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John Ely
Trad climber
DC
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 31, 2014 - 06:41pm PT
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The New York Times has a cover story today about the growing hostility to rope swinging and other 'extreme' activities on BLM land in the South West. What is quite sobering is a read of the many comments (and the 'reccomend' numbers), massively in favor of restrictionism on BLM land, with very few taking a European position on letting folks do what they want. Rock climbers - the part that concerns me as I was always one of those who tried to stay on rather than jump off - are clearly being dragged into the argument as part of that which should be restricted...
Here is the first two paragraphs and the link. Any thoughts on this, other than to encourage the rope swinging set to exercise discretion? I'm hardly an expert on this but presumably there are a few choice spots, and also a few more that are further off the beaten trails....
MOAB, Utah — No outdoor pursuit is too crazy for this desert town built on red sandstone and adrenaline. Mountain bikers careen off rocks. Climbers string lines between towering rock spires and dance out over canyons. People build oversize slingshots and launch themselves skyward, recording every scream and scene to post online.
But after a handful of accidents and a rash of complaints, the federal government is weighing whether to crack down on the latest Internet-fueled thrill ride to crop up on public lands: extreme rope-swinging. The sport turns Moab’s unique collection of ancient stone arches into death-defying swing sets. People climb an arch, lash ropes to the rock and leap into the air, swinging earthward in a dizzying, 100-foot pendulum.
[url="//http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/us/defying-death-in-utah-arches-a-thrill-too-far.html?ref=us"]//http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/us/defying-death-in-utah-arches-a-thrill-too-far.html?ref=us[/url]
Oops. Just noticed there is already a thread on this. Please go there:
http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/2459426/NY-Times-Defying-Death-in-Utah
Sorry for the confusion.
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The Larry
climber
Moab, UT
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Jul 31, 2014 - 06:44pm PT
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Wut? Nobody does it the DanO way. He launched via skateboard.
Edit. This has already been posted.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jul 31, 2014 - 06:46pm PT
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Lemmings
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 06:53pm PT
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Start charging for rescues and it will all be taken care of because no
insurance company will cover that sort of stuff.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Jul 31, 2014 - 06:58pm PT
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They day I get charged for a rescue is the first day of thousands that bill will never ever get paid.
I've given way too many hours and days to rescuing people for free.
Some things society is just plain responsible for. Rescuing people in need is one.. even if they were stupid...
cause we've ALL been stupid.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 06:59pm PT
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I've given way to many hours and days to rescuing people for free.
That makes two of us...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 07:00pm PT
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Yes, but more and more people are being stupid and people who don't do
that stuff are getting tired of picking up the tab.
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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Jul 31, 2014 - 07:19pm PT
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So dizzying it must be stopped immediately.
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overwatch
climber
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Jul 31, 2014 - 07:30pm PT
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Mr Ely, the other one is well established do we really need two?
I guess so
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 07:39pm PT
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And look where it got Dan.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jul 31, 2014 - 08:20pm PT
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Only Stupid Americans would buy rescue insurance...pre-emptive shut up , crankster...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 10:08pm PT
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RJ, just think of it as YomamaCare - cheap at thrice the price.
Hell, the Euros all do it so it must be right, right?
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cuvvy
Sport climber
arkansas
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People Make Mistakes, Break Their Legs Skiing Into Trees, Break Their Legs Climbing, break Their LegS By Being Silly....Then Go To Hospital And Pay Doctors....So Why Cant They Pay For Rescues?
Doesnt Seem Like Its The Responsibility Of Society?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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There is no point to a society if it is not willing to save the lives of those in dire need.
Then again I believe that in modern civilizations.. Universal health care is a basic right. Paid for before bombs and aircraft carriers.
Most of the world acknowledges this basic concept. Our grandchildren will wonder how this generation was so insane.
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The Larry
climber
Moab, UT
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jul 31, 2014 - 06:53pm PT
Start charging for rescues and it will all be taken care of because no
insurance company will cover that sort of stuff.
It's hard to rescue a stain.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Then again I believe that in modern civilizations.. Universal health care is a basic right. Paid for before bombs and aircraft carriers.
I find myself agreeing with you quite often climbski2...
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