Message to trundlers who almost killed me
Message to trundlers who almost killed me
I filed a complaint on this forum about almost being killed by people trundling off a new route above the Caramba Crags last summer. One of the trundlers replied immediately and took responsibility for their actions. I wrote him a reply and would like to share it with the rest of our community because it's a life and death issue.
Thanks for the reply.
Good on all you guys (and the odd gal I hope) for opening up more new long routes.
I'm well aware of the effort required and respect the commitment involved.
I think we all need to check in on this issue as a community, it's deadly serious and I came way too close to being killed that day.
It's not like the old days twenty-thirty years ago when there was hardly a soul on the Chief.
The park is swarming with hikers and climbers looking for new terrain. The Caramba Crags have seen occasional but regular traffic over the years. I've spent hundreds of hours on both the Sheriff's Badge approach trail and the continuation to Cowboys and Indians and The Upper South Buttress over the past decades. Those old saw cuts in the forest below The Badge are mine from twenty years ago. The Caramba Crag approach trail is a critical escape or approach route for climbers on the Ultimate Everything, Teddy Bear's Picnic, The Amazing Overhanging Wall With The Futuristic Routes, and the Upper Buttress. This trail would definitely be used by our SAR teams in the event of a wreck up there.
I'll also be the first to proclaim it's definitely hiker beware when it comes to natural rockfall or something being knocked off or dropped inadvertently. However, to endanger someone through direct and intentional action (especially when we post up, identify ourselves and let people know our intentions) is nothing short of criminal. If anyone of us ended up on the stand because someone was hurt or killed, there would be no defending our actions. I would be duty bound to condemn such action whether my opinion was asked for or not.
So, how to trundle off a big route on the Chief responsibly?
Post your plans on the forums.
Be proactive and check in with the access societies (and BC Parks if necessary).
Post signs at trailheads.
Post sentries with radio communication with cleaning crew.
Make sure sentries sweep and cordon off impact zone.
Only trundle midweek, in the rain in the off season.
Clean up your destruction at the base.
Be nice to EVERYBODY!
I think there's lot's of great new routes to open on the Chief and we'll have to do a bunch of trundling to make them reasonably safe and appealing. Let's all get on board the idea of doing this responsibly as individuals and a community.
Keep up the good work and stay safe!
Sincerely,
Perry Beckham
Thanks for the reply.
Good on all you guys (and the odd gal I hope) for opening up more new long routes.
I'm well aware of the effort required and respect the commitment involved.
I think we all need to check in on this issue as a community, it's deadly serious and I came way too close to being killed that day.
It's not like the old days twenty-thirty years ago when there was hardly a soul on the Chief.
The park is swarming with hikers and climbers looking for new terrain. The Caramba Crags have seen occasional but regular traffic over the years. I've spent hundreds of hours on both the Sheriff's Badge approach trail and the continuation to Cowboys and Indians and The Upper South Buttress over the past decades. Those old saw cuts in the forest below The Badge are mine from twenty years ago. The Caramba Crag approach trail is a critical escape or approach route for climbers on the Ultimate Everything, Teddy Bear's Picnic, The Amazing Overhanging Wall With The Futuristic Routes, and the Upper Buttress. This trail would definitely be used by our SAR teams in the event of a wreck up there.
I'll also be the first to proclaim it's definitely hiker beware when it comes to natural rockfall or something being knocked off or dropped inadvertently. However, to endanger someone through direct and intentional action (especially when we post up, identify ourselves and let people know our intentions) is nothing short of criminal. If anyone of us ended up on the stand because someone was hurt or killed, there would be no defending our actions. I would be duty bound to condemn such action whether my opinion was asked for or not.
So, how to trundle off a big route on the Chief responsibly?
Post your plans on the forums.
Be proactive and check in with the access societies (and BC Parks if necessary).
Post signs at trailheads.
Post sentries with radio communication with cleaning crew.
Make sure sentries sweep and cordon off impact zone.
Only trundle midweek, in the rain in the off season.
Clean up your destruction at the base.
Be nice to EVERYBODY!
I think there's lot's of great new routes to open on the Chief and we'll have to do a bunch of trundling to make them reasonably safe and appealing. Let's all get on board the idea of doing this responsibly as individuals and a community.
Keep up the good work and stay safe!
Sincerely,
Perry Beckham
Re: Message to trundlers who almost killed me
Thanks to Perry for bringing this up-- apparently not only routes in obvious places (e.g. Frimer's Milk Road), but also in undeveloped areas (our upcoming La Gota Fria) can potentially create problems.
Another useful thing that we cleaners or new-routers can do nowadays is, bring our cell-phones with us, and when we post our warnings, include a phone #. Anybody walking past a cleaning zone will either be able to go around it, or call the people up on the wall and get them to stop while traffic passes. If I ever do another long route (a very big "if" considering the amount of work involved...60+ man-days so far...) I will be bringing a phone.
Another useful thing that we cleaners or new-routers can do nowadays is, bring our cell-phones with us, and when we post our warnings, include a phone #. Anybody walking past a cleaning zone will either be able to go around it, or call the people up on the wall and get them to stop while traffic passes. If I ever do another long route (a very big "if" considering the amount of work involved...60+ man-days so far...) I will be bringing a phone.
I agree with the cell phone idea, pretty easy really. Sentries can use them instead of radios.
Posting your cell number at the trailhead just off the road would let people call for a cease fire if they're trying to get by, and give the all clear when they're through. In the case of the Caramba trail, two people could cover the access from below and above. One person at the upper edge of the Badge trail before you come out from the cover of the overhang and one upslope of the impact zone. No need to stop cleaning routes or close access totally. Not sure if stuff can make it over the ledge onto the lower wall or not. Wouldn't hurt to have someone check that out during a cleaning session.
I think the Caramba Trail is going to see a lot more traffic this year as I certainly plan to spend more time up there. Let's try to make it work.
Cheers,
pb
Posting your cell number at the trailhead just off the road would let people call for a cease fire if they're trying to get by, and give the all clear when they're through. In the case of the Caramba trail, two people could cover the access from below and above. One person at the upper edge of the Badge trail before you come out from the cover of the overhang and one upslope of the impact zone. No need to stop cleaning routes or close access totally. Not sure if stuff can make it over the ledge onto the lower wall or not. Wouldn't hurt to have someone check that out during a cleaning session.
I think the Caramba Trail is going to see a lot more traffic this year as I certainly plan to spend more time up there. Let's try to make it work.
Cheers,
pb
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