Someone took my 3 ropes from the base of Sickle

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Messages 1 - 36 of total 36 in this topic

dindolino32

climber

san francisco

Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 14, 2014 - 12:42pm PT

Anyone know what happened to my ropes? 1 lime green, 1 bi-pattern green, 1 checkered black and white, and a 30 ft fatty purple connected to the boulder at the bottom of the rap. It bums me out that after checking off The Nose from my bucket list, I find my ropes gone. I don't like thievery, but maybe someone thought it was just trash and was trying to do something nice. If so, please contact me so maybe I could get them back. I'll even give you one of them as a friendly gesture.

Salamanizer

Trad climber

The land of Fruits & Nuts!

Oct 14, 2014 - 01:03pm PT

It's poor form to leave your abandoned property out in the woods like that. At very least, stash it out of sight. The base of El Cap looks like sh#t enough without people leaving their trash at the base while they scale the wall.

I'm sure a ranger probably has them. And he'll be more than happy to return them along with a nice pink slip of paper.... well deserved!

Clint Cummins

Trad climber

SF Bay area, CA

Oct 14, 2014 - 02:47pm PT

Hmmm.

Can you explain to me how you stash those extra 2 of 4 ropes in the woods?
Remember you are 250' off the ground at this point.
Do you just float to the ground, stash them, then fly back up 250'?

I think what you mean is that you need a 3rd person to collect your extra
2 ropes. So add that to the logistics - a ground team.

What I have tried is coiling them and attaching a note before dropping them to the ground. Usually they get stolen anyway. I used to think that a couple ropes at the base for 3 days was not a huge problem.
But I think it is more like, "Oh, those ropes are there and could be taken. If I don't do it, the next guy will."

Nkane

Trad climber

San Francisco, USA

Oct 14, 2014 - 03:05pm PT

I also had a rope taken from the base in the last couple weeks - a green and gray 10.5mm fatty. I had a friend stop by within 24 hours to pick it up but it was already gone.

I'm not sure who's taking it upon themselves to thieve all of these ropes, but it's not cool.

TrackerTodd

Mountain climber

Oct 14, 2014 - 03:43pm PT

My guess would be all the broke wall rats are taking them to sell or use for themselves

dindolino32

climber

san francisco

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 14, 2014 - 05:33pm PT

I was actually hoping to have someone pick up the ropes the following morning but that fell through. And Salamanzar, I go by the mantra "leave it cleaner than when you came there" including packing out a bottle literally full of sh#t as well as cleaning off trash from every wall or climb that I do. In fact I left with a pocket full of trash after searching for my lost/stolen ropes.

Rocky IV

Social climber

Oct 14, 2014 - 05:33pm PT

are there not ropes fixed to sickle this year? I never understood why people would fix 3 or more ropes side by side...

Clint Cummins

Trad climber

SF Bay area, CA

Oct 14, 2014 - 05:43pm PT

There are no permanent ropes fixed to Sickle.
Usually people fix 3-4 down in the afternoon and haul their bag to Sickle,
then sleep on the ground.
In the morning they jug up and drop the lower 1-2 ropes.

BooDawg

Social climber

Butterfly Town

Oct 14, 2014 - 06:25pm PT

Folks who lack the style and the willingness to do a "continuous ascent" (old school) by taking everything with you up the climb and not returning to the ground, ought not to be surprised if they don't find their valuables that they left on the ground. Even a ground support team lacks style, but at least someone is supposed to take responsibility for the abandoned climbing gear.

Before you start blaming others, take a look in the mirror.

Isn't climbing about keeping your physical, mental, emotional stuff together, so that we can attain our goals?

This is not to excuse or condone those who take what is not theirs.

clinker

Trad climber

Santa Cruz, California

Oct 14, 2014 - 06:48pm PT

No honor among these thieves. Be karma and inflict yourself on their sorry asses.

ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber

extraordinaire

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:01pm PT

checking off The Nose from my bucket list

> > 'grats

Todd Eastman

climber

Bellingham, WA

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:06pm PT

Lots of judgement going on here...

... hope yer fecs smell like roses.

SC seagoat

Trad climber

Santa Cruz, or In What Time Zone Am I?

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:17pm PT

I think my partner and I ran into you Monday early eve as we were coming down the trail from the base of El Cap and you were so excited about your accomplishment and on your way to get your ropes.
I'm very sorry to hear this....

Susan

clinker

Trad climber

Santa Cruz, California

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:17pm PT

Todd, great idea. Crap on all their stuff. I smell roses.

enjoimx

Trad climber

SLO

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:19pm PT

Don't leave sh#t on or at the base of el cap. It's all booty.

Trad climber

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:33pm PT

It will prove to be a local and a climber.

DMT

Yup

Don't leave sh#t on or at the base of el cap. It's all booty.

No its not.

jfs

Trad climber

Upper Leftish

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:34pm PT

so Boodawg…I suppose if you go into the back country, set up base camp, and then proceed on to your multi-day objective and leave your camp sitting there, you've got only yourself to blame when I come traipsing along and swipe all the super sweet gear I just found.

Cause dude…your non"continuous ascent" was uber poor style in my book.

How about if you leave your pack at the base? Cause you're descending over night and will get it in 24 hours... Can I take that? How about your approach shoes? I mean they look SWEET and they fit me super good!

At what point are we talking about it becoming poor style here? 5 minutes? 1 hour? Soon as they aren't looking?

