Question 10 - Individual Responses
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Chimney Rock State Park Master Plan 2011 Question 10 - Individual Responses 306 To destroy as little land as possible to provide for more recreation. Not too much should be done to the park because if too much is added then the park might lose its isolated and peaceful atmosphere. 307 toilet facilities are desperately needed in the Rumbling rock climbing day use area. toilets are needed in the parking area, and should be considered in select areas in the backcountry to reduce pollution 308 Trail accessibility to the top of Hickory Nut Falls and re-opening of the Cliff and Skyline trails. 309 trail loops of 10 miles or more 310 Trail maintenance of the Rumbling Bald area 311 Trails! Long, rugged, western NC trails. 312 unlimited access for climbers 313 upgrade facilites, but do not add more. 314 Use of the old bridge as a walking hiking trail 315 use solar lighting; keep all facilities off the grid; no external light pollution 316 We really need to seriously consider climbing access (both parking, and trails) to the base of Round Top Mtn. The land at the base is owned by the state and has good opportunities for parking lot and trail construction. Round Top has some of the best climbing opportunities on the east coast and would be a considerable attraction to climbers from all around. 317 We would like access to all of the rock in the gorge, especially areas that are already developed or in development such as Ghost Town, Cloven Cliffs, Eagle Rock, The Dark Side, etc 318 well defined trailheads and trails that lead to nice lookouts/water/etc. 319 While option 3 presents good recreational opportunity and access, I would recommend the following changes: significantly increase access to climb- ing areas in the park other than Rumbling Bald; allow and create management plan for light impact back country, off-trail travel; allow and create management plan for seasonal rock climbing access within conservation management areas (World’s Edge, Rumbling Bald, Round Top Mtn., etc.); allow and plan for seasonally limited rock climbing access to the Chimney Rock attraction; finally, do not build a new road on the north side of Worlds Edge, i.e., find an alternative route. 320 With this plan, the Meadows could no longer be used as an event field. It would be nice if other areas within this section of the Park could be explored for that purpose. It is difficult for campers, buses and emergency vehicles to navigate the two-way, twisting roadway, especially when they meet guests who are uncomfortable driving on unfamiliar, curvy mountain roads. Another access road could alleviate some of the congestion on either end. I’d like to see the road enter from the Lake Lure end and exit into Chimney Rock Village. Consideration should be given to add Weed Patch Mountain and King tracts to the study area for good mountain biking alternatives. I would like to see State Parks coordinate their trail system with those already being developed for the Lake Lure Summit Trail, the Donald Ross Trails and the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trail system so they connect where possible. 321 Would also like to see Weed Patch mountain added to the park, so that the trails could go more around the lake, and to insure the preservation of this tract of land. 322 Would be nice to have parking access to the climbing at the cliffs of Round Top Mtn called Ghost Town. 323 Would have to study a full size map with topo lines to better provide you constructive comments. 324 Would like to see additional mountainbike trails 325 Would like to see all the current hiking trails in Chimney Rock. These upper trails are what people come to Chimney Rock park for. 326 Would like to see my multi-use trails ex. Hiking and Biking 327 Would like to see trails and parking areas for the other cliffs. Also at least 2 car/tent Camping areas. And make area for Mtn biking, similar to Lake Norman or Wilkesboro. 328 Would love more trail and camping close by. 329 Would want to make sure there are official or climber-maintained trails to desirable cliffs for climbing. 330 You need an ‘even more intensive use’ plan which in my vision would include year-round lodging, a reasonably upscale restaurant, and a craft center located behind Chimney Rock potentially near The World’s Edge. 331 You still lack a car camping campground. The private campgrounds are terrible for tent campers (ie winter climbing tourists). What about Ghost Town facilities? Appendix A: Public Comments A-37 2011 Chimney Rock State Park Master Plan Question 11 (Open-ended): Do You Have Any Other Comments At This Time? (graph shows top results, individual responses are listed on the following pages) Question 11 - Individual Responses 1 1. I would like access to all of the rock in the gorge, especially areas that are already developed or in development such as Ghost Town, Cloven Cliffs, Eagle Rock, The Dark Side, etc. The park is aware of most of the areas outside of Rumbling Bald where routes have been established. 