Mountain Project Logo

SLCA shows poor etiquette

Original Post
Teleit · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 0

To my knowledge, today was my first encounter with any representatives of the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance. I previously thought they deserved praise for any work they've done to help keep the Wasatch a great climbing environment. I WAS WRONG.
While climbing in the Perhaps area today, we witnessed the behavior of 6 guys who told us they were with the SLCA. I have never seen poorer behavior from adults, except perhaps at 3 AM inebriated at a bar. They loudly were yelling F#$% this, F&^% that, possibly 50 times per hour. The bolt-replacer also threw a crowbar from the top of the first pitch toward the approach trail. And this is in an area that families hike into to play on the lower boulders. How is our climbing community to earn respect and maintain access when SLCA members act like this?
Their project was worthwhile: replacing some anchors atop Touch Up and a few bolts. But beware, the guy putting the new anchors in was drinking while up on that ledge. For the respect of climbing, save the beers for the finale.
I love the Wasatch, but today I'm ashamed of those who profess to be their stewards.

Ryan Lauck · · Farmington, UT · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 305

Since when did climbing require etiquette? I for one am proud of my crass, low-brow and foul-mouthed fellow climbers - they give the sport its character. Thanks for the bolts SLCA, sounds like I missed a good time up there today!

Nate Furman · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 405

Thanks so much to the SLCA for replacing the bolts! That's awesome work. I wish I could have been there to share a beer and top rope with the bolt replacers.

Cheers,
Nate

Rob Duncan · · Salt Lake City · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 165

I am ashamed you feel the need to knit-pick those who protect and serve our local stash.

get a grip people. F-bombs abound everywhere these days, I hope you don't get so easily riled up on public transportation or at your local Smiths.

J. Albers · · Colorado · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 1,926

Whoa hold up. First let me come clean and say that I might quite possibly have the worst case of sailor mouth on this coast, so no, dropping F bombs does not bother me in the slightest. That said, if I was at a crag and there was a group that was loud, drunk, and obnoxious, then I would probably be annoyed. And lets be honest, throwing a pry bar or any other such heavy junk down towards an approach is in no way alright. Perhaps Teleit could clarify his complaints a bit more before: a) he slanders the SLCA so harshly; and b) you all slag him in return for what might be a reasonable complaint.

You all may have an argument that Teleit's comment and tone could be interpreted as nit picky and whiny, but if somebody threw a god damn crow bar down where I was walking, I would be exchanging a few "what the f-bombs" of my own in the throwers direction.

$0.02

mikewhite · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2007 · Points: 55

I would like to publicly apologize for my foul mouth and my actions today.
I am very sorry if I offended anybody. Please don't fault the SLCA for my actions.

Some of the bolts today were not easy to remove and I tend to express myself openly with a drunken sailor mouth.

I would like to thank Teleit for bringing this to light and I will act accordingly in the future.
About my new crow bar that bent the first time I used it.
It was not nessicary to toss it off the cliff but I did survey the area and picked a good landing spot for this piece of crap from India.

Nobody was in any danger at any time.

I would rather step back from my board position with the slca than leave them with a black eye.

Mabey its time to let someone else carry the torch and lead the local rebolting effort. After 12 years of replacing bolts in the canyon it gets more and more frustrating every time, and the f-bombs increase with each bolt.

In the future if anybody has any concerns with me or what I am doing, then just tell me right there and I will shut the hell up.
I promise not to throw my crowbar at you.

And yes we will save the beer for after in the future.

Respectfully
Michael L. White

nye · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 0

I have to agree with Teleit's assessment. I was up in the Perhaps area today as well and the supposed SLCA group was obnoxious and unprofessional.

J. Albers · · Colorado · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 1,926

Hank Helms,
Address the comments at hand without resorting to posting like prick.

J. Albers · · Colorado · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 1,926

Mike,
I am not a SLC local so my comments are pretty irrelevant, but your post seems sincere and judging from that, I don't see a reason to apologize. Kudos for taking time out of your life to give back to the community.

Watch those crow bar tosses,
J.

Bobby Hanson · · Spokane, WA · Joined Oct 2001 · Points: 1,230

Something I'm confused about: how is drinking beer disrespectful? Moreover, exactly who is being disrespected by this beer drinking?

STH · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2007 · Points: 5

+1 for a bit of a tone down. I've heard, and uttered, my fair share of ISOLATED f-bombs while climbing but I was also falling on a shaky nut or a questionable cam. If I was out for an evening of climbing and heard a continuous barrage of this behavior it would sure take away from that night's experience.

