Discussion Topic |
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Orion
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 13, 2007 - 09:07pm PT
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The other night I was reading in Roper's book Ordeal by Piton about the F.A. of the Dihedral wall and what caught my attention, besides the amazing story, was that after these guys were done with the wall they went down and picked up trash that they and others had dropped. How cool is that?
Let's see a revival of the cult of the Blue Cagoule, and I'm not talking about a once a year clean up, no this needs to be done on a regular basis at the base of the walls!
After a failed attempt to start the east butt of the cap, there were two parties of two and two parties of three ahead of us, we walked along the base to do some of the short routes just around the bend. Well as we went I just couldn't help but pick up water bottles, cut one open so I could put wrappers and red bull cans in it, well by the time we got around said corner I was attaching bottles to bottles an my arms were full.
So basically I'm saying, C'mon everyone do your share and pick up some litter and maybe some booty and revive the cult of the blue Cagoule!
Cheers
Sam
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mark miller
Social climber
Reno
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Nov 13, 2007 - 09:19pm PT
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Sam is right( or maybe left if he's liberal, whatever). You guys do a brilliant job at the major clean ups, but I find my self picking up from Pigs every damn place I go. Why? There's more crap at the base of climbs then ever. I used to think climbers were at the top end of enviromentalism but that has sure changed the last 10 years....
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Nov 13, 2007 - 09:39pm PT
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Nov 13, 2007 - 09:40pm PT
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Yes, heaven - people, and climbers, who pick up after themselves.
The cult of the Blue Cagoule seems to have originated with the third ascent of the Dihedral, in 1967, by Dennis Hennek and Don Lauria.
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mark miller
Social climber
Reno
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Nov 13, 2007 - 09:41pm PT
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Isn't that Oyster Cagoule?
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Nov 13, 2007 - 09:57pm PT
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Tee Hee...By the way Mark, hadn't we maybe cragged in the past at Josh?
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mark miller
Social climber
Reno
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Nov 13, 2007 - 10:24pm PT
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I wish we had but the first time( I recall being at JT) was at JT sushi Fest 2 weeks ago. If you think we may have climbed anywhere from Lonepine North since "78" I may be your "Huckleberry", it's easy to forget the wonderful number of people I've had good times with.
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Nov 13, 2007 - 11:28pm PT
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After many El Cap walls in the 80s, we'd go back and clean up everything we could find along the base. But that was partly because we chucked much of that stuff off ourselves! Other people were doing the same thing, so some of what we tossed had already been picked up by people who topped out before us, and we'd pick up stuff from people who hadn't topped out yet.
Nowadays, with people generally not tossing off the dreaded brown bags, the base of El Cap is *WAY* cleaner than it was in the 80s. It can be hard to find trash, at least along the base trail. Still possible if you scour the bushes.
We used to also hike along the base if we got rained out from free climbing, looking for booty and mostly picking up trash.
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mark miller
Social climber
Reno
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Nov 13, 2007 - 11:36pm PT
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In 05' I went to run Laps on the R. Side of Lacosita and couldn't do it because of the sh#t bag splattered down it turned my stomach. I couldn't do the sweet jams packed with "Corn".
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Orion
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 14, 2007 - 01:53pm PT
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I assure you that if you go there this week you will not have to scour the buches to find trash, maybe some of the brown stuff but nothing that's manmade, well processed I mean, no um, you know what I mean.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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bump... maybe Don Lauria has some memories of this...
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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So how do you become a part of the BC Cult ? neubie, Lynne
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Double D
climber
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What's a blue Cagoule?
There ya have it!
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WBraun
climber
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"The cult of the Blue Cagoule"
Weren't those people the ones who swallowed some poison to go travel on some Haley comet to meet up with .
You better fill in that blank .....
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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For more on this nefarious group, go to the Nose reunion this weekend. It appears that at least one of the founding members of the cult will be present, and that obscure rituals will be engaged in.
You can also read about it in "Dihedral Diaries", in Roper's "Ordeal by Piton". It is an account by SuperTopo's Don Lauria of the third ascent of Dihedral Wall in 1967, which he did with Dennis Hennek. In it, he mentions the mysterious Cult of the Blue Cagoule. Roper's introduction says: "The cryptic 'Blue Cagoule' reference comes from the fact that both men, while wearing these items, decided that ethics were all important - and a minor 'cult' was thus born."
Quotes from the three page story:
"Dennis, a wearer of the Blue Cagoule, insists that we clean every fixed pin and every piece of old sling from the route."
"Dressed as an ordinary tourist, I hesitantly leave the glory of Camp 4 to return with Dennis to the base of El Capitan. The cult of the Blue Cagoule has dictated that we are bound ethically to clean up the refuse of our climb - water bottles, salami wrappers, old pitons, and sling material. Three unfamiliar climbers inquire quite seriously, 'Are you guys paid by the park service for the work?' 'Oh, yes,' is our reply. 'We are paid in advance.'"