This whole blaming of the victim in these cases is utter bull if you ask me. Somebody has there gear stolen and the first response is to tell them they're lame…a dumbasss…a nazi…

Seriously? Stealing is lame.

High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:37pm PT

jfs, like!

:)

Trad climber

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:40pm PT

Exaclty.

You hump a load to the base of a nail up and head back down for another only to come back hours later to find your pig stolen??!! And some jerk off refers to it as booty?

Scumbag bullsh#t.

ms55401

Trad climber

minneapolis, mn

Oct 14, 2014 - 07:46pm PT

totally stealing, not "booty"

if the rope is there for 48 hours, fine, steal the rope

but under 48 hours? you're a piece of shitt for stealing it

dindolino32

climber

san francisco

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 14, 2014 - 08:19pm PT

Glad to know the thieves didn't go after Warren Harding's stuff while he used his ascent methods. Yeah I know it's different from today's circumstances, but I think stealing is stealing and anybody that thinks otherwise is just fooling themselves.
Honestly, 5 years ago, I may have been willing to pay hundreds of dollars for a guide to haul me up the thing. Now I got up the Nose on my own and I am out only a couple hundred dollars worth of rope but got priceless memories. I am still happy with the outcome!
Glad to know that such a large part of our climbing community still has integrity. Thanks

SweetCrimp

Big Wall climber

Bay Area

Oct 14, 2014 - 08:30pm PT

BooDog take your laxative and get back to top roping 5.6 in your EBs. As far as I remember a few gym climbers have the speed record for the nose, does that bother you? Thieves are thieves, and climbing is a personal quest. If someone wants to fix ropes to sickle, it is their choice. Not an excuse to have the ropes stolen. Hope it was a mistake and you get your stuff back. Good luck.

skitch

climber

East of Heaven

Oct 14, 2014 - 08:30pm PT

The ropes were still there when we picked up or rope on Saturday. Maybe someone didn't like seeing your rope there from Monday to whenever they took them???

son of stan

Boulder climber

San Jose CA

Oct 14, 2014 - 08:45pm PT

Thieving fed-tards who steal ropes usually get discounts on the text carvings of their gravestones. Nice job perk.

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

Nothing creative to say

Oct 14, 2014 - 09:02pm PT

Congrats!

BooDawg

Social climber

Butterfly Town

Oct 14, 2014 - 09:58pm PT

I think I made it clear that I did not and do not condone thievery.

Obviously, times have changed. I was blessed to have climbed here before such incidents occurred. I think this forum is important to let climbers know that there are risks and consequences to how they plan their climbs.

I hope the climbers DO get their gear back, and I am pleased to hear that they enjoyed their climb, despite its lost gear down-side.

I watched and cheered as Florine and Honnold set the present speed record on the Nose. And I am completely awed and inspired by those who are pushing the mental and physical limits of climbing today.

Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber

Old and Broken Down in Appalachia

Oct 15, 2014 - 04:07am PT

Who remembers the days when you could hang your rack from a tree in Camp 4 and go away for the day without having to worry that someone would steal your gear?

Seems that right around 1980 we started to see dirtbag climbers jugging fixed ropes onl El Cap to steal racks.

It's gone downhill ever since.

clinker

Trad climber

Santa Cruz, California

Oct 15, 2014 - 05:48am PT

Crackhead dirtbags not climbers probably did it. We need more law enforcement Rangers patrolling the base of El Cap to stop this rampart misbehavior. Permits should be implemented to keep track of day users and wall climbers who exceed the 7 day stay limit and will bring about accountability. A joint dirtbag task force should be formed with more officers dedicated to patrolling the Park.

Paid for by local law enforcement and friends of Clinker for Sheriff.

Rattlesnake Arch

Social climber

Home is where we park it

Oct 15, 2014 - 05:51am PT

if the rope is there for 48 hours, fine, steal the rope

Its a big cliff, might be there for 3 or 4 days.

mtnyoung

Trad climber

Twain Harte, California

Oct 15, 2014 - 07:13am PT

...Honestly, 5 years ago, I may have been willing to pay hundreds of dollars for a guide to haul me up the thing. Now I got up the Nose on my own and I am out only a couple hundred dollars worth of rope but got priceless memories. I am still happy with the outcome!

Then some big congratulations are in order (and yes, take the long view).

Spider Savage

Mountain climber

The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles

Oct 15, 2014 - 07:57am PT

What if someone organized a Lost & Found for stuff like this in the Valley. That would be civilized.

clinker

Trad climber

Santa Cruz, California

Oct 15, 2014 - 08:13am PT

and neighborly.

k-man

Gym climber

SCruz

Oct 15, 2014 - 08:14am PT

So, some bozo jugged up the lines, then used them to rap off while saying they're booty? That's ill.

And what SLR sez... I used to leave my car keys and wallet in my pack at the base. No longer--heck, I don't even like leaving my #4 in my pack anymore (why I lug that thing around is anybody's guess).

I'm hoping the ropes weren't lead ropes any longer. Honestly, who wants a couple of jug lines? I have a garage full of 'em, let me know and I'll send them out to you (as long as you pay the postage).

As for Hans & Honnold being gym climbers, that's a good one.

j-tree

Big Wall climber

Typewriters and Ledges

Oct 15, 2014 - 10:17am PT

All the more reason to avoid the trade routes and stick to obscurities. Dirtbags don't wander up to the dark side of the valley much, not enough return for the effort.