A warning to all those who climb at the Grotto in Jamestown!

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Messages 21 - 40 of total 43 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Enf0rcer

Boulder climber
San Francisco, California
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 8, 2010 - 03:17am PT
Wow Ed you really put in some effort in formulating what it would take to topple the column. But I don't even think it would take even that much.

I weight around 180 lbs lets say with the rack I had that day I was about 190. Stemming off the opposite Column and a drop knee in-step position on the opposite side probably doubled the force exerted to around 400 lbs of pressure pushing out on the column in question. The 2 times I heard the column shift were probably in the 2 areas where its most vulnerable--the first horizontal crack through column and near the top of the column where is weights less.
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Dec 8, 2010 - 04:12am PT
not a lot of effort,
if the C-O-G is lower you get to use the lever... so less force
and the base may be a different shape,
etc
etc


justthemaid

climber
Jim Henson's Basement
Dec 8, 2010 - 11:00am PT
Fer crissakes... would someone just go kick that thing over? ;)
phylp

Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
Dec 8, 2010 - 11:53am PT
Thanks Enf0rcer, useful reminder. Thanks Jerry, very interesting photo.

I had a nasty groundfall injury at the Grotto once, due to a hold breaking before the first bolt of one of the bolted routes. It was an unfortunate bit of timing - I was reaching for the next hold with my left hand when the hold in my right exploded.

There have been other injuries there due to rockfall from above the cracks.

It's just good to remember the rock quality of that place in general.
Phyl
Prod

Trad climber
Dec 8, 2010 - 12:35pm PT
ok, I can't resist...
...but this is just a calculation, not an endorsement to tip that column

Hahahahaha.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Dec 8, 2010 - 01:11pm PT
You guys could just do like the Egyptians when they raised an obelisk -
dig a hole and tip it into it.

This one came with instructions:
Poulpy

Sport climber
California
Apr 3, 2011 - 01:07am PT
Due to the geometry of the cam, the force applied on the side of the crack is way bigger than the actual fall impact. with a C4 (camming angle of 14.5°) the impact force is multiply by 3.73. so even a small fall gonna make it move.
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Apr 3, 2011 - 01:15am PT
For those seeking trundling inspiration:

http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/614850/Whats-The-Biggest-Chunk-Of-Granite-You-Set-Loose (Includes a very fine article on the Fine Art of Boulder Trundling.)

http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/308169/Biggest-block-or-flake-youve-trundled-in-the-Valley

http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1135891/Your-Wildest-Trundle

The more or less freestanding pillar of Positive Vibrations at Vantage (Frenchman Coulee) was carjacked some years ago. More columnar basalt. It had the charming habit of swaying a bit in the winds common to the area.
Michelle

Social climber
Menlo
Apr 3, 2011 - 05:58am PT
"There is no problem that cannot be solved by a suitable application of high explosives" - US Army Demolitions School


duh.

Aaron Johnson

climber
Bear Valley, CA
Apr 6, 2011 - 06:12pm PT
Yipes! I just climbed this route yesterday. Didn't hear or feel any movement but still not cool.
kennoyce

Trad climber
Salt Lake City, UT
Jun 6, 2011 - 03:02pm PT
"Due to the geometry of the cam, the force applied on the side of the crack is way bigger than the actual fall impact. with a C4 (camming angle of 14.5°) the impact force is multiply by 3.73. so even a small fall gonna make it move."

Just wanted to point out that this is incorrect so people don't keep using this number. A free body diagram and simple math will tell you that for a parallel sided crack with a camming angle of 14.5° the outward force is 1.93 times the downward force applied to the cam.
sethsquatch76

Trad climber
Joshua tree ca
Jun 6, 2011 - 03:18pm PT
First let me say I LOVE TRUNDLING!!!!!!!!

Second let me say DONT YOU DARE TRUNDLE AC DEVIL DOG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Basalt columns move deal with it, if you dont want the risk, dont go there, bay area noobs....... spread the word if you must.......

I am a old school Sonora local, have been climbing that crag for a long time, if you trundle that route it will f*#k up the entire grotto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a JOKE , NOT FUNNY, DO NOT DO THIS

Maybe we all should just quit climbing and start watching more TV, its safer.
Sagebrush Sally

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Ca
Jun 6, 2011 - 03:42pm PT
I grew up in Sonora and the grotto is my home crag. I have climbed that column hundreds of times. It would be a huge mistake to my mind to purposely destroy ACDD in the name of safety. There are many detached pieces of rock in the world and they must be given their due respect. We as climbers must use our own judgement in deciding what is safe to climb for ourselves. The character and the history of the grotto would be seriously damaged if a bunch of jack-toting hooligans from the bay area took it upon themselves to go pull down the column. Please do not do this. It is not your right!

