For New climbers heading outside

[dakine]

Hi All,
This past weekend was a beautiful spring day and throughout the Squamish area climbers were abound.
I wanted to remind all the new climbers that are heading out that climbing on real rock has inherent risks and that after a winter the rock does reserve the right to change.

This means that route you were on last summer can shed rock in the spring.

While out at a crag this sunday I witnessed several fist to grapefruit sized rocks come smashing to the ground without a word from the climber ( or belayer).

Etiquette and safety state that you should at all times warn that you have dropped, dislodged, or kicked a rock loose (or dropped gear) by yelling loud and clear "ROCK!!!"
This is the signal for people to protect themselves by hiding by trees, ducking against the cliff and / or praying to their favourite deity that their skull is not in line with the approaching boulder of doom.

The same etiquette is used when throwing a rope out into the void when rapping. Please yell BEFORE throwing and AS you throw your rope over that edge.
being on the receiving end of several hundred feet of rope whipping to a stop is going to give someone a really bad day.

Climb hard and be safe.

[Rock_Climber]

Ah yes, I've had a rope stealthily tossed on my head while I was on lead =)