A 'Surprise' bolt!

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apogee

climber
Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 10, 2009 - 06:56pm PT
So I was out at Suicide today, introducing the spicy fun of Suicide Slab routes to a good buddy of mine, and we decided to run up 'Surprise'. After describing the classic runout first pitch (a piece or two, a couple of 5.7 moves then ~50' of unprotected easy fifth class to the anchors), I launched off. Having done this route countless times over the last couple of decades, much to my surprise I found a nice, shiny, beefy bolt about 20' below the P1 anchors. WTF?!

Anybody know anything about this? I was last on Surprise about a year ago, and there was no bolt- this thing must have gone sometime this past season. I'm curious as to the rationale, as it is not in character with the historic 'feel' of the route, and wonder if the FA's (P. Callis, L. Reynolds) are aware of it, and what they think about it.
JuanDeFuca

Big Wall climber
Peenemunde
Nov 10, 2009 - 06:58pm PT
Its so chopped! I will get on it ASAP.

On Surprise you place a manky cam and then gun it to the Belay.

So what if people have died and been seriously injured.


Juan
apogee

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 10, 2009 - 07:04pm PT
"It's probably already gone."

Not unless Juan has been there in the last 3 hours.

Cool your tuning fork, JDF- I'm pretty surprised by it, too, but let's see if anyone can provide insight to this before reacting. Then go chop that mofo.
JuanDeFuca

Big Wall climber
Peenemunde
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:09pm PT
The lack of Pro on the first pitch is what makes Surprise - Well Surprise.

JuanDeFuca

Big Wall climber
Peenemunde
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:26pm PT
Double Cross is a totally different argument - The Bodies were piling up like fing Cordwood. The NPS demanded I place the bolts. They have saved lives.

Juan "Mr. T" De Fuca
Shano

Trad climber
921OB
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:30pm PT
some friends and I did Samson for a warm-down a month or so back and noticed that the pitons on the 2nd pitch were all gone. Sounds like Sui is getting some makeovers!
Pie

Trad climber
So-Cal
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:30pm PT
I climbed surprise in the beginning of october, only pro on P1 was a cam in the flake before setting out onto the large dishes and scoops. No bolt then.

Pie
AndyG

climber
San Diego, CA
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:33pm PT
I climbed it a few months ago, maybe August or September, not really sure. But there was no bolt then. So it hasn't been there for long.

Andy
apogee

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 10, 2009 - 07:33pm PT
The funny thing is that the bolt is on that 'good' ledge about 20' below the anchors- by the time you've made it that far, the last couple of moves are no big whoop. Just seems silly.
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:37pm PT
Are you sure you were on Surprise?.....I heard of a new route reciently put up between Duck Soup, and Continuation.....so maybe you were a wee bit to the left of Surprise?.....This new route (not mine, by the way...) was put up a few weeks ago , on the lead , hand drilled, by long time locals...........something to look into.....
apogee

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 10, 2009 - 07:39pm PT
Yes, Todd, quite sure. Been there, done that uncountable times over the years.
Batrock

Trad climber
Burbank
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:45pm PT
I climbed at Suicide this season and thought many routes were a bit too sporty. I have thoughtfully placed bolts on these so called classics to make them modern day classics. Please dont chop my bolts JDF, Suicide has some great sport climbing potential that must be explored. Peace!
apogee

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 10, 2009 - 07:46pm PT
Batrock, have you consulted with the first ascensionists before doing any of these retro-fits?
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C. Small wall climber.
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:49pm PT
I'm sure that if Batrock had actually done anything of the sort, we'd long since have heard about it ad nauseam.
msiddens

Trad climber
Mountain View, CA
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:53pm PT
Batrock AKA Trollman
wildone

climber
GHOST TOWN
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:54pm PT
Choppin' broccolli!!!!
JuanDeFuca

Big Wall climber
Peenemunde
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:56pm PT
Batrock,

Cool if it was your bolt. I will let it stand. What do you think of adding some bolts to Flower of High Rank to protect the crack below the tree?

Peace

Juan
Batrock

Trad climber
Burbank
Nov 10, 2009 - 07:58pm PT
Apogee,

Just funnin around, I climbed at Suicide once in the last 10 years but many times in the early 80's and would never think of messin with history. I have placed hundereds of bolts in my time but none at Suicide.

Just tryin to lighten the mood during a crappy day.
squatch

Boulder climber
santa cruz, CA
Nov 10, 2009 - 08:15pm PT
from the title i swore you were talking about the completely unnecessary bolt halfway up the money pitch on the Surprise at the five open books in the valley.
what's up with that thing anyways? it's 1 foot away from a perfectly proable crack and not even near a belay.
henny

Social climber
The Past
Nov 10, 2009 - 08:48pm PT
I'm also curious to hear how that bolt came to be there. I saw it while doing Revelation just a couple of weeks ago. We were quite shocked. (and yes Gordo, it is on Surprise, exactly as described) It had been so long since I did a Weeping Wall route that I had no point of reference for how long it had been there. Sounds like it's very recent.

Not good.
Messages 1 - 20 of total 184 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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