There are many classic routes that have moving pieces on them. The Durrance route on Devils Tower is a prime example. If you put your back against the wall on the leaning column pitch and push, you can wobble it a good 3 inches. However, nobody is clamoring to get a bottle jack out and knock the sucker off. A huge piece of climbing history would be lost, the character of the Durrance would be forever altered, and I would personally feel immense hatred towards whatever self-righteous jackass decided to take it upon himself to destroy the column.

Instead, there are multiple postings telling climbers that the column moves and to exercise extreme caution when climbing on and around it. If you have that knowledge and still want to climb, then you are, as in every other aspect of climbing, taking a calculated risk whose outcome is your own responsibility.

Please just leave the column alone.

Spread the word, by all means. Let's put up a sign and let people make their own decisions, but I am begging you, please do not trundle the column.
klk

Trad climber
cali
Jun 6, 2011 - 04:34pm PT
hahahahahaha!


the drama!


where's the rebar when you need it?
sethsquatch76

Trad climber
Joshua tree ca
Jun 6, 2011 - 04:48pm PT
DMT,

please jack off in the privacy of your own home and leave the grotto alone.
jonmeek16

Sport climber
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Feb 2, 2012 - 11:25am PT
Hello All.

I recently moved to the central valley, (greater modesto area) and I'm looking for beta for this area. seems the book is out of print. Can anyone turn me onto a topo for grotto or the surrounding walls? All I've found is the senior wall.

Thx!
Tork

climber
Yosemite
Feb 2, 2012 - 12:28pm PT
I guess Dingus was right. I hear it only took a couple of cranks to send that thing. What a f#*king mess though.

Dave from earth
lostinshanghai

Social climber
someplace
Feb 2, 2012 - 12:31pm PT
Call SNAC

Sierra Nevada Adventure Co in Sonora 1-209-532-5621. Do not know if their Arnold is still running 1-209-795-9310.
BFK

climber
San Francisco, CA
Nov 12, 2012 - 11:32am PT
As if the column wasn't sketchy enough,... the anchors are now very concerning IMOH. I was there Nov. 2012 and the right cold-shut is in serious need of replacement and would not recommend anyone use it to be lowered off or even rap-off (I traversed over to Rawhide chains and rapped).

The cold-shut is significantly worn-through at an angle. After reading a about a recent fatality in Switzerland due to a partially worn fixed draw that cut the climbers rope, I can see the potential developing for a similar situation.

http://www.rockandice.com/news/2301-fatal-accident-fixed-draw-cuts-rope

B
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Nov 12, 2012 - 01:02pm PT
hey there say, BFK...

thanks for sharing... i was wondering when i saw this bumped up, how
these rock columns were doing...


good to get a recent report...


also, as to dingus' quote:

A little Grotto lore...

used to climb there a lot with the Mo-Town crowd. A guy I knew from the gym there (Stonehenge, I think?) was and probably still is, mutantly strong.

He was meeting someone up there and was early, first to arrive. So to kill time he was soloing up and down the easier cracks. Perhaps the easiest crack at the Grotto is the crack along the right side of the Devil Dog pillar and he was up on that thing.

Up and down he'd go, never breaking a sweat. It was easy as pie for him.

If you look at that image I posted above, and look at the Devil Dog pillar, you may see the big 'hole' in it about a 1/3 to half way up... see it?

There used to be a block in that hole, bout the size of a file cabinet drawer. My friend jammed one hand beneath it, then reached up with the other hand and pulled on the top if it.

It shifted and pinned his lower hand in the rock - aka 72 hours. He was friggin stuck, he could not get it out. So he stood there... and stood there... for like a half hour before the next party showed up.

They helped free him and they also toppled the block. It sits there at the base to this day, folks often park their packs on it, or use it as a seat to change their shoes.

Its not uncommon to find blocks on the Grotto floor with chalk on them...

DMT


very interesting save, for the guy, :O
this was posted a bit after i had first read the thread and i missed this
'bit of history' there... :O

thanks for sharing...
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