Is climbing el cap desecrating a holy place?

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Messages 1 - 19 of total 19 in this topic

ali64

Trad climber

Great Barrington

Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 2, 2015 - 05:50pm PT

In a recent discussion with an older family member about my plans to climb on el cap she told me that i would be desecrating a holy place and wished i wouldn't climb it out of respect for the original inhabitants of the valley. I know in Australia we don't climb on Uluru to respect the wishes for the aborigines who consider it a holy/sacred place. Does this exist with regards to el cap and or yosemite? Are there ancestors of the valley that wish climbers were not on the cliff?

Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber

Out Of Bed

Jul 2, 2015 - 06:13pm PT

YES but IT pales in comparison to the thing we did to Mount Rushmore.

Spider Savage

Mountain climber

The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles

Jul 2, 2015 - 06:15pm PT

NO! Grid bolt Uluru!

clinker

Trad climber

Santa Cruz, California

Jul 2, 2015 - 06:18pm PT

Quit breathing the sacred air of life.

jgill

Boulder climber

The high prairie of southern Colorado

Jul 2, 2015 - 06:21pm PT

we don't climb on Uluru to respect the wishes . . . of the Great Cthulhu!!

Actually, climbing elcap is not disrespectful . . . but pooping on it is.

rockermike

Trad climber

Berkeley

Jul 2, 2015 - 06:23pm PT

Ship rock and cave rock (is that what its called?) also come to mind.

ali64

Trad climber

Great Barrington

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 2, 2015 - 06:27pm PT

thanks for the replies. i hadn't heard this before and thought i should check with others who might know more.

donini

Trad climber

Ouray, Colorado

Jul 2, 2015 - 07:19pm PT

El Cap is in Yosemite Valley which became an outdoor Disneyland many years ago. Believe me, little more could be done to desecrate it.
Come, enjoy, and oggle the masses.

climbski2

Mountain climber

Anchorage AK, Reno NV

Jul 2, 2015 - 08:37pm PT

Not climbing el cap is disrespectful..she begs to be climbed.

Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber

Out Of Bed

Jul 2, 2015 - 08:53pm PT

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Psilocyborg

climber

Jul 2, 2015 - 08:56pm PT

sounds to me like someone was talking out their ass...

scaredycat

Trad climber

Berkeley,CA

Jul 2, 2015 - 08:56pm PT

Yes, of course, but my poop goes into Puget Sound every morning. Life's full of tough choices. Personally I fantasize every single day about a world without cars and without me breathing their f*#king exhaust. Some small number of people going up El Cap just doesn't worry me. Cleaning routes in the PNW does worry me, actually.

Bushman

Social climber

Elk Grove, California

Jul 3, 2015 - 06:14am PT

The greasy rock on El Cap is the direct result of Jesus' tears.
It is indeed a holy place, hence the reason why so many climbers make the pilgrimage to worship there.
It's not all about you, son.

Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber

Old and Broken Down in Appalachia

Jul 3, 2015 - 10:32am PT

Ali64

Unlike Uluru, I am unaware of any movement by the local natives to prohibit climbing on El Cap due to its religious significance.

Unlike Australia, the USA has almost realized its genocidal ideations with regards to the native peoples here. But it appears that Australia's lust for minerals have driven such blatantly illegal policies like "The Intervention" and the recent involuntary relocation of Aborigines.

Not that making El Cap "off limits" to climbers would make any difference,.... Look at what climbers have been doing at Shiprock in New Mexico. Despite a climbing ban by the Navajo Nation that was in effect for decades, climbers ignored their wishes.

i'm gumby dammit

Sport climber

da ow

Jul 3, 2015 - 11:03am PT

As far as I know climbers are respecting the wishes of the washoe (and the law) regarding Cave Rock, despite the fact that 1,000s of cars and trucks drive through it every day.