Important inFormation for obtaining a permit and protecting

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Graining Fork Nature Preserve is private property.  Access to the preserve is dependent on user’s cooperation with the rules.   If you are not willing or able to abide by these rule then do not enter the property.  Authorized users are asked to help uphold  the rules.  Groups must follow the individual rules plus the group rules listed below.

• Access to Graining Fork Nature Preserve is limited to those individuals with proof of authorized access in the form of a use permit and completed liability waiver.  Anyone failing to show proof of authorized access (either a paper copy or electronic) is trespassing and subject to prosecution.
• “Leave No Trace” principles must be followed at all times while in the preserve.   Pack it in – Pack it out, including your poo, no catholes (www.lnt.org will show you how to do it).
• Parking is available to visitors directly across from the preserve entrance.  The parking area is private property and the “Leave No Trace ” rules apply.
• No flora, fauna, rock or anything else may be damaged, harmed, moved or removed from the preserve.
• No guiding or any commercial activity is permitted without expressed written consent from the Board of Directors.
• Camping is not permitted within the preserve.
• Access to the preserve is from dawn to dusk (daylight hours) only.
• No dogs or other pets are permitted in the preserve.
• Be considerate and respectful of those around you.  No music or excessive noise.
• No illegal drugs or alcoholic beverages are allowed within the preserve.
• No burning or smoking of anything is allowed within the preserve.
• Follow good climbing practices.  Reckless or unsafe climbers maybe required to leave.
• No hammocks are allowed.
• No route development, bolt  or anchor replacement without written consent from the manager or Board.
• Do not damage conservation projects.
• Abide by signage at the crag. 
• No soloing of any kind.
• No drones.
• No hammocks.
• Permits number may not be shared.
• Anyone not abiding by the rules will be required to leave.
• Consistant violations of the rules and warnings will result in the closure of the area. Additionally, those that caused the closure, may have their photograph and other information posted on the internet.

Group Rules

Groups of 9 or more are not allowed.  The intent is to reduce the impact on area.

Any group not complying with the regulations 1) may be banned from Graining Fork Nature Preserve indefinitely,  2) may be charged with trespassing (with or without permits), and/or 3) may have gear confiscated.

Any special request may be made through email GFNPreserve@gmail.com

 “Under Kentucky law, there is NO LIABILITY for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if the injury or death results exclusively from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity and in the absence of
negligence. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.”

It is important that you carefully read and understand the list of warnings of the hazards and potential dangers, both identified and unknown that may exist in the Graining Fork Nature Preserve. Your presence in the preserve signifies that you have read, fully understand the hazards, and accept all risks and these warnings.

If you are not willing or able to accept full responsibility for your presence and personal safety in the Graining Fork Nature Preserve, then do not enter the property.

1. WARNING: The preserve is a natural habitat with many known and unknown hazards. It impossible to be aware of every hazard and dangerous condition that may exist. It is, therefore, necessary that you acknowledge a general warning that hidden and unknown dangers may exist in the GFNP that cannot always be specifically identified and warned or guarded against.
2. WARNING: All outdoor activities and in particular climbing can be dangerous, participation in which can cause permanent paralysis or other serious injury and death to you or to those around you. You should never climb without extensive training by experienced climbers. You should never climb without proper high-quality rock climbing gear.  And, you should never climb if you are not willing to accept full responsibility for the consequences of your participation in this dangerous sport.  Furthermore, by entering the Preserve to rock climb you are acknowledging that one of the primary reasons you rock climb is because of the inherent dangers of the sport.
3. WARNING: The rock in the Graining Fork Nature Preserve is primarily sandstone, a very soft, friable sedimentary rock that is laced with pockets, fissures and soft sections. Even the best of hardware permanently affixed to or temporarily placed into this rock can fail unexpectedly and catastrophically due to the poor structural integrity of this rock, possibly causing your injury or death.
4. WARNING: The rock in the GFNP contains sections that are either loose or that can be easily loosened. These sections can spontaneously fall off a cliff, or they may be inadvertently or purposely pulled off by a climber. In any case, rock fall poses a threat to visitors to Graining Fork Nature Preserve and therefore poses a danger to the climber and/or persons below the climber. All persons participating in rock climbing and/or those present in the vicinity of rock cliffs are strongly advised to wear protective headgear designed specifically for a rock climbing environment.
5. WARNING: Never climb inside caves and overhangs in the preserve. The ceilings are often flaky and prone to breaking down and falling.
6. WARNING: Hanger brackets have been bolted to, or glued into, the walls of many of the climbing routes in the GFNP. Additionally, other hardware, such as slings, quickdraws, chains, rings, cable leaders, and permadraws may be attached to hanger brackets. As is traditional with rock climbing route development, this hardware was installed by many different persons. The specific hardware and installation methods are neither approved by nor monitored by us. Nor, is this hardware routinely inspected. NO warranties of safeness of this hardware have been given by the persons who installed it or by Graining Fork Nature Preserve. Hanger brackets have been known to pull loose from the rock. And, rock in which hanger brackets have been affixed has been known to fail. If you climb in the preserve and rely on any piece of hardware affixed to any rock surface for your personal safety and/or the safety of others with you, you do so at your own risk and with the full knowledge that this hardware may fail catastrophically and without warning.
7. WARNING: There are numerous fall hazards within the preserve, footing is rough and uneven and in some areas you can fall over 100 feet and be severely injured or killed.Be very careful hiking along all trails and maintain control of children at all times.
8. WARNING: As a nature preserve, GFNP has known wildlife, including, but not limited to: stinging insects, such as wasps and hornets; venomous snakes, such as copperheads and rattlesnakes; and poisonous and stinging plants, such as poison ivy and nettle weed.
    

PERMIT REQUEST ARE REVIEWED EVERY MONDAY.  PLEASE, PLAN AHEAD.  PERMITS CAN BE MADE FOR UP TO 1 WEEK IN ADVANCE AT A TIME FOR A MAXIUM OF 2 DAYS.

For example, if you want to climb on November 5th, you must apply for a permit between   October 25 and 31st. 

PERMIT NUMBER MAT NOT BE SHARED WITH OTHERS.

Full dates:  March 27- April 3

Note:  The preserve is closed to permits are the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.

READ

1.  Permits can not be requested more than 1 week in advance. 

2.  Permits will not be granted for more than 2 days per week.    

The reason for the changes is to allow for more peopleto have a chance to climb and to reduce the request for changes with permits.  

3. Permits are not issued the day of and are not transferable to anyone not listed on the orginal permit request.  

4.  Permit request are checked on Monday.  Please plan accordingly,  

5.  Please, submit one permit permit per group (and not as individuals).

Thank you for all the cooperation.

 Not knowing the rules and warning is not an excuse.  Even with a permit you will be required to leave the preserve if you do not follow the rules, so read both the rules and warnings before ontaining a permit.  

 To obtain a permit email GFNPreserve GFNPreserve@gmail.com

The email must have the following information:

1. date you are requesting a permit, the complete names of everyone on the permit, 

2. age of each person, 

3. state of residence of each person, and 

4. liability statement,

5.  please consider a donation of $2 to $3 per person.  Donations can be make through this website.

The liability statement MUST read as follows:  I and my group have read the rules and warnings of the Graining Fork Nature Preserve.  I  and my group acknowledge the warnings and agree to follow the rules of the preserve.  I and my group take full responsibility for all risk.  

If you have someone on your permit request under the age of 18 include the following:  I and my group also take full responsilibilty for anyone in our group under the age of 18. 

Permits are not issues the day of and are not transferable to anyone not listed on the orginal permit request.

So, please, plan accordingly.