Caution: "Beeware" of bees at the Mustang

The name Beeware 5.10+ at the Mustang near Elgin is a very appropriate name. Just above the third bolt on this sport route there is a live and very aggressive beehive. The three dog bone quickdraws with wire gates on the first three bolt hangers are mine which were left due to a very,very hasty retreat this afternoon. Twelve or more bee stings and forty-minutes later with a few more attacks we were able to get the equipment that was on the ground gathered up and put in our packs. Though, we re-pissed the bees off when we pulled the rope attacking me for a few hundred yards as I moved down the trial. Okay, I was running down the trail and dragging the length of the rope behind me. If any one retrieves the draws before we get back there later this week, please put them in the cave at the bottom of the route. Beeware!!! they are extremely aggressive. THANKS

Seems like the name and the fact that you can look up and see the bee's buzzing out of the hole should give you a clue to stay away.

Too bad the bees decided to take up residence there. It was a really fun route before they moved in.

Until they leave, if ever, all climbers should just stay off this route.

Another hint for climbing routes around Bee Ware. We have had success in keeping the bees occupied by putting a bowl of water on the ground to the right of bee ware. They are more interested in the water than they are in buzzing the climbers.

At the end of the day you can draw straws to see who gets to retrive the water dish.

Jim's got you there Steve. That's a big Duh for you and Greg. I even told him not to climb it. Well we all are a little dumb sometimes Eh!!!

Welcome to the club.

Well, war stories of all flavors are fun to tell and hear. Though, at the time the name was more obvious than the bees. The same as when we retrieved the quickdraws on Wednesday, when we were there dressed up in bee protective gear. I did not see any bees in the pod from the ground or when I was retrieving the quickdraws. A cool temperature must keep them deeper in the pod until their disturbed by reaching in for a hand hold. I'll take you word for it that it is a good route, I guess time will tell.

We climbed most of the routes up to .11+ over three trips in little over a week. They were fun, I especially liked the 3-star 200' sport route (#18) DMB. Dead Sea Scrolls .11- was fun due to its thinness and technical moves. 3-start Pencil Dick .11+ was fun, I'll have to climb it a few more times to get the red-point due to my height; that goes for a few other routes I should have been able to onsight.

Out of curiosity which routes were ground up ascents? On hooks?

What was your bee uniform?