Argument with a climber at Bear Island crag in Joshua Tree National Park

Locker wrote:Muscrat, I don't think your post really fits this thread as well as you feel it does. Two different issues. But hey, what do I know? Just ask Burchey. I'm an idiot.

Locker wrote:Thanks for the support Burchey. Climbing buds for life man!

First of all, I wouldn't consider that anchor shared. Yes, there is a fixed anchor but you'd likely find using it would be silly to do so. Gear as you suggested is the way to go. As for the dude, yeah he's a dope.

There are tons of routes in JT but the attraction to Bear Island in the winter is sun, a handful of easier routes and descent anchors. Easy enough to share the space as you were trying to do.

A few days back we had a late start #LadiesDayOut and creeped right up on another group. It was sunny and our preferred spot considering time constraints. The group (several including some kids) were very accommodating even though we completely blew into their scene. Worked out a anchors but setting up our line elsewhere, climbed different routes and communicated who wanted to get on what next. Easy peezy, sorry you were less fortunate.

~Susan

• * TLyons.... your comment had me audibly laughing :)

Leave a fresh, hot steamer in his pack.

I'd start screaming like an ape. "AHAAHAHAHAH oHOhOhOhAHHH! Stomp around a bit and then lead.

I wish there was a video of this incident--sounds fun.

I'd normally suggest confrontation, but it sounds like you tried that route.

You shouldn't have to tolerate that kind of ridiculousness. Seems like they were trying to intimidate, harass and impede you and your partner. Get it on camera!! (They'll probably behave if they know you're going to share the experience with the Internet)

If it happens again, rack up, roll tape, and tell them to get out of your god damned way.

Matt Stroebel wrote:For future reference: If you can lead trad and you're arguing with a top rope hero climbing 5.5 with a gri gri, you're automatically right. Doesn't even matter what the topic is.

The classic "Go fuck yourself" or "Piss up a rope" sounds in order. After that attitude, I'd just have to climb the route.

Or the ever popular, "fuck'em if they can't take a joke".

What I would do is ignore him and lead the route. Set up your own top rope and climb all over his and your routes as you see fit. I would also be blaring hip hop, wearing a beanie, and blowing spliff smoke in his face.

I am not like the rest of the hyperbolic pussies on this site, I really would do this, and it really would be fun.

The next week, we would have a similar thread entitled: "What to do when a herd of assholes shows up at the crag, doesn't care what you think, while drinking, cussing, playing music, smoking weed, while wearing beanies and raising children."

Then, everyone on this thread could get back to the good old days, when troglodytes only hated on what they wished they could do.

It's no fun hating on morons guys.

Send away for the Atlas program, of course

J Q wrote:hyperbolic pussies

when in doubt, just tell them they loaded their giri giri backwards.

You met a true California gym climber. When I first moved out to California and met some climbing partners one of them told me it's is the state of entitlement and I soon learned why. Just ignore the idiots everyone here isn't as dumb as those two. Welcome to Cali.

Dude they were clearly trying to set the speed record on Ursa Major, way to get in there way

^^^^ bahahahahahaha

cool troll bro

brian burke wrote:cool troll bro

A quick Google search reveals there is such a person who lives in San Diego.

I guess it could still be a Trollanor thread, but not likely?

I would like to thank everyone for the response and suggestions.
This confrontation really happened and I was really upset about this. That’s partially why I posted here. I apologize if this make you feel like a troll.
My wife and I did express our upset to the party, but that’s about it. We decided not to do anything else to further agitate them (mostly the belayer from that party). Since he is crazy to begin with, further confrontation might not do us any good. Who know he might do to us?
I also don’t think he would learn anything from this if we did try to further agitate him. He has a distorted view about how much space other fellow climbers should give him. At least his point of view seems very different from other climbers in this forum. I bet he doesn’t know that the consensus among climbers is that the lead party has the right of way to the Top Rope party.
He simply thinks that he is there first and he has all the priority. He just needs to be educated/informed about what the consensus of the climbing community is. But the right timing is when he is not agitated. I post this hoping that his friends might see this and tell him that what he did was wrong and his thought about who has the priority differs quite a lot from the climbing community in general.
Again, thanks for everyone’s suggestions and support. I feel much better now.
Phillip