2. Opening more cliffs will mean a) reduced impact on the already hammered Rumbling Bald, as our numbers would spread over a larger area, b) year-round visitors to the park, and c) increased economic activity for the surrounding community. 3. New routing should be allowed to continue in the park. If the only way to get FAs allowed is a permitting system, those have proven effective elsewhere. 4. We are a low impact user group. All we really need to practice our sport are trails, water, parking and camping. For good climbing we’ll hike. Visual and environmental impact can be mitigated through intelligent trail building, permitting, cliff-top anchors, etc. And we can be counted on to volunteer, building trails, picking up trash, etc. 2 1. Please consider access to all of the rock in the gorge, especially areas that are already developed or in development such as Ghost Town, Cloven Cliffs, Eagle Rock, The Dark Side, etc. 2. Opening more cliffs will mean a) reduced impact on Rumbling Bald, as our numbers would spread over a larger area, b) year-round visitors to the park, and c) increased economic activity for the surrounding community. 3. New routing should be allowed to continue in the park. 4. Climbers are a low impact user group. We need trails, water, parking and camping. 3 1. We would like access to all of the rock in the gorge, especially areas that are already developed or in development such as Ghost Town, Cloven Cliffs, Eagle Rock, The Dark Side, etc. The park is aware of most of the areas outside of Rumbling Bald where routes have been established. 2. Opening more cliffs will mean a) reduced impact on the already hammered Rumbling Bald, as our numbers would spread over a larger area, b) year-round visitors to the park, and c) increased economic activity for the surrounding community. 3. New routing should be allowed to continue in the park. If the only way to get FAs allowed is a permitting system, those have proven effective elsewhere. 4. We are a low impact user group. All we really need to practice our sport are trails, water, parking and camping. For good climbing we’ll hike. Visual and environmental impact can be mitigated through intelligent trail building, permitting, cliff-top anchors, etc. And we can be counted on to volunteer, building trails, picking up trash, etc. A-38 Appendix A: Public Comments Chimney Rock State Park Master Plan 2011 Question 11 - Individual Responses 4 A comment I wanted to add from my previous survey--This park is unique in that it is where the foothills meet the mountains. The peaks afford views not seen by peaks deeper into the mountains. From Chimney Rock, Shumont, and World’s Edge, one can see all the way to Charlotte. It is a wonderful view of the topography of this area of the foothills and the highest peaks of Mount Mitchell. The rock formations are unique as well. There are wonderful opportunities for photography. The park will afford trails for those who are in the foothills with a minimal drive. 5 Add a low impact biking trail for families or a dual use trail to include biking for families 6 Again, PLEASE RE-OPEN THE SKYLINE TRAIL and raise rates to offset the cost to rebuild the Cliff Trail. Please, please, please do not allow car camping. These sites are prone to litter, alcohol use and more rowdy behavior. Just my opinion. Also, I am not in favor of building more access roads unless absolutely unavoidable because it will contribute to the destruction of more natural areas and will displace wildlife. 7 Allowing climbers into the park will provide revenue, and climbers are a group with a typically very low impact and little demand for facilities/paved roads/etc. 8 Alt.2:Do not transform the road; especially a two-way road to Lake Lure! no camping; do not build new trails from VC that threaten habitats, environ.;do NOT open up day use areas at World’s Edge; please leave Shumont Mtn/Rumbling Bald along;NO MNT. BIKING, NO ADDED ROCK CLIMBING, NO NEW TRAILS and absolutely NO TO EVERYTHING IN ALT. 3 9 Although normally desirable at a state park of this size, I do not believe a traditional tent and trailer camp ground is appropriate for the topography of this park. Walk-in style campsites, like those at Lake James State Park or Mount Mitchell State Park, and back-pack campsites, like those at Stone Mountain State Park or Morrow Mountain State Park, are the most fitting and desirable forms of camping for this park.