Comments on: Climbers Have No Respect – WTF?

By: Colemerointet

Colemerointet — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:58:00 +0000

Great article, good looking blog, added it to my favs!

By: Brad Killough

Brad Killough — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:00:45 +0000

I totally understand about the disrespect of the land owner’s. I’m from the southeastern U.S and we have some really mindless people here at times, either their spray painting the rock or trashing up the place up. Not all southern climbers are like that of coarse, but as you know there in the creek area that one out of a hundred is all it takes to shut the climbing access down! I we have to do is RESPECT the land and it’s owner’s and they will work with us on the access issues-RESPECT!!

By: Chris Kalous

Chris Kalous — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:53:59 +0000

"Educating people about responsible climbing ethics should be the mission of everyone involved..."

The sad thing is this isn't really about "climbing ethics". This is simply about acting respectfully and decently. That is what chaps my ass about the whole thing. The problem is not the bolts, the chalk, the fixed gear or any of the other unavoidable transgressions that go with our sport and are usually at the heart of access issues. It's simply about selfish behavior on a very basic level.

And to Mr. Strachan and BJ, thanks for working towards solutions to problems that others cause.

By: Captain Static

Captain Static — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:24:27 +0000

What is even more disheartening is that even after the Torrent closure climbers still didn’t seem to learn their lesson. After continuing dog problems at Muir Valley, another privately owned RRG crag, the owners have announced that starting in 2008 dogs will no longer be allowed. I should also point out that the purchase of Torrent Falls by a new climbing frieldly owner did not “bail us out”. The crag remains closed and the new owner has made it clear that when it is reopened the number of people allowed to climb at any one time will be very limited.

I don’t think we should put the entire onus of educating climbers onto the Access Fund. Educating people about responsible climbing ethics should be the mission of everyone involved in the sport from the magazines and sponsored athletes down to your weekend warriors. If you see someone doing something that might jeopardize access, politely let them know.

Bill Strachan, Executive Director
Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition

PS,

I imagine that more than a few of you western CO climbers know Chris Goplerud? Next time you see him tell him that Captain Static said hello and that he ought to get back east someday and come climbing in the beautiful Red River Gorge!

By: Chris Kalous

Chris Kalous — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:01:20 +0000

BJ,
You know how I feel about this so I won’t bore you too long with my abundant crust…I will say couple things about the access issues in Indian Creek. First of all, there it is mostly the “older” (not age, but lifetime climbing in IC) generation that is the problem. Many feel entitled because they were there “first”. But of course, that is complete crap unless you are Ed Webster or a few others. The Redds were there “first” (not counting the long dead Anasazi) and I am blown away by their generosity in the face of the noise, visual, and privacy abuses perpetrated by climbers. I would be busting up those f-ing drum circles that appear every holiday with a shotgun if I lived down there. Still, many have banded together to try and live under the horribly strict rules, I mean RULE, singular, of the BLM: don’t leave your shit lying around (didn’t I learn that in kindergarten?) and some common sense rules like shut the hell up and maybe its not the best idea to collect and burn every piece of dead wood in a desert. But still, I feel we are only one or two more dog incidences, or cowboy confrontations, or loud obnoxious parties away from losing the place for good. I’ll be bummed but I will also not be surprised because climbers as a whole are selfish egomaniacs who would rather thumb their collective noses at authority than show some maturity and save their favorite crags.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:46:43 +0000

I have to agree about these access issues. There seems to be a certain sense of entitlement by people to make up their own rules when they are not in any position to do so. I know the landowner at the RRG was more than accommodating for a long time and people really screwed it up. Of course people come in right after to bail them out by buying the land so people can come back and probably continue to abuse the land.

Also, thanks for the comments. I really dig your content and layout…really cool!

By: BJ Sbarra

BJ Sbarra — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:42:10 +0000

the days of bolt first, ask later are quickly coming to an end…

By: roomate

roomate — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:35:04 +0000

Nice post, this may be better spent on the home-page of climbing.com. Would really stir up some controversy.

Hasn’t the unofficial motto of area-developing climbers been, “Bolt First, Ask Later”?

-jg