Sometimes, Jon Richard says, he’ll be up in the canopy of a large Missouri tree, doing work of some kind, and will stop for a moment to sit still on a perch.

A debate over the use of fixed climbing anchors in designated wilderness areas has been simmering over the past couple months after federal agencies proposed new guidance that could impact their use.

Climbers in western Colorado know the thrill of working their way up the tricky rock faces of desert canyons and mountain crags. But those who enjoy practicing the sport in remote areas worry they ...