That being said, I would have also had no problem politely asking the guys to tone it down a bit instead coming home and complaining about it on the internet. I'm 100% sure that if you sacked up and said something, these guys would have absoultely obliged.

The SLCA and ASCA do a HUGE service around here so lets cut these guys a little slack but on the other hand I expect people who openly represent an access-sensitive organization to behave with a bit more maturity and tact.

Sam Gileadi · · Surf City · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 30

Man oh man... like the dog biting the hand that feeds it....

Thank you SLCA and Mike White for all your hard work, and for replacing the bolts up there. I'll clip them with total confidence.

OP I think you owe him a bee.. tuna casserole or a jello salad or some cookies for posting this here, and on general principle for all the work he has done to help keep our canyons safe and pristine.

steve richert · · Taunton MA · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 10

This is slightly off-center of the topic, but I am impressed with the fact that Mike would offer a sincere apology like that rather than defend his actions which clearly could be quite defensible if that was his motivation. I don't think I have ever seen anyone respond like that on a forum squabble. That is some serious balls. Everyone offends other people but very few people actually care to try and rectify the situation.

my hat's off to you Mike...and thanks for the new bolts!

Bill Huggins · · Draper, UT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 0
Teleit wrote:To my knowledge, today was my first encounter with any representatives of the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance. I previously thought they deserved praise for any work they've done to help keep the Wasatch a great climbing environment. I WAS WRONG. While climbing in the Perhaps area today, we witnessed the behavior of 6 guys who told us they were with the SLCA. I have never seen poorer behavior from adults, except perhaps at 3 AM inebriated at a bar. They loudly were yelling F#$% this, F&^% that, possibly 50 times per hour. The bolt-replacer also threw a crowbar from the top of the first pitch toward the approach trail. And this is in an area that families hike into to play on the lower boulders. How is our climbing community to earn respect and maintain access when SLCA members act like this? Their project was worthwhile: replacing some anchors atop Touch Up and a few bolts. But beware, the guy putting the new anchors in was drinking while up on that ledge. For the respect of climbing, save the beers for the finale. I love the Wasatch, but today I'm ashamed of those who profess to be their stewards.
nye wrote:I have to agree with Teleit's assessment. I was up in the Perhaps area today as well and the supposed SLCA group was obnoxious and unprofessional.
Is this because the SLCA people are paid so much dough that they should be professional? I guess volunteering is no fun after all.

Climbers obnoxious? Climbers drinking? Wow, no way!

Let me make a list of things that bother me..
Small diameter anchor bolts that are spinners which have loose nuts that can be removed by hand.
Questionable bolts and hangers at belay/rappel stations
Rusty 1/4" buttonheads with old Leeper hangers
Worn bolts that climbers regularly whip on
20 loosely connected "climber" trails that terminate at the same area
Graffiti on crags and boulders
Trash in the canyons
Land managers that see climbers as a nuisance
Erosion affecting trails, crags and boulders
Crags closed to climbing

I may just be a troll, but an observant one. I have observed that over the years the SLCA, including Mike White, has addressed every single point I listed above. If you must whine about an isolated incident that apparently ruined your day, one might ask what you have done to maintain access, or bolts, or trails, or graffiti removal around climbing areas in the vicinity?

To the OP's, have you participated in canyon clean-up days? Have you helped build trails or belay platforms that help reduce erosion? Have you donated time and money to bad bolt replacement? I am thinking probably not, because it was your first "encounter."

If you have, good for you. As climbers we should all do what we can to maintain access to climbing areas, especially in the Perhaps/Green A area.

Did you contact the SLCA privately? Did you give them a chance to respond instead of publicly condemning them? If you did not, shame on YOU for sullying the good name of the SLCA.

To the SLCA and especially Mike White, please keep up with your worthy efforts! Your work is important to us far-sighted climbers (aka crag-day volunteers when possible) that have observed and assisted with your progress, it is indeed a hard, thankless job. Etiquette be dammed, results are what matter.
TinaTurner · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 0

I guess I'm just really confused about this whole "represent a climbing organization in a professional manor" business. It doesn't make sense for a volunteer climbing organization to be concerned about acting professional, because it's kind of not the nature of the sport. Professionalism when they are at meetings/negociations, yes, but not way the hell up LCC on the middle of a Friday. I'm thankful that somebody spent a good LCC day doing a job that no one else was interested in.

