Queen CreekClimbing Resources and Proposed Mitigation

Queen Creek Climbing Area

• One of the more popular climbing areas in Arizona

• Features bolted sport routes, traditional routes, and bouldering

• Climbing Resource Inventory completed in 2017 in support of EIS

• 800+ climbing routes (500+ sport)

• 1100+ boulder problems

Climbing & Bouldering Resource Inventory

• Obtained available published information (both printed guides and on-line sources)

• Reviewed guides and identify sub-areas, particularly those relevant to the East Plant Site and zones of subsidence

• Determined land ownership and mine plans

• Counted routes and boulder problems for each sub-area using the guides

• Field checked the primary climbing and bouldering areas on RC property, within the East Plant area, within zone of subsidence

Climbing & Bouldering Resource InventoryRoped Climbing Routes Boulder Problems

Climbing Areasport

routestrad

routestotal

routesboulder

problems

top-rope boulder

problems

total boulder

problemsPrimary Ownership

Oak Flat 2 5 527 268 795 USFS (RC with Land Exchange)

Euro Dog Valley 37 8 48 179 99 278 USFS (RC with Land Exchange)

The Mine Area 100 27 130 41 41 USFS and RC

Apache Leap 11 23 35 USFS and RC

Atlantis Area 49 22 74 RC

The Pond 95 25 120 RC

Northern Devils Canyon 94 41 140 23 6 29 USFS

Upper Devils Canyon 77 24 103 USFS and State Trust

Lower Devils Canyon 73 80 159 USFS and State Trust

Totals 538 250 814 770 373 1143

Climbing & Bouldering Resource - Potential Impacts

Roped Climbing Routes Boulder Problems

Areasport

routestrad

routestotal

routesboulder

problems

top-rope boulder

problems

total boulder

problems

Routes and boulder problems to remain open

On RC property to remain open permanently 210 58 271 41 0 41

On USFS and State Trust land to remain open 245 165 423 23 6 29

% of total routes or boulder problems 85% 89% 85% 8% 2% 6%

Routes and boulder problems that would be impacted

On RC property and Land Exchange 83 27 120 706 367 1073

% of total routes or boulder problems 15% 11% 15% 92% 98% 94%

Climbing Resource Inventory - Potential Impacts

• The majority of boulder problems would be lost (1000+ boulder problems) as well as approximately 15% of climbing routes (~120 routes)

• Primary areas that would be impacted by the project (at maximum projected footprint) are: • Oak Flat bouldering area

• Euro Dog Valley

• The Mine climbing area (partial impact at maximum mine plan)

• Current access route to Lowers Devil Canyon, Hackberry Canyon/The Refuge, and Apache Leap

Mitigation overview

• The Pond & Atlantis – Permanent access provided by RC

• Northern Devils Canyon & Upper Devils Canyon – Access remains open

• The Mine Area – 2/3 of routes can remain open, New trail from US 60

• Apache Leap – Access provided by FR 2440/Cross Canyon Rd

• Lower Devils Canyon & Hackberry Creek – Access provided by FR 315 improvements from AZ 177

• Oak Flat & Euro Dog Valley – Bouldering mitigation provided by new access road to the Inconceivables

The Pond and Atlantis - Permanent access provided

• The Pond and Atlantis, two of the most popular areas are on RC Property

• Permanent access provided through Recreational Use License Agreement with Queen Creek Coalition (QCC)

• RC also provides QCC with funding for liability insurance

• Agreement with REI for classes

Northern & Upper Devils Canyon – To Remain Open

• Current access to Northern Devils Canyon and Upper Devils Canyon will remain unchanged

• Access to FR 2438 will remain open

The Mine Area – New trail from US 60

• Much of the Mine area can remain open, but will need a new trail to provide access (currently accessed from Magma Mine Rd)

• Proposed trail would start from pullout on US 60 and skirt the northern and western edges of the East Plant Site (entirely outside of Apache Leap SMA)

Apache Leap – Cross Canyon Road

• Access for southern Apache Leap area provided by FR 2440 - Cross Canyon Road

• Access for northern Apache Leap area provided by new Mine Area trail

Lower Devils Canyon & Refuge – FR 315 Improvements

• Currently FR 315 provides access to Lower Devils Canyon and Hackberry Creek (the Refuge) climbing areas from Magma Mine Road

• FR 315 will be improved from AZ 177 to provide access to these areas once Magma Mine Road and northern FR 315 are closed

Mitigation for Bouldering - Inconceivables

The Inconceivables

The Inconceivables – Access Road from FR 319

Thank You