The recent year-long ban of two climbers from Bon Echo provincial park for not wearing helmets may be an indicator of new rules coming to provincial parks and conservation areas in Southern Ontario. Last weekend a pair of climbers at Mt Nemo were confronted by park staff and told that a new rule would be imposed requiring all climbers wear helmets. The park personnel, in this case, did not ban the climbers but instead used the opportunity to inform them of the upcoming changes. Some climbers fear that if this new mandatory climbing-helmet rule comes into effect, it could transform climbing from an activity that has always emphasized personal responsibility, to one that is highly managed by outsiders who may not understand the complexities of climbing gear. Some speculate that this change will inevitably shift the liability emphasis to the park staff leaving them vulnerable to legal action during an accident or equipment failure.

It should be noted that similar helmet/equipment rules were once implemented in various US climbing areas but have now been removed because of difficulties in policing.


More details as they become available.