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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and the eyes to match. Where does one get this duo ? :D
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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DoubleD. should not you be packing ? hehehe :D
Thanks Anders. Glad my coats are all the shade of blue cagoule.
Will bring indelible marker for Mr. L and others to sign off on if they will be so kind. Imagine....all the stuff this gal has learned in the past 7 months. Yo All The Greatest !
Really love ya all, Lynne ....Peace and alot of Joy on the journey.
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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There were yellow ones too, though not as popular. Foamback worked great at first while new. It had a slight insulation factor and was semi waterproof. Lynne a Cagoule is a hooded garment with no zippers.
Ken
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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For ages, I had a long Peter Storm cagoule. Green. Worked great. They used to have quite cheesy ads for them on the back cover of Mountain.
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nick d
Trad climber
nm
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I can remember turning blue in my foamback cagoule plenty of times.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Hey Ken and Anders, thanks for the info!!
Now, where etymology wise did the word Cagoule come from. Is it Scotch ? Anyone know ? Just curious....kinda an interesting word. :D Lynnie
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Cagoule
Lightweight anorak: lightweight hooded waterproof top that often folds up and can be carried easily
[Mid-20th century. Via French, "cowl" < Latin cucullus "cap, hood"]
The cagoule, impermeable wind-cutter, were invented in 1965 by the manufacturer of French pants Leon Claude Duhamel, which had the idea to make a light clothing to protect itself from the bad weather. Initially imagined for the children, it threads by the head and lines up in a small pocket banane.
L.C. Duhamel initially calls it “In-case” (of rain) before naming it “Cagoule”.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Thanks Patrick, have a great Friday. :D
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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It's also long enough that one draw their feet up into it for bivies. There is a drawstring at the hem,
I still have my foamback™ BC.
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TrundleBum
Trad climber
Las Vegas
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What a chuckle.
I came expecting the first shot to be a classic coated nylon one. Just as I was thinking "and then there was foam back..." I saw Double D's shot.
Yeah Jaybro I used to have a yellow one that I wore on shorter ice climbs at Frankenstein cliff or the like.
(not for all day climbs as it would sweat/freeze and become a glacier inside eventually)
I would use the hem draw and cinch it under my arm pits for the climbing, then at belay I would hunker down by pulling me hat out into a face mask and pull the cagoule hood over, then loose the hem draw and try to pull as much of my legs up intio as the stance would allow.
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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The foamback cag, was more than a garment, it was a way of life!
Next time I'm up at the ranch I will bring it down, how Funky could it be for being stuffed in the Kangaroo pocket since '03?
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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I don't know if John Stannard (Jstan), has a blue
caguole, but he certain lives the life to the hilt.
One of the hardest working fellows around a crag. I'll bet
no one on this earth could match his record for trash picking,
and I don't just mean at the Facelift. The guy was always
picking trash up in the Gunks and Seneca Rocks when I was just
a mere pup climbing. He's the real thing!
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rockermike
Mountain climber
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Damn, I had one of those cool blue foambacks too. Don't know what ever happened to it, but it sure saved my ass more than once.
One time coming off Mt. Hood in a winter ice storm I got to the parking lot with with about an inch of rhyme ice covering every inch of the thing. I swear it weighted 30 lbs. ha But I was toasty inside.
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Anguish
Mountain climber
Jackson Hole Wyo.
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Used my blue Patagucci cagoule on Yellowstone Lake on a recent 10-day trip. Should have bought 2 when I got it. It came out much later than the foamback and was well-tailored. I doubt they make them any more.
BTW - beware the base of the Captain. While you are looking for lost gear, more of it might be coming down. I almost got beaned by a PitonRon piton once.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Seems like it may be timely to give this one a bump.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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OMG, Good Move Mighty Hiker. Nice Anders, with all the rain here in So Cal we be thinkin' about the cult today....as I put on my blue and went for a hike in the rain :)))) Joy, Lynnie
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Fletcher
Trad climber
here to eternity
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Mar 27, 2009 - 12:48am PT
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I recalled someone was asking about cagoules and ran across this neat thread (which I original missed).
Anyway, I was looking at some photos associated with John Harlin III's book (The Eiger Obsession) and there are a couple of photos of John Harlin II in a cagoule while exploring Swiss caves with his kids:
http://www.johnharlin.net/Photos%209.html
You'll have to scroll down to see them, I couldn't bookmark them directly.
Just finished reading the book. A nice reflection on climbing from the point of view of a child of a climber and a climber parent of a child (who happen to be the same person).
Eric
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nita
climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
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Mar 27, 2009 - 01:07am PT
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I used to love my Blue Cagoule, super long -kept you dry. Had to let it go ...it got tooo stinky.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Mar 27, 2009 - 01:24am PT
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Lauria and Hennek, sans Blue Cagoule
But, plenty of red wine!
cheers
Guido
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Mar 27, 2009 - 01:36am PT
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Ahhh, one of my first and still favorite posts...blue cagoule. What's special is I met many of yo in Yosemite at the Facelift and the Nose Reunion. What a blessing you all are to this gal. Peace. Lynne. Still lovin' the Blue..