Mike, you shouldn't have to apologize for choosing to drink at any point in your bolt replacement adventure. People climb at their own risk. Drinking and climbing may seem like a bad to choice to you, just like running out a hard climb seems like a bad choice to me. To each their own. What business is it of yours Teleit, the choices someone makes in their leisure time? It's not hurting you. If anything, Mike would have gotten hurt. I feel like you are the same people getting pissy about people climbing shirtless or in sports bras at the gym. Live and let live, and more importantly, MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS!

And lastly, I don't care how eloquent your post was, the fact of the matter is that you didn't have the guts and the respect for Mike to actually say something eloquent to his face. The beer has no impact on you, but if the noise is irritating- SPEAK UP! You are showing the most disrespectful etiquette of all by A)Not talking to Mike to his face, and B) Not bothering to say anything after posting up the moment you got home from climbing, and C) Pigeon-holing the entire SLCA after one encounter- especially since you have clearly never participated in any of the SLCA sponsored events. I'm pretty sure you just pointed out the definition of indiscriminate hate.

You should be ashamed of yourself, and your lack of tact.

Thanks to Mike and to the SLCA for keeping out ever crowded crags safe and clean so that we all may continue to enjoy them.

Sam Gileadi · · Surf City · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 30

Furthermore, if it's a distraction free experience one is after, the Green A area- come on. I like seclusion and quiet as much as the next guy sometimes, and on those days I head for an area that will guarantee me that, of which there are many. Not to the Green A or, say, the popular areas in Ferguson. That said, sometimes it's pretty fun to climb where there is a ruckus going on too!

More wild west and less family theme park, this is climbing goddammit!

doody · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 0
TinaTurner wrote:I guess I'm just really confused about this whole "represent a climbing organization in a professional manor" business. It doesn't make sense for a volunteer climbing organization to be concerned about acting professional, because it's kind of not the nature of the sport. Professionalism when they are at meetings/negociations, yes, but not way the hell up LCC on the middle of a Friday. I'm thankful that somebody spent a good LCC day doing a job that no one else was interested in. Mike, you shouldn't have to apologize for choosing to drink at any point in your bolt replacement adventure. People climb at their own risk. Drinking and climbing may seem like a bad to choice to you, just like running out a hard climb seems like a bad choice to me. To each their own. What business is it of yours Teleit, the choices someone makes in their leisure time? It's not hurting you. If anything, Mike would have gotten hurt. I feel like you are the same people getting pissy about people climbing shirtless or in sports bras at the gym. Live and let live, and more importantly, MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS! And lastly, I don't care how eloquent your post was, the fact of the matter is that you didn't have the guts and the respect for Mike to actually say something eloquent to his face. The beer has no impact on you, but if the noise is irritating- SPEAK UP! You are showing the most disrespectful etiquette of all by A)Not talking to Mike to his face, and B) Not bothering to say anything after posting up the moment you got home from climbing, and C) Pigeon-holing the entire SLCA after one encounter- especially since you have clearly never participated in any of the SLCA sponsored events. I'm pretty sure you just pointed out the definition of indiscriminate hate. You should be ashamed of yourself, and your lack of tact. Thanks to Mike and to the SLCA for keeping out ever crowded crags safe and clean so that we all may continue to enjoy them.
Bitch, did I say you could speak? I'm Ike Turner! Bitch, get back work and make me sum mo money!
TinaTurner · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 0
Ike Turner wrote: Bitch, did I say you could speak? I'm Ike Turner! Bitch, get back work and make me sum mo money!
Yikes!

So much for a well thought out discussion...
camhead · · Vandalia, Appalachia · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,240

Knock Knock.

Who's there?

Tina Turner.

Tina Turner Who?

Tina Turner name into a knock knock joke!

Knock Knock.

Who's there?

Ike Turner.

Ike Turner Who?

Ike Turner'round and hit Tina, cuz she Turner name into a knock knock joke!

ok, I'm definitely going to have to replace some anchors for letting that one loose on you guys. Oh, and original poster, your complaining that Mike was "unprofessional" implies that he is a professional, i.e. was replacing the bolts for money. Not even. So STFU.

nobody · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 0

No one cares that you tele.

Also...

sfotex · · Sandy, UT · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 225

Cussing? Drinking? Holy shit, we're not at Momentum anymore!!

Funny how the people that bitch the most never lift a finger to help out.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern Utah & Idaho
Post a Reply to "SLCA shows poor etiquette"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.