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Gerg
Boulder climber
Calgary
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 18, 2010 - 03:57pm PT
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i was in the meadow in mid-June and I noticed two ropes dangling from the rim to the bottom of El Cap near Dawn Wall.
What is that for?
i saw two guys rap the thing, it took them about an hour.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Jun 18, 2010 - 04:53pm PT
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A group of 14 SAR/Cavers set them up for rapping and jugging/rope walking.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Jun 18, 2010 - 07:52pm PT
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I heard from a ranger that the rangers made them take the rope down, as it was considered a commercial enterprise. I guess someone was charging someone to use the ropes? Anyone know?
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
Sprocketville
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Jun 18, 2010 - 08:45pm PT
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yeah, chongo was up there trying to make change.
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wildone
climber
GHOST TOWN
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Jun 18, 2010 - 09:16pm PT
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When I used to work aat the wilderness permit office, about once a year, a bunch of caver kooks would come out from georgia or some sh#t, and string up ropes on el cap. Then, wait for it....they'd rappel them! They were so psyched. To hear them tell it, it was pretty much the coolest thing anyone could do. Maybe it's those guys.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Jun 18, 2010 - 09:19pm PT
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Sounds like the same bunch.
One of them rapped and lost control of his brake bar scene, to his death in what, 92?
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Slakkey
Big Wall climber
From Back to Big Wall Baby
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Jun 18, 2010 - 09:26pm PT
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They go up and They come down I would rather just climb the Big Stone.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Jun 19, 2010 - 03:13am PT
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They all chipped in $800 each for the gear, food, etc. I don't think they were charing anyone or making any money of it.
There's at least one other team that does this too.
Of course I'd rather climb El Cap, but I have no problem with them doing it if it floats thier boat.
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Tom
Big Wall climber
San Luis Obispo CA
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Jun 19, 2010 - 06:19am PT
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I saw those guys from Georgia about five years ago, and they were stoked to do the 2500 foot free rap and jug. It took about six guys to carry the rope to the Alcove, which was hauled up by a thinner line dropped by their team. At the top, they had dehydrated backpacking food, but the only water up there was what they brought with them (snicker).
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Seriously, Man, I didn't know she was Your sister.
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Jun 19, 2010 - 08:41am PT
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Cavers, man. To each his own, I guess.
Or somethin'. I don't get it, but I guess they do.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jun 19, 2010 - 09:34am PT
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Ho, hum....who gives a shite!
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Jingy
Social climber
Nowhere
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Jun 19, 2010 - 10:31am PT
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"They go up and They come down I would rather just climb the Big Stone."
"They all chipped in $800 each for the gear, food, etc."
Each respondent mentions they'd rather climb El Cap…
Even with $800 each of gear… Would this be enough to get you up El Cap.. Once?
For me… Even if I had that amount of gear I still would not have the ability of the rock. Not to mention, these dudes were lucky enough to even be that close to the stone. I think it would be kinda neat. Tough to ascend, super thrill to rap. Longest rap in America?
From what I understand they had the lines up for a few days, then got in trouble because it was a commercial venture…. But then again, I am just an observer of these things, and was neither ranger or the dudes on the lines.. so I would not know.
Aside from that… its all speculation from us all….
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Burt
Big Wall climber
Las Vegas, Nv
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Jun 19, 2010 - 10:56am PT
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It's kinda f*#ked that they make them take them down. Hell we get to string all our crap all over that wall and we feel we are entitled to it. I mean it sounds kinda lame to me, but again climbing sounds just as retarded to them. Maybe the big W can shed some light on this? How many illegal climbing videos have been shot without permits or permission? Money making adventure there for sure... just playing devils advocate need a good discussion around here.
Kurt "Burt"
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jun 19, 2010 - 12:25pm PT
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A group of 14 SAR/Cavers set them up for rapping and jugging/rope walking. What is "rope walking"?
It sounds like they simply came, did their rappelling and jumaring, and went home. Is there any substance to the rumour that the NPS asked that they remove their ropes?
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Jun 19, 2010 - 02:24pm PT
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Anders, it wasn't a rumour. A ranger told me she made them take it down, because it was considered by them to be a commercial enterprise. But the rangers all refused to talk shop at the BBQ, so I could learn nothing more.
I do have one caving friend who has done this, maybe she knows something about it?
You climbers don't get cavers, do you? Cavers - pale anemic offspring of the underworld - have nothing better to do with their time than perfect their jugging and rappelling systems. Accordingly, if you want to know anything about jugging and rapping, ask a caver. Most of us are appalled at how poorly your average Yosemite wall climber ascends a free-hanging fixed rope.
Most interesting in their system are their homemade rappel racks, consisting of brake bars over and under which the rappel rope runs. The rope weighs several hundred pounds, and won't work in a conventional rappel device because of its weight - it would be like attempting to rappel a steel rebar. So they weld themselves up a rack about three or four feet long, upon which they start with only a few widely-spaced brakebars, which can be added as the caver descends, and the weight of rope beneath the rappel device decreases.
Equally interesting are the lifting systems they construct in order for a person to step to the side of the wall, and somehow get on rappel on a couple-hundred-pound rope.
The ropewalking systems usually involve a chest roller, which is just like what it sounds - a roller-pulley you wear on your chest with a very tight chest harness to keep you upright while you're jugging. Various other ascenders are added to the system, such as ankle cams. Sometimes cams are positioned around one of the knees on a stirrup to the ankle, and these "floating" cams are held up by a bungy cord to the harness.
It takes you forever to get one of these systems onto the rope, but once you're on, it's the fastest and easiest way to ascend. Typically such systems are impractical on shorter drops, say less than a hundred metres or so, and here most of us use the conventional Frog system, often converted to a pseudo ropewalker with the addition of an ankle cam.
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tomtom
Social climber
Seattle, Wa
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Jun 19, 2010 - 03:37pm PT
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How is this any different than the fixed ropes to Heart Ledge?
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Jun 19, 2010 - 05:26pm PT
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Most of us are appalled at how poorly your average Yosemite wall climber ascends a free-hanging fixed rope.
no such thing as an average Yosemite wall climber.
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August West
Trad climber
Where the wind blows strange
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Jun 19, 2010 - 05:37pm PT
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How is this any different than the fixed ropes to Heart Ledge?
Well, Heart Ledge fixed lines are less visible to the average tourist, but it is an issue...
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jun 19, 2010 - 11:50pm PT
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You climbers don't get cavers, do you? Cavers = the climbing underground.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Aw, Pshaw, you wouldn't even understand....
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Jun 20, 2010 - 02:00am PT
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Dude, Cavers are SO pale.
WTF?
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