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More Devil's Lake Graffiti

Original Post
Matt G · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 130

I'm not sure if this is old or new, but I haven't noticed it until this weekend..I found these gems while climbing Cleopatra's Needle yesterday 4/20/13

Erick Valler · · flat midwest · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 20

Looks like someone is decorating the place just in time to spoil it for my first trip there in a few weeks

Benjamin Chapman · · Small Town, USA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 18,818

Bump for Matt's sentiments. Time to start up a petition to bring back the thump guillotine (or maybe the dominant index finger).

jaysquared · · Minneapolis, MN · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 568

Tom, please keep your thinly-veiled racism to your self. It's unappreciated here.

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

I'll bet it was a redneck white kid...

Doug Hemken · · Madison, WI · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 13,668

Matt, on Cleo's Needle itself? or nearby?

wrt who did it, my gut reaction is always "local", because we used to see so much of that in Eastern KY when I was growing up. But we know the last one at the Lake was from the Milwaukee suburbs, a gangsta-wanna-be. These days I think gangsta is the new redneck ....

The white paint looks like what we found at Picnic Wall. The black marker looks similar to all that stuff at the Doorway. Who knows?

Scott Schumann · · SLC, UT · Joined May 2012 · Points: 0

Tom,I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter if your last name is Sandoval or Smith. Your comment is still not appreciated. Sounds like you had some excellent mentors that taught you the things you mentioned. If you feel this strongly about these commercials and likely the "hoods in the woods programs" perhaps you should volunteer for one and help them understand why this kind of vandalism makes you feel they way you do.

Regardless, the vandalism is tragic. I grew up climbing at the Lake as a kid and those places are special to me, as well. Sad to see/hear that someone defaced the area.

Matt G · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 130
Doug Hemken wrote:Matt, on Cleo's Needle itself? or nearby? wrt who did it, my gut reaction is always "local", because we used to see so much of that in Eastern KY when I was growing up. But we know the last one at the Lake was from the Milwaukee suburbs, a gangsta-wanna-be. These days I think gangsta is the new redneck .... The white paint looks like what we found at Picnic Wall. The black marker looks similar to all that stuff at the Doorway. Who knows?
Doug, The first two images are on the Needle itself. The Northwest side. The last two are from the large boulder just off the Northwest side of the Needle. Ten feet approximately.

I'm more than happy to try and remove some/all of the graffiti next time I'm up there. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to get paint off of quartzite?

Matt
Matt G · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 130
Erick Valler wrote:Looks like someone is decorating the place just in time to spoil it for my first trip there in a few weeks
Maybe we can remove it before you get here! :)
Burton Lindquist · · Madison, WI · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 4,215

Add these newly found abominations to the list of them we already have been trying to eradicate. It is not an easy process and usually requires ALOT of scrubbing with mild chemicals, wire brushes, and paper towels.

Doug Hemken · · Madison, WI · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 13,668

The DNR has graffiti removal supplies, our climbing community just supplies the labor. Send me an email and I can put you in touch with the right person, I think. Depending on when you want to scrub, there are a number of folks with a standing interest in helping out.

Nate Castner · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 45

We should set up some of those deer spotting cameras in these areas that keep getting tagged. It seems there are constantly "cleanup" parties to pick up after these little fuckers...

Andy P. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 190

If anyone invests in a camera I am happy to help. My job for several years was hauling Reconyxs into the Cascade Forests and setting them up for wildlife tracking, it would be fun to put those skills to work. But just FYI, I used to set them up along closed roads to get pictures of illegal OHVs etc... it's just about impossible to get a clear picture of someone with one!

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

set a hunters snare trap,,,,,bastards deserve it.

Gokul G · · Madison, WI · Joined May 2011 · Points: 1,753

This is somewhat old news now, but for the sake of completeness...

A couple weekends ago, we had a team of Hoofers clean up the graffiti on Cleo's. I hear that Matt has since gone back to confirm that we got everything he saw out there.

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Great work, Hoofers. A much appreciated thanks from everyone.

Doug Hemken · · Madison, WI · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 13,668

Time to remove these photos from MP? So as not to enshrine them ....

William Sonoma · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 3,550

This isn't Devils Lake specific but graffiti specific. I think this thread is an appropriate place to ask: What is the easiest, most effective and safe way to remove graffiti?

Here at some of local crags in PA we have graffiti (not the cool kind like you see that is very artistic and beautiful, but the "what the fuck is that?" Kind) but just scrubbing with some cleaner isn't doing it.

Do you Devils Lake locals have any tips for us? I see some have posted suggestions but I'm curious what else could be done; I'm curious if there are other ways OR could you name specific brands/types of cleaners and brushes (metal bristles versus hard plastic, etc).

Thanks again.

Doug Hemken · · Madison, WI · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 13,668

We are very fortunate to climb on Baraboo quartzite, and that makes all the difference. The rock here is so hard (and slick) that you can spray solvent on old paint, wait a few minutes, and then lean into it with a stiff wire brush. Rinse and repeat.

The rock here is not porous, so the paint doesn't really soak in, and the grains do not rub off. Trying to clean up any kind of sedimentary rock must be a lot harder. I would guess you'd need really powerful solvents (and protective gear/technique), soft brushes, something to soak the solvent back up with, and a lot of patience.

William Sonoma · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 3,550

Thanks Doug! I didn't think of the rock type being a factor. I appreciate the advice.

Matt G · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 130
Doug Hemken wrote:Time to remove these photos from MP? So as not to enshrine them ....
Great idea. They've been removed!
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
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