Here's what you need to know in the realm of policy this month:

• Access Fund and the American Alpine Club team up for 3rd annual Climb the Hill

We will return to Capitol Hill May 9-11 for the annual Climb the Hill campaign, meeting with law and policy makers to advocate for public lands, outdoor recreation, and improved climbing management—and we’re bringing an elite team of professional climbers, outdoor industry leaders, and grassroots partners to help.

• NPS backs off proposed exorbitant entrance fee increases

After targeted advocacy from climbers and other recreation groups, we’re happy to report that the National Park Service (NPS) has backed off the exorbitant increase to park entrance fees proposed last fall, which would have shut many Americans out of our national parks.

• Zinke Signs Secretarial Orders to increase recreational opportunities on public lands

Secretary of Interior Zinke signed two Secretarial Orders that mandate the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife, and Bureau of Reclamation to, among other things, expand recreational opportunities and streamline permitting processes for guides and outfitters. The land management agencies must submit a report within 90 days outlining how they will implement the order. Access Fund is optimistic that Zinke’s order will help improve climbing management, stewardship, and education.

• NPS Climbing Management Training

Access Fund partnered with the National Park Service to host a training event on climbing management on April 3-5 in Tucson, AZ. We presented on fixed anchors, stewardship, policy, and climbing trends. The event was attended by NPS administrators, superintendents, wilderness managers, and climbing rangers from major national parks across the country, as well as non-profit partners. The event allowed national park units and partner organizations to share information, learn about new management strategies, and brainstorm ideas for revising the practical implementation of wilderness climbing management guidelines (DO#41).