The Brotherhood Of the Traveling Stopper...

that's fine, i have a special trip in mind for it.

One of the more perplexing aspects of acquiring possession of the Stopper is the discovery that it takes a great deal more effort to write a trip report than to actually go on the trip in the first place....The Stopper came in the mail shortly before Christmas, after which I promptly came down with the virus du jour and stayed mostly at home to recover.

1/5/13 Took the Stopper out to a suitably obscure route, Hueco Thanks 5.7 on Brownstone Wall in Juniper Canyon.

The Stopper turned out to be the key piece of protection that my partner placed on the slabby, traversing first pitch. I regret I did not take a photo of the nut in situ, but I didn't feel very good about whipping out my camera to take a shot from the weird tilted stance with the next piece about 20' out to my left...I led the next pitch, which appeared to have gotten very little traffic due to the sandy crunchiness at the crux. After starting up the 3rd pitch, my partner decided not to continue further after both footholds he was standing on broke as he was surveying the next moves. "On some routes the climbing is just not worth the risk," or something to that effect. I was inclined to agree....

1/9/13 Next objective: Brass Balls 5.9 variation on Brass Wall in Pine Creek. Accompanied by MP user Mo,



who placed the stopper on the 3rd pitch,



we found the route to be a sunny and uncrowded alternative to moshing with the crowd on Birdland (and vastly more enjoyable than Hueco Thanks, I might add.)

Fast forward to 3/15/13, when I was joined by MP user peepeedance (Tracy) on Hearing Voices 5.7+, an unpublished 9 pitch route up the north side of Mescalito in Pine Creek.



The One True Stopper came in very handy on the nut intensive 4th pitch. Alas, my partner didn't feel very good about stopping to take a picture, but I swear by all that is true, it would have held a fall, it was not a gratuitous placement! Since we started pretty late and were having a relaxed day, we elected to do only the first 4 pitches, not having enough time to walk down from the top of Mescalito. However, I did get to do the hardcore canyoneering-esque rappel down the squeeze chimney from the top of the 2nd pitch (which is progressively less fun each time I do it.)

Of course, most who come to Las Vegas for the climbing also sample the other available diversions as well, such as visiting casinos



checking out the gambling,



And, for MP'ers, going to beer night,



where I was hoping to find more aspirants for the Brotherhood by flourishing its chief emblem as an inspiration to adventure, but the other attendees just laughed when they saw it, and MP user sqwirll said, "That's the travelling stopper that nobody ever writes a trip report about." Perhaps the prospect of climbing an obscure route that might turn out to be a choss pile (as in the case of Hueco Thanks) was not a sufficient balance for the notoriety of being associated with the relic of the Brotherhood. In any case, I was not able to generate any interest at that event for another ascent with the roving protection, so Roger, if you are ready, it is coming your way.

Better late than never.
Who shall be cursed to carry the burden next?

Well done, cassondra. I feel bad myself for not having finished a trip report on a trip I took last September, so I sympathize with you.

Thanks

Well I'll be doing a two week in may/june spanning Tahoe and Yosemite if you guys want to send it my way. Nothing obscure...but whatever.

O yea.

It's on now people.

God. This has got to be one of the worst threads ever. It's like my grade school students crying over who gets take the kick ball to recess in here.

And yet, you're still reading it....however, your idea about throwing it into the fires of Mordor at times did seem really appropriate. The amount of personal drama that went on while I had that nut was rather unexpected.

It's like a car wreck, I just can't look away.

cassondra wrote:And yet, you're still reading it....however, your idea about throwing it into the fires of Mordor at times did seem really appropriate. The amount of personal drama that went on while I had that nut was rather unexpected.

Sorry to hear about that.
6 months is a long time and a lot can happen over that period.
Perhaps the key is to minimize the length of time one possesses it for.t

So does anyone oppose to this guy getting on some of the best granite in CA?

NorCal- I'm PM'd you...

Roger. you have the stopper?

rogerbenton wrote:NorCal- I'm PM'd you...

I replied on sunday

The Stopper arrived today. Thanks Cassondra.

Quoth Tony B from the original rule-setting post:

"3) The route must be an obscure or adventure route… No classics, and nothing pedestrian. There has to be a story beyond ‘I climbed Calypso and I placed it.” What kind of fun is that? We are looking for adventure of some sort, not a tick-list."

Obscure or Adventure. Quandry!

I could do obscure within the next two weeks, or I could wait till late july and do adventure.

The obscure thing would be one of the undocumented crags in the gunks that I know nothing about. We'd just go there and scout likely looking lines, no guidebooks, no beta, hope for the best and take some pictures.

The adventure thing, though a longer wait, would be an epic three weeks exploring and climbing clean 1000' granite cliffs rising up from the sea, mostly unclimbed. Like 99.99% unclimbed.

I'd really like to take the TS on the big trip, and I'd love to plug it on a first ascent.

Still, I hate to make the kind, respectful folks of MP wait till I get back in August for a TR.

My proposed solution is thus:

-I can send the stopper to NorCalNomad to use on his yosemite/tahoe trip.

-NorCalNomad can send it back to me after his trip and in time for mine.

I know this is against the original rules:

"4) The stopper will go from climber to climber, not in any preconceived order, but to the person next responding after the previous story has been posted."

However, I think this arrangement will result in two good TR's and that's what this thing is about anyway.

Plus, the TS' summer is nicely laid out, it will get plenty action. Giggidy.

If this isn't cool with the consensus, (tony b gets tiebreaker vote) that's fine, I'll use it next weekend and send it on to whomever.

So ladies and gents, put in your vote.

I think you use it, send it on, and try to get re-united with it later.
We've had enough 'false starts' around here...

I would have to second Tony B. Let's keep the TS moving.

There is and are tons of adventure and FA's for the TS to participate in.

There we have it. Ill post a heads up about my tr after the 12th.

Roger Roger!