cycling.
“One of the big perks and boons of moving here is that we just have so much incredible outdoors, both state, federal, and other lands,” said Darius Filsoof, a cyclist living here in Tucson.
The Explore Act would create more long-distance trails on federal lands, which Filsoof is a fan of.
“If you’ve never been to the Southwest, it’s incredible here,” he said. “The backdrop here is really foreign, it feels like an alien place. So getting out there to experience more of it, I’m definitely pro.”
The bill awaits President Joe Biden’s signature and was looked at late last week. You can find it in its entirety HERE.
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