Flying gear, flying rocks = no fun on Rutabaga

[quantum7]

Just another warning to those climbing in the Arrowroot/Rutabaga area - Midday on Saturday my partner was leading the first pitch of Rutabaga when I saw something falling towards us at a very high speed. A belay device from a party on Europa or Millenium Falcon passed by my partner's head and landed no more than a foot away from me. There was no warning call of "rock" or anything of the sort. It was disturbing to say the least and I shudder to think what could have happened. The party in question had been doing a lot of screaming and yelling earlier on and at times it was hard to tell if it was due to the expending of energy or sheer terror. I only wish the yelling was also put to use to warn us about the falling belay device. My partner carried on with her lead and within two minutes about 4 good sized rocks came down landing on both sides of us. Her helmet would most likely have been useless against rocks of this size. I lowered her immediately so that we could wait until the party got out of whatever area they were in that was causing so much rockfall. At least this time someone yelled rock. I understand that rockfall is a risk inherent in the sport, but from what I have read and heard this area seems to be especially problematic. I guess all I hope is that we try to be as aware as possible of the terrain we are on and to remember that there is a good chance that people are climbing below. Yelling rock when anything falls seems to be the most sensible reaction. The belay device in question came home with me and is safely in the garbage.

[NateDoggOG]

I knocked a rock off of Millennium Falcon myself this past Wednesday..... I did yell though.
It sucks when you notice that there's a lot of loose rock, and do everything you can to avoid disturbing it, but then the rope brushes it or something and sends one down.
You then spend the next 10 seconds screaming rock, while watching the people far below you and hoping that they heard. It's probably what stresses me out the most while climbing.

Not too long ago, I saw a traffic jam on Ultimate Everything with a party on every pitch for five or six pitches. Top party dislodged a rock, yelled, and was followed by a chorus of maybe twelve 'ROCK!'s as it passed each party on the way down. Without the element of danger caused by said rock, was quite humourous.

[Anders Ourom]

Sometimes a climber who drops or dislodges something isn't aware that she/he has done so, or that the rope has knocked something off. It's not always apparent. If you climb beneath others, you hope they'll be careful - they may not know that you're there, of course - but you take your chances.