PSA: If you're setting up a TR, please check for and warn people beneath you.

Mike Lane wrote:I want to hear the 'things got weird' part of the story....

I'm also waiting for this. I'm stuck at work and bored, what can I say?

S.Stelli wrote: I'm also waiting for this. I'm stuck at work and bored, what can I say?

Ok, fine. Starting from after the rock fell:

Me [looking up]: Hey, is anybody up there? Hello?

[No response, so I figure it was just a fluke rock fall. After about 20 seconds, I see something moving around at the top, to our left, but I can't quite make it out...]

Me: Hey, is that somebody up there? Hello?

[Still no response. At this point I think it must be an animal or bird or something. I watch for a little while longer, after which I can see that it's a backpack moving around up there. I now know somebody is up there...]

Me: I can see you up there...hello?

[Again, no response. I still just see about half a backpack over the edge. At this point, there was a woman climbing to our right and she was now paying more attention to the situation, looking up at the people on top with a better view.]

Climber [to her partner, belaying]: Oh, it's the women that were asking us about the climbs earlier...

Climber [to the people on top]: Hey, if you're trying to set up a TR on the climb we were talking about before then you're on the wrong anchor.

Woman setting up TR: No, thanks, we decided to climb something else.

[At this point I'm really confused. I can't imagine they didn't hear me before if they heard her...]

Me: Uhm, hey, could you not hear me talking to you before?

Woman setting up TR: Yeah, I heard you.

Me: OK, well, a response would be nice.

[No response. At this point I decide to just leave it be, assuming we could have a more civil conversation when they rappel from the TR they're obviously setting up. My climbing partner decided to just have that conversation once he was near the top of our climb and within eyesight with her, however]

Our climber: Hey, if you're going to set up a TR could you try to warn people beneath you? It's a busy crag and there are a lot of people, and you caused some rock fall that came very close to hitting one of us. Had we known you were here, we could have been more prepared and moved out of the way.

Woman setting up TR: Ok. [Few moments later, as our climber was still cleaning] Rope!

At this point, she drops the rope and rappels. I didn't want to escalate the scene, so I just ignored her and said nothing. She did the same. Our climber lowered off, we packed up our things (including my pack that was sitting under their rope they tossed down), and moved to a new location.

Like I said...weird...

climbers are freaks

CaptainMo wrote:climbers are freaks

I'm so glad everyone else has nothing to do at work, so I can waste my day laughing about things that are funny and true.

Scott McMahon wrote:It should be up to the parties above to make sure they aren't putting anyone in danger by dropping rocks, ice, ropes or anthing else down.

Excellent response - of course this is correct behavior. But my post was to direct attention to (from my limited view of the situation) that both could have prevented the encounter.

Ian Stewart wrote: The climbs are short and some weren't that great, but some others were pretty good and a less-than-average day of climbing is still better than not climbing. Anyways, back on Topic! =)

I hear that. Certainly not a horrible place to go for some winter craggin' either, as it gets good sun. I guess the last few times I've been there, I just had a shitty time (similar to your post) so I am jaded.

My opinion on the topic is; when you are doing something as inherently dangerous as rock climbing, it's everyone's responsibility to be safe and communicative. No exceptions. In this scenario, the TR party should have definitely taken more caution when setting up.

Also, when a rock is dropped in any circumstance, it is LAW to yell, "rock! rock! rock!" until it has hit the ground. This is as important as any and all other climbing rules and should be practiced as such.

Sorry that happened...