NRG... when will you open??

Having some trouble figuring out when the New will be open for climbing... looks like campgrounds are still closed (as per NPS website), but the trails are not.  The bumper sticker on the NRG section of Mountain Project re: COVID is somewhat generic in nature, and I’m not sure where to look to find out when it’s “officially” open to climbing, or official guidance at all WRT climbing @ the New.

Yes I’m not a local-local, but please spare me the public health speech - I’m already well versed on the dangers to sensitive communities, my responsibilities, etc.  Really just looking for a simple means to track official status so that I can plan a trip once things settle down.

Cheers, Hamish

WV residents... that’s a good start!!

Confirmed on the AAC campground. Their plan is to put safety measures in place to minimize risk. So what does this mean regarding climbing in the gorge if the AAC is already beginning to encourage climbing. WV has one of the lowest count of cases in the US and as of yesterday only had 5 reported cases. No telling what a month’s time will hold but I have a feeling things will continue in the same trend of few cases.

From a climbing friend close to WV...  He said WV has a pretty harsh lock down.  People have been hit with fines as well.  Sorry :-/

Edit: Post PNelson, I forget the Law Enforcement (experience the guide book) does seem to target out of towners.  I suspect more so now than in the past.

Gabriel Lockman wrote: Confirmed on the AAC campground. Their plan is to put safety measures in place to minimize risk. So what does this mean regarding climbing in the gorge if the AAC is already beginning to encourage climbing. WV has one of the lowest count of cases in the US and as of yesterday only had 5 reported cases. No telling what a month’s time will hold but I have a feeling things will continue in the same trend of few cases.

One of the possible reasons WV has had such a low count of cases is because our economy sucks: not many people are coming in or out of the state, we don't have major population centers, etc. It is significant that c19 did not rear its head during tourist season. We would have had many more cases if hundreds of people were coming here and crowding restaurants, bars, music venues, and campgrounds like we normally have starting about this time of year, and we still might have a resurgence for that reason. 

The rafting companies are shooting for opening Memorial Day, but with quite a few restrictions. Most private campgrounds are following suit as well. Restaurants may be opening to reduced capacity on May 21, according to the last governor's update. You could come down and climb right now, legally, but there would be nowhere to stay, eat, and our awesome crowd of locals here will give you the stink-eye and shame you. Just wait a couple weeks.

Pnelson wrote:

One of the possible reasons WV has had such a low count of cases is because out economy sucks: not many people are coming in or out of the state, we don't have major population centers, etc. It is significant that c19 did not rear its head during tourist season. We would have had many more cases if hundreds of people were coming here and crowding restaurants, bars, music venues, and campgrounds like we normally have starting about this time of year, and we still might have a resurgence for that reason. 

The rafting companies are shooting for opening Memorial Day. Most private campgrounds are following suit as well. You could come down and climb right now, legally, but there would be nowhere to stay, eat, and our awesome crowd of locals here will give you the stink-eye and shame you. Just wait a couple weeks.

Probably wouldn’t even plan on coming until late June/early July. I’d wanna see how things are working out for everybody first.

Gabriel Lockman wrote: WV has one of the lowest count of cases in the US and as of yesterday only had 5 reported cases. 

Oh, and these numbers are not accurate. We've had around 1300 cases statewide (take these reports by state with a grain of salt, our eastern panhandle gets within a few dozen miles of DC, but has little interaction with the rest of the state), and several dozen deaths. The NRG region has so far been spared much of anything.

Pnelson wrote:

Oh, and these numbers are not accurate. We've had around 1300 cases statewide (take these reports by state with a grain of salt, our eastern panhandle gets within a few dozen miles of DC, but has little interaction with the rest of the state), and several dozen deaths. The NRG region has so far been spared much of anything.

Probably should’ve worded my statement differently. They had 5 reported cases in a single day yesterday.

Pnelson wrote:

One of the possible reasons WV has had such a low count of cases is because our economy sucks: not many people are coming in or out of the state, we don't have major population centers, etc. It is significant that c19 did not rear its head during tourist season. We would have had many more cases if hundreds of people were coming here and crowding restaurants, bars, music venues, and campgrounds like we normally have starting about this time of year, and we still might have a resurgence for that reason. 

The rafting companies are shooting for opening Memorial Day, but with quite a few restrictions. Most private campgrounds are following suit as well. Restaurants may be opening to reduced capacity on May 21, according to the last governor's update. You could come down and climb right now, legally, but there would be nowhere to stay, eat, and our awesome crowd of locals here will give you the stink-eye and shame you. Just wait a couple weeks.

appreciate the details, and yeah - I get enough stink-eye in my home town :).  Sounds like I need to pretty much time a visit around camping becoming totally open, and at that point it’ll be pretty damn hot for climbing unfortunately.  Getting pretty sick of the pullup & hang bar routine...

The cliffs may not be closed but the governor’s order requiring out-of-state visitors to self quarantine for two weeks after their arrival is still in effect. It is due to expire May 21.

And the most recent news conference says that private campgrounds may open ONLY to in state residents on May 21.

Meh....the town is pretty much open. Keep a low profile, be respectful, camp on the meadow (not near highway 19, if you know where then you know, if you don't then oh well), and stay in small groups.

Private campgrounds, state parks, etc. opened for out-of-state residents starting June 10: link.