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Unaweep Graffiti Removal

Original Post
Randall Chapman · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 1,532

A while back some graffiti showed up in Unaweep in the Rock Garden. The Western Colorado Climbers’ Coalition and the Grand Junction Climbing Center have been working with the Bureau of Land Management to get this graffiti removed. As with any government agency there was a lot of red tape to cut through but we are pleased to tell everyone that the job is done. A BLM crew went up the other day and removed much of the graffiti leaving only shadows of the paint. These shadows will be removed shortly but that is the hardest part of graffiti removal. The WCCC and GJCC would like to thank the BLM for all their hard work.

The area where this graffiti was removed is still in much need of a good trash pickup. That’s why the WCCC is teaming up with The Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Grand Junction chapter and the BLM on National Public Lands Day to help clean this area up and make it more enjoyable for everyone. So if you can make it out Saturday September 29th from 8:30-noonish we can show the BLM how much we care about our public lands and how much we appreciate their hard work. Bring your climbing shoes and crash pads for some bouldering and BBQ after.

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MountainManny · · Idaho Springs · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 820

Good work...wish I could make it but can't be there next weekend.

Too bad there are so many little pricks down there in the first place....wish they would just stick to cruising their Matchbox Cars up & down North Ave.

Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,623

Nice work! We have some similar issues at local crags. Does this remove a lot of the rock texture making the smearing more difficult? The crag by us is mostly granite slab is why I ask.

Randall Chapman · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 1,532
TomCaldwell wrote:Nice work! We have some similar issues at local crags. Does this remove a lot of the rock texture making the smearing more difficult? The crag by us is mostly granite slab is why I ask.
The guys from the BLM said they used a product called Elephant Snot and a pressure sprayer to remove the bulk of it. They told me that they are going to go back in with the snot and a scrub brush to remove the shadows. This was on Dakota Sandstone which is considerably softer than granite and it didn’t seem to affect it too much. Some of the softer surface rock did come off but it was very minimal. The last picture kind of shows it best, that dark streak right of the graffiti is a water mark on the rock and it didn’t affect it too much.
graffitisolutions.com/produ…
Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,623

Nice! it is biodegradable and all!

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

Very nice. Our own Mia is heading there as we speak. No doubt she will crush.

ben jammin · · Moab, UT · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 852

Nice Work! That's awesome! Now if we could only fix people's name carvings into the red rock.

PTZ · · Chicago/Colorado · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 490

It is a shame how people treat that canyon. Teenagers or whoever have nothing better to do than spraypaint boulders? What a shame. The Paintballers are also a big problem there. That is a truly special place. Thank you for cleaning and helping out. Unaweep was my home away from home for years, love that place.

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

I'm not familiar with the area... but I have a few quick q's about the power sprayer... did the BLM bring in a water truck or something? How did you guys get pressurized water and enough of it at your crag?

We have been trying to do this around our local crags but the biggest issue is the lack of a power sprayer and/or enough water at a crag. We were thinking about the 4 gallon back pack, hand pump, sprayers but the psi is like 90.

Thanks for any info!

-Morgan

Jason Hayden · · North Clarendon, VT · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 9,585

Great Job! Unaweep is truly a special place and has some of the most amazing bouldering and incredible potential that I have ever seen! We had the opportunity to barely scratch the surface on a visit there this past April. Must be incredible in the winter!

Red · · Tacoma, Toyota · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 1,625

Nice work!

Greg D · · Here · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 883

What are all those white spots. Can we stop people from making them?

jleining · · CO · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 32
Greg D wrote:What are all those white spots. Can we stop people from making them?
+1

I agree, I would much rather read some youthful hatred that would inspire days of old than pick through countless tickmarks of crap! I could mention our impacts on rock but will not.
Randall Chapman · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 1,532
CaptainMo wrote:I'm not familiar with the area... but I have a few quick q's about the power sprayer... did the BLM bring in a water truck or something? How did you guys get pressurized water and enough of it at your crag? We have been trying to do this around our local crags but the biggest issue is the lack of a power sprayer and/or enough water at a crag. We were thinking about the 4 gallon back pack, hand pump, sprayers but the psi is like 90. Thanks for any info! -Morgan
I was not there but they said they had a trailer with the sprayer on it so I imagine it took quite a bit of water and a generator of sorts. The place where this was done has a dirt road going back to a nice place to throw a party. There is talk of blocking the road off but it is a utility access road for power lines. Sorry I don't have any more info.
Randall Chapman · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 1,532
Greg D wrote:What are all those white spots. Can we stop people from making them?
I believe the white marks are from paint balling which I believe is legal on the south side of the highway at this time but not on the north side. North of the road is governed by a different plan than the south side, HWY 141 is the border.
Randall Chapman · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 1,532

We did the trash pick up today and the BLM brought out the trailer they used for the graffiti removal. They said they use it mostly for cleaning out the out houses.

Trailer 1.

Trailer 2.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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