I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my support for the proposed amendment to the Devil’s Glen Provincial Park Management Plan, specifically the inclusion of rock climbing as a permitted activity.

I am very fortunate to have been introduced to the great outdoors at a young age on hikes along the Bruce Trail and on annual canoe trips to Algonquin, Killarney, and the French River. These early experiences fostered a connection to nature and wilderness that has had a profound effect on me, and I have spent much of my adult life traveling to—and returning to—parks, reserves, and preserves across North America to observe their unique ecosystems and geology, and to engage in activities like hiking, camping, paddling, mountain biking, climbing, and cross-country skiing.

I have been visiting Devil’s Glen Provincial Park for nearly 20 years, developing a relationship with the area that extends well beyond climbing. It is a place that I return to hike, observe migratory birds in the spring and fall, and snowshoe in the winter. Over time, these experiences have deepened my connection and strengthened my sense of responsibility to act as a steward, so that future generations may experience the same sense of wonder and belonging that I have found there.

Climbing has occurred within Devil’s Glen Provincial Park since at least the 1980s, and while it is true that no climbing routes have ever been formally approved by the park, it is equally true that no process has ever existed to evaluate or approve the development of new routes. I understand that cliffside flora is a major concern and I cannot assert that climbers have never removed or disturbed vegetation. What I can say, with pride, is that such actions are rare and are widely frowned upon within the climbing community. I have developed more than 40 climbs on the Niagara Escarpment, 11 of which are at Devil’s Glen, and I have not removed vegetation. This is mostly because modern bolt protected climbing occurs on minimally featured clean, open faces that naturally lack vegetation, but also because I believe this practice is neither acceptable nor necessary. Where vegetation existed on my routes prior to development, it remains there today some 15 years later.

I believe the best path forward in managing climbing impacts is through a pragmatic and collaborative approach with the climbing community—providing opportunities for recreation while upholding the integrity of this remarkable park for generations to come.