All of these site problems call for organization and political action to give the sport more credibility and to gain better access to the state's excellent climbing sites. In recent years, climbing groups formed to negotiate agreements with lawsuit-wary landowners to reopen their property for climbing, and to stop historical conservation management plans that would have closed Hueco Tanks to most outdoor recreational use. Central Texas Mountaineers president Rick Watson, for instance, led the negotiations with Reimer's Fishing Ranch to reopen the property for climbing after Milton Reimer got sick of the campers and the potential liability for injured climbers. Watson used the resources of the Access Fund , a national climbing advocacy group that provides funds for such access battles. A memorandum of understanding between climbers and state agency leaders exists for Enchanted Rock, Lake Mineral Wells State Park, and dictates the rules for climbing, and care of the rock.
TPWD personnel are ebullient about the new, cooperative atmosphere.
He explains that they are, indeed, among the best park users because of their respect for natural resources. Enchanted Rock, for instance, is the most heavily used state park in Texas both for hiking and climbing. Despite this, the state chose to cut costs, i.e. staff. Enchanted Rock park manager Sonny Solis turned to the climbers. This summer, Solis is offering one free weekend campsite to visiting climbers in exchange for one day of badly-needed work on the trails.