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The Brotherhood Of the Traveling Stopper...

Original Post
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

The Brotherhood Of the Traveling Stopper.

There are a subset of climbers who climb trad, and a subset of those who seek out adventures in obscurity. And we are the Brotherhood Of the Traveling Stopper.
There are many ways to create adventure. Some by difficulty, some by circumstance, some by new territory, or by whatever means of your making that would please you. In the most recent case for me, I was 2/3 through a timed scrambling run with some friends in the flatirons. Tour De Flatirons
We started at a trailhead, run up to the The Recency , down the back, up the Royal Arch, down the back, then cross country up to the Fifth Flatiron, up the South East Ridge and down the back and then back to our cars. That's a 3-4 miles of running and about 1500' of climbing in an hour, all give or take a little on distance and time

I was bringing up the rear in this race with a few other guys when a hanging sling at the edge of the rock, in no man’s land caught my eye. Bringing up the rear in a timed race isn’t something I take seriously, but booty is. If I can’t outrun my pals, I can at least out booty them! I traversed out over to the edge, panting, and started cleaning the gear. I retrieved a brand new 4’ sling, a few biners, a small stopper and a threaded loop of webbing, all in near-mint condition. It was clear that this was bail gear and probably due to weather, as its position was not logical for anything other than escaping a storm.

The stopper was an old-fashioned straight-sided stopper and I knew immediately that this would be the stopper to go on a journey into obscurity. I had been wondering for a week what piece of adventure gear I would launch into cyberspace, and as soon as I extracted this one, I knew.

The traveling stopper shall behave somewhat like the Travelling Biner, but with slightly different rules:

1) Don’t ask for it if you are not going to use it.
2) Each recipient, having requested the stopper, shall use it, post a story about how and where, preferably with a link or picture.
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.
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.
5) The poster/user shall mail it to the next recipient after they claim the prize, and post to whom they sent it and when.
6) If you have not used it and posted within 4 weeks, expect to be harassed. This ain't the "Brotherhood Of the Sittin-In-The-Closet Stopper."

I already mailed it to the next guy, where the travels begin.

AntinJ wrote:Just received the traveling stopper tonight from Tony B,....pretty psyched for the adventures that lie ahead! Jason
Indeed! Let the games begin.
Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

Make sure each time it is sent out that who it was sent to is posted so you can keep track.

Evan Sanders · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 140

Remember everybody, pictures are great, video is better! I do enjoy watching a good adventure. What is the person with the stopper going to do when the season is up? Send it on to someone doing mixed climbing or keep it until warmer weather?

Ryan Williams · · London (sort of) · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,245

Silly Evan, climbing season never ends. You live in TN, you of all people should know this!

Evan Sanders · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 140

I hole up like a groundhog in the cold Ryan.

Kurt Ross · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 280
Ryan Williams wrote:climbing season never ends.
+1!!
Jason Antin · · Golden, CO · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,375
Kurt Ross wrote: +1!!
+2!!!
Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

+ (n+1)!

Derek W · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 20

These ideas are awesome! I hope it doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

ssimonson09 · · Portland, OR · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 5

This sounds awesome! Please sign me up!

Austin Baird · · SLC, Utah · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 95

I'm as in as...I can't think of a good analogy but I'm totally in.

Will Wallace · · Olympia, WA · Joined May 2005 · Points: 520

Great idea Tony!!!!
I will be requesting this when Canada thaws out next summer and I go back to the Valhallas.

Jonathan S · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 2,113

Awesome, count me in.

Evan Sanders · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 140
Shiho wrote: But no one thought that your 'the Brotherhood of the traveling stopper' idea may offend someone. Or even if someone did, no one voiced his/her opinion. Hence, they are all equally quilty in my opinion.
Because it shouldn't be offensive.
Evan Sanders · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 140
Shiho wrote: 'the brotherhood'? Aren't there female climbers out there who seek adventures?
It's just a name which is supposed to symbolize unity (I'm assuming). Like how people on earth are "mankind", not "mankind and womankind".

But back on topic, I'm excited to see all the adventures the stopper will go on!
Finn The Human · · The Land of Ooo · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 106
Shiho wrote: But no one thought that your 'the Brotherhood of the traveling stopper' idea may offend someone. Or even if someone did, no one voiced his/her opinion. Hence, they are all equally quilty in my opinion.
Quilty?

Robbie Mackley · · Tucson, AZ · Joined May 2010 · Points: 85
Tony B wrote: Anyone looking to be offended is welcome to be. There was a Fellowship of the Ring, there was the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. The latter was a movie that I was actually playing with the name of because it provides context here. You are welcome to be our 'bro' if you want. We always teased Joseffa and told her "You da' man!" after a hard lead. Gender has never been a big issue for me, so perhaps that's why I don't make a big deal out of it. But if gender is a big deal for you, or if you are looking for a PC cause to make trouble out of, I will be willing to both oblige in that provision and then to ignore your responses there-after, other than to say, if it pleases your cause: "No wonder why dudes don't like having chicks around sometimes..."
+10
Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

Has this stopper seen any action yet, or is this train still sitting in the station? Get on wit it!

Hank Caylor · · Livin' in the Junk! · Joined Dec 2003 · Points: 643

yeah Tony, whoever you sent the stopper to needs to put the bong down, do some climbing, photo/video it and puff puff PASS that stopper!!!

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520
Hank Caylor wrote:yeah Tony, whoever you sent the stopper to needs to put the bong down, do some climbing, photo/video it and puff puff PASS that stopper!!!
That needs to be said more often:

"Put the bong down and climb."
Scott O · · Anchorage · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 70

Pass it!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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