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Meatbird
Social climber
Lindsay, OK
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Jan 31, 2013 - 08:16am PT
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Gallo, I'm I reading the right story in Rock and Ice? The one in the front page news section. I'm bemused by your accusations against Raleigh's reporting. I didnt get the sense it was sensationalist. Frankly, I'm glad to get the heads up on a terrible incident that would give me pause before taking a trip there, especially with family in tow. Unless the facts are wrong, I don't know how he would have presented it any better.
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patrick compton
Trad climber
van
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Jan 31, 2013 - 08:44am PT
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The 'its just as dangerous in LA' argument shows a lack of understanding of the drug war in Mexico. These gangs out gun the local cops, buy them off or kill them and intimidate or pay off the federales. The local reds and blues in the US run drugs, do some drivebys on rival gangs. There is no comparison.
Just because you haven't heard of gangs kidnapping Americans doesn't mean that it isn't going to start happening in the near future. Sure, keep pretending that PC is south Texas, you are perfectly safe, it's vacationland in a sea of bolts, nothing to worry about.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Jan 31, 2013 - 03:21pm PT
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...more murders in northern Mexico...
Does this really come as a suprise to anyone?
I feel much safer in Mexico than most places in LA.
L.A. is part of Mexico. I would feel safer in Syria than in L.A.
And I grew up in Oxnard.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jan 31, 2013 - 04:39pm PT
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Firstly, I have not been to Mexico in over 27 years. In 1985 five of us went to climb the three main volcanoes. We flew to Mexico City, hired a VW van and set off.
After the night before we were to fly out, we went to a bar/nightclub in Puebla. Rob Grandfield was driving and did not have one alcoholic drink. On the way back to the hotel, two cops in a VW bug stopped us, this is around midnight, saying we were going the wrong way up the street. BS, we were on that streets hours earlier with traffic.
They said they smelled alcohol on Rob's breath and wanted $100 each or else he goes to jail. Fortunately, one of our team, Henry, whose parents were from Mexico, got them down to $50 for both of them.
Got the flight the next day.
But on this trip just about every Mexican we met were good people.
Been to Mexico several times in my life. Only other trouble was in TJ. My brother Mac, his then girlfriend Muffet Hemingway (yes, a granddaughter), my mom and I. Walking down a street some bloke came up and snatched Muffet's purse/handbag. I chased after him (I was 14 with long hair and broken Spanish), Mac behind me. Down an alleyway and gone.
Cop car came up, I tried to explain what happened. No go.
Otherwise I have known a lot of good Mexicans over the years (one team I played with was AC Mexico for a season in the old San Francisco Major Division, at the time the top of four divisions, also with SF Celtic, Major matches at the old Balboa Stadium). EDIT, I also played with a Jamaican team in East London (local league, played at Hackney Marshes). Good footballers, nice guys but they sure liked their ganja.
Loads of dead bodies in Mexico, Syria, Congo, 20 children in Connecticut, child soldiers in Asia and Africa made to kill other children, 77 dead in the Norway massacre in 2011. It is not just endemic to Mexico.
And we call some animals 'beasts'.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Jan 31, 2013 - 04:54pm PT
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...got them down to $50 for both of them...
I spend a lot of time in southern Mexico (Yucatán peninsula) scuba diving and cave diving. I like certain parts of Mexico, and I'd like to retire down there on the Riviera Maya.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for Mexico that went something like: "...Mexico...where stories of police corruption are legendary and true..."
I've had similar incidents with corrupt police in Mexico... One cop actually searched through my wallet and took all of my cash right in front of me.
If you can stay away from the drug cartel havens, and avoid the cops, Mexico is a great place.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jan 31, 2013 - 05:01pm PT
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Guadalajara has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the Americas.
But if I was to climb in Mexico now, I'd stick to Baja.
But there is so much rock in this world where there is little domestic violence, why risk it?
I find that free soloing 5.15 is risky enough. (Then I woke up.)
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pat
Trad climber
estes park
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Jan 31, 2013 - 05:18pm PT
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There is a current travel warning out against Nuevo Leon.
Los Angeles:
Population - 3,795,361
Murders in 2010 - 293
Ciudad Juarez:
Population - 1,321,004
Murders in 2010 - 3,075
Not really the same.
We have plenty of problems, I know, but when was the last time in the US someone found a mass grave with 50 people in it? Seems a little unfair to the Mexicans to just poo poo the situation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_Ju%C3%A1rez#Demographics
http://www.city-data.com/city/Los-Angeles-California.html
To be clear, objectively, I don't think the people in Potrero are in any grave danger, I just find it a little annoying when people make blanket statements. Yes, a massacre at my local climbing area might make me think twice about climbing there, objectivity and rationality be damned.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Jan 31, 2013 - 05:20pm PT
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Funny. Alex went anyways. He shoulda stuck to Vegas and went to the fights this weekend! Best of luck.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Jan 31, 2013 - 05:22pm PT
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does alex honold ever go down to mexico?
never
what is in mexico?
mexicans.
(dusk til dawn 1-quenten t.)
they kill all other types.
how many minorities are there in mexico? vietnamese? indians? egyptians?
none.
the ones that went down there are all dead
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steveA
Trad climber
bedford,massachusetts
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I just heard from my daughter, who has been climbing down there.
I strongly suggested that she get out of there.
She said that No climbers left and there were many police around, soon after the incident.
Apparently, none of the climbers are concerned, and "feel" safe. Honnold just arrived.
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Manny
Social climber
tempe
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I just returned from two weeks in Mexico climbing at El Chonta, a bit further south. All was well and nobody got hurt, except me. I stumbled while taking photos.
Sounds like all the fraidy cats should also avoid movie theaters, grade schools and the like right here in our own country. You may get gunned down. Seriously.
The danger from cartel violence is bad enough without sensational headlines, such as this post. Interesting to read the comments and feel the racist hostility coming right out in front. Sad.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Yeah, nobody's knocking Mexicans, just Mexico.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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"Interesting to read the comments and feel the racist hostility coming right out in front. Sad."
Stupid comment, but guess it's not to surprising with how easily that word is thrown around these days. Must make people who have dealt with "real" racism pissed off.
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Manny
Social climber
tempe
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Really, no racism here? How about the bs about Mayan and Aztec heritage? Of course, the German heritage has no blood on its hands. The comments saying that the mexicans can't solve their problems so we should invade them and slaughter their people until we feel safe is blatantly racist. I don't hear anyone saying we need to send troops to Compton.
I have lived racism. As a child I couldn't sit with you in town at a restaurant. Signs on the wall forbade it. I was not allowed to drink from white fountains. Really, our country has come far but there are some lagging behind.
Great video too.
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
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+1 Manny. I don't like to get into fights with people, but this is also disturbing to me.
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Gilroy
Social climber
Bolderado
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You go, fellow. Vaya con Dios.
This is Riley, reporting from the scene of the abduction at La Carreta, 'the beer's still al tiempo and the rocks continue to fall sporadically. Some things never change in Mexico...'
Film at 7.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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+1 Manny. I thought that was over the top also.
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