Important inFormation for obtaining a permit and protecting

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Graining Fork Nature Preserve is located on private property.  Access to the preserve is dependent on users' cooperation with the rules.   If you are not willing to abide by the rules, then do not enter the property.  Permitted users are asked to help uphold the rules. 

• 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.
• EVERYONE entering the GFNP must have a permit.
• “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.
• Permit numbers may not be shared.
• Anyone not abiding by the rules will be required to leave.
• Consistent 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.
• The property owner and GFNP Board members reserve the right to deny access. 

Group Rules

Groups of 9 or more are not allowed.  The intent is to reduce the erosion and other impacts 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 (GFNP). 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 GFNP 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 GFNP 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 GFNP 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 GFNP or property owner. 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 REQUESTS ARE REVIEWED EVERY MONDAY.  The permit requests are checked and issued on Monday are for the following Tuesday through Monday.  We suggest making sure the permit is submitted by 9 am on Monday to ensure that your request is submitted before emails are checked. PLEASE, PLAN AHEAD.

PERMIT NUMBERS MAY NOT BE SHARED WITH OTHERS.

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

READ

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

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

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

3.  Permit requests are checked on Monday.  Please plan accordingly,  

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

5. 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 obtaining a permit.  

 To obtain a permit email GFNPreserve@gmail.com

The email must have the following information:

1. date you are requesting to access the GFNP,

2. complete names of everyone on the permit, 

3. age of each person, 

4. state of residence of each person, and 

5. liability statement below, and

6.  please consider a donation of $2 to $3 per person.  Donations can be made through this website. The donations are used to cover the cost of the webpage, insurance, and parking lot.

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 responsibility 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 original permit request.

So, please, plan accordingly.