Final decision signed to protect sacred Cave Rock

Friday, February 29, 2008  

The U.S. Forest Service signed a final decision to protect the sacred Cave Rock in Nevada.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit developed a plan to ban climbing at the rock. The plan was upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which cited the importance of the site to the Washoe Tribe and to the U.S.

Traditionally, only medicine men are allowed near Cave Rock. The site has been repeatedly defaced by climbers and other visitors.

Get the Story:
Federal climbing ban protects Cave Rock (The Reno Gazette-Journal 2/29)

Court Decision:
The Access Fund v. USDA (August 27, 2007) |

Relevant Documents:
Cave Rock Record of Decision (August 2003) | Environmental Impact Statement (October 2002)

Relevant Links:
Washoe Tribe - http://www.washoetribe.us
The Access Fund - http://www.accessfund.org
Cave Rock, U.S. Forest Service, - http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/projects/cave-rock

Related Stories:
Appeals court backs climbing ban at sacred site (8/28)
Washoe Tribe sacred site case heads to 9th Circuit (1/18)
No climbing signs posted at sacred Cave Rock (3/2)
Federal judge upholds ban on climbing at sacred rock (02/01)
Appeals court says sacred sites worthy of protection (09/07)
Climbing group backs voluntary ban at sacred rock (07/06)
Climbers say sacred rock belongs to everyone (04/20)
Climbing group sues over ban at sacred site (12/16)
Forest Service upholds ban on climbing at sacred site (11/11)
Forest Service bans climbing at sacred rock (07/11)