It was my understanding that the Preserve prefers me to have my pass visible while I'm on their land so I've always kept it on my pack. The last few times I've gone to the Gunks I've been asked to stop keeping my pass on my pack and to have it in the car instead so I can go to the "express lane". I'm not sure if that means I don't have to carry it around during the day or if the Preserve expects me to remove it from my pack and then replace it each day.

I do appreciate that the Preserve is trying to speed up the check-in process but I've never had to wait more than a minute there and saving a minute once a month or so isn't worth the hassle of removing my pass (which I've very securely fastened to my pack) and then returning it to my pack and hoping that I don't misplace it between here and there. I'm spending more time getting lectured on the new procedure each morning than I ever did waiting to show my pass to the guy in the booth. It's really not that big a deal to pop the trunk and lift my pack up so the ranger can see it.

Can't we please just continue to show our packs like we used to? I've talked to a few other climbers and no one feels like they've got a good strategy for having the pass both available to show in the new express lane and visible during the day. Please don't suggest wearing it around our necks. I'm not going to wear anything around my neck while climbing.

I suppose a 21st Century tact would be to imbed an RFID chip in the pass card, which can be scanned by a ranger while it's in the member's pocket.

Suck it up and park at the "stairmaster"

You won't have to worry about the so-called "express-lane" that you mentioned...

This must be something that occurs afterthe booth in the West Trapps lot opens...(?) get your butt in gear a little earlier!

Is it written somewhere that it needs to be visible? I got in the habit of taking the pass off my pack when I was leaving in the apt in the morning so I could show it at the gate, then clipping it back the pack to show it at the bridge. But now I don't bother with all the clipping and just keep it in the wallet. I don't see the point in having it displayed on the pack when nobody is going to look for it once I've passed the bridge.

It might help to frame the issue here to understand what this is all about.

On crowed weekends early in the day cars back up from the check booth in the west trapps out onto 44/55 several times. I myself have almost witnessed 2 major accidents due to overflow of waiting cars onto 44/55. They are attempting to keep the flow moving by allowing preserve members to pass by on the right people paying cash at the booth. If you have to stop and dig out your pass from pack it defeats the purpose. Of course preserve rules I believe state something like day pass’s / membership must be visible when on the property so one might have to kill an extra 15 seconds to put it back on the pack. Although I think I've been asked twice this year to see my membership while out and about on the preserve lands.

I see. This line must happen either earlier or later than I get there since I've never seen it. Every time I've gotten the lecture about having my pass in my hand I've been the only car waiting. I guess if there were a big line I'd have time to get my pack out of the trunk.

I don't carry my wallet around at the Gunks and I know that if I try to keep my pass in my pants pocket that it will eventually get lost or I at least won't have it with me. Do you really remember each morning to remove your pass before you get to the booth?

Leave the pass on the pack and put the pack in the back seat so that the pass is visible through the window.

Sometimes we have people in the backseat. Gas is expensive these days. But yeah, usually the backseat is free and I guess we could load the packs in there.

My pass is laminated, hole punched and a short tie-off is placed so that I can girth hitch it through a zipper pull on the pack after I show it each time.

Most of the time. Did forget now and then, but like you, we'd arrive when there were little or no cars and it wasn't a problem. Don't know what it's like now since we haven't been clipping the passes to our packs.

Just seems silly to clip the passes to the pack when most of the day you're not with your pack. Not that I expect to meet up with a ranger when I'm walking off, but at least now I have my pass with me all the time.

make a color copy.

Yeah, like I said!

Every time I think the well of things Gunks climbers can complain about has run dry........

Ya this thread could use a little help from the whaaaaaaaaambulance

I wanna be in the express lane!

Yes, if the point is to prevent accidents, then I'm silly to complain. I didn't know there were accidents happening there. It would have been nice if the new policy had been announced and explained. I could make a color copy if that is acceptable to the Preserve. I could also keep my pass in my wallet and not carry it around all day but then I can't show it to the guy on the bridge. If neither of those is an acceptable alternative, I'll try to keep my pack in the back seat most days. I'd really rather not try to move my pass back and forth because I know I'll lose it or show up without it half the time.

I was looking more for the Preserve's take on this than yours, but I'm happy to hear everyone's strategy. Sounds like we all have different ways of handling it.

i carry mine in my pocket -- that way if i'm going back to my pack after walking off, i can still show it.