08/21/2012

Here’s What’s Wrong with that Picture

Categories: Tips

We were overwhelmed with responses to the What’s Wrong with this Picture post from last week. Lots of you commented that “everything is wrong with this picture” and we couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, this is an all too common scene at the crag. Seek and Find

Here are the potential access issues that we intentionally included in the picture:

  1. The area is posted with a “No Trespassing” sign, implying that climbing is not allowed in the first place.
  2. Blaring music disrupts others, especially landowners. Leave the stereo at home.
  3. Gear sprawl is crushing native plants and flowers and should be contained to one area away from plants.
  4. If dogs are going to be at the crag, they should be leashed, not loose running around and allowed to disturb other climbers, surrounding plant life and landowners.
  5. Dog poop should be cleaned up and packed out.
  6. Climbing too close to Native American rock art (petroglyphs) can violate federal laws meant to protect cultural resources.
  7. Trash on the ground should be contained and packed out.
  8. Obvious chalk marks create visual evidence of climber impact. Climbers should consider using colored chalk to minimize visual impact, and clean chalk after climbing.
  9. Beta screaming disturbs others, especially landowners. Climbers should keep a low profile.
  10. The woman in the black tank top is hiking off trail, leading to trail braiding which causes erosion, unnecessary soil compaction and plant trampling. Stay on trails!
  11. Climbing near a raptor nest disturbs sensitive and federally protected wildlife. Climbers should check for seasonal raptor closures before heading out to climb, and avoid any climb near a nest site.
  12. Fixed draws on the cliff leave very visual evidence of climber impact and are likely not allowed given the No Trespassing sign. Fixed hardware should only be placed with landowner approval.
  13. The man is urinating too close to an established trail. He should be at least 200 feet away from the trail.

Many of you also pointed out some egregious safety hazards in the image as well—climber missed the first bolt, belayer is standing too far back, no helmets, etc)—and pointed out that accidents are never good for climbing access. You’re absolutely correct, although we only judged “correct” answers by the list above.

Congratulations to Edward Henderson, Mark Goodro, Anne Hughes, Patrick Murtha, and Tricia Ortiz, who go all of the answers correct! Watch your mailboxes for a special gift.

When you see any of these behaviors at the crag, we encourage you to kindly educate other climbers on their potential impact.

Blog Comments

Doesn't number 10 and number 13 conflict with each other? How can he pee 200 feet from the trail, and not end up hiking off trail?

Posted by: Anthony | August 22, 2012 at 11:46 AM

Number 10 says "Stay on trails!" then number 13 says the man should have walked 200 feet away from the trail. Perhaps the woman was coming back from her own 200 foot-away restroom break.

Posted by: John Edwards | August 22, 2012 at 11:50 AM

Saw the same conflict Anthony and John brought up. Never heard of the 200' off the trail rule but it seems that #10 would be better to avoid than #13.

Posted by: Steven | December 12, 2012 at 09:56 AM


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