This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Federal land managers this week reinforced a two-year ban on roped activities at Corona Arch and Gemini Bridges.
The Bureau of Land Management listed the closure of 37.3 acres — a plan announced early this year — in the Federal Register on Thursday.
In January, the BLM blocked ziplining, highlining, slacklining, climbing and rappelling on the two formations.
The Federal Register announcement, signed by acting Utah BLM Director Megan Crandall, identifies 31 acres around Corona Arch and 6.3 acres surrounding Gemini Bridges in Grand County near Moab. The closure is referred to as "temporary" and will run from May 14, 2015, to May 15, 2017. The restriction further clarifies "no activities involving ropes, cables, vectran, climbing aids, webbing or anchors ("roped activities").
Land managers in the BLM's Moab Field Office will study the possibility of permanently banning the activities during the two-year restriction.
People caught breaking the restrictions could be fined up to $1,000 or sent to jail for up to a year.
Corona Arch is reached via a 1.5-mile hike from a trailhead on the Colorado River. BLM offcials say about 40,000 people make the hike each year to see Corona and Bowtie arches.
The land where the arches sit was acquired by the BLM in a land swap with the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration in May of 2014. The state land agency had ended commercial guiding in the area in early 2013 due to liability concerns.
In March of 2013, a man from West Jordan died when the rope he was swinging from on the arch was too long. The accident happened in front of 70 people.
Another man was critically injured shortly after the swap was finalized when he attempted to swing but used the wrong anchor and crashed into the slickrock.
BLM officials have received multiple complaints from hikers claiming the arch swinging was creating a loud and inappropriate circus atmosphere.
Twitter: @BrettPrettyman