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Mar 27, 2009 - 02:08am PT
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Thanks, Joe - wonderful photos. When were they taken?
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Mar 27, 2009 - 02:17am PT
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Yo Anders
El Cap, fall of 07?
Dons house in Bishop, summer of 08.
Met a nice Canadian couple in an anchorage here in NZ that had some great stories about you and the Canadian climbing scene. Small world indeed.
cheers
joe
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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Thanks for sharing all this, it's why I love this site.
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hooblie
climber
from where the anecdotes roam
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i tried this one when i first showed up on this site. got myself turned into a verbal knot and dumped it,
something i am prone to. thanks to all for the toleration.
short version is that i had a buddy that trudged up a canyon with me on skis. nasty little hardpacked trail with plenty o' rocks showing. at the highpoint he donned his cagoule and enjoyed lunch in his own little tented environment while i tuffed it out in pants and shell.
i shoved off first for the down trail leg and was pleased to see that he had aerodynamic braking that kept him off my tails
any time he deployed that cagoule in scarecrow fashion, a big blue presence over my shoulder.
oh well, maybe i should have let the first version fly
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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No Werner (nov 6, 2008 post). The Comet people were the Heaven’s Gate cult down in Rancho Santa Fe area, CA.
HEAVEN’S GATE – Followers of the Heaven’s Gate cult, led primarily by Marshall Applewhite, thought Earth and everything on it were about to be “recycled” to a clean slate, and believed hitching a ride on comet Hale-Bopp in March 1997 could allow them to survive. Thirty-nine members (including Applewhite) poisoned themselves in shifts in a California mansion wearing Nike’s sneakers and armbands that read “Heaven’s Gate Away Team.” Leader Marshall Applewhite killed himself along with 38 others in hopes of escaping a “recycling” of planet Earth. Heaven’s Gate waited 22 years for Hale-Bopp.
Not mentioned in this little internet blurb was that many of the men in this cult had undergone voluntary castration. This lovely group wore black gowns. Authorities found them stacked in bunkbeds in a rented mansionette.
here is their kooky leader, Marshall Applewhite:
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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The other night I was reading in Roper's book Ordeal by Piton about the F.A. of the Dihedral wall and what caught my attention, besides the amazing story, was that after these guys were done with the wall they went down and picked up trash that they and others had dropped. How cool is that?
I have gone back and picked up at the base of every El Cap route I've done except two. But then we always went out of our way to not throw stuff off anyway.
1) Take Piton hammer
2) Smash empty peach can flat
3) Put in bottom of haul bag.
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mark miller
Social climber
Reno
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Feb 11, 2010 - 12:30am PT
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Wow this many years later and it brings an interesting impression to where my mind was 2+ years ago...Thanks for reviving it(Whomever)....I still religiously pick up trash that is left from short sighted Humans wherever I go. I'm a climber, Beer Drinker and an avid Shooter....and as I travel throughout the great Basin ( usually following Minerals recommendations) I'm continually disgusted at the amount of "Trash" people leave everywhere...Does anyone remember the 30+ year old commercial of the American Indian standing on the side of the road and a car throws out thrash at his feet?.....I grew up in NV but we tried to always take our empty cans outta of there...You don't Shite where you sleep.....What's wrong with the last few generations? Take it out with you ......
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Dennis Hennek
climber
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Feb 11, 2010 - 12:35am PT
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Take pictures and leave footprints.
Scott and I found our own footprints
after two winters at summit lake on
Baffin Island.
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Feb 11, 2010 - 12:40am PT
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I tried wearing mine on my first ever whitewater kayak adventure. Worked for a while until I went over, missed my roll and came out. That thing filled with water like a water balloon and I was on my way to the pacific (some two hundred miles away). Couldn't swim and even when I got my feet onto some rocks I couldn't resist the down stream force. talk about newbies getting into trouble. Nearly bit it that day. ha
but either way, Cagoules are cool, whatever color they may be. First class protection from the elements.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 11, 2010 - 01:35am PT
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Did a FA in the Cascades in early October with a Scot.
We didn't make it off before dark. We went down the back side,
180 degrees away from base camp, to get down to tree line. Make
that the shrub line. Did get a fire going which I in my cotten anorak worshiped all night.
The bloody Scot curled up in his trusty cag
about 8' from the fire and snored the whole frigging night away!
He was fresh as a daisy in the morning for the 2500' slog back up
and over the mountain.
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Feb 11, 2010 - 01:41am PT
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What peak Reilly?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 11, 2010 - 01:46am PT
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Dragyurbutt. We climbed those slabs directly up to the Fin.
Hard but not worth telling Fred about except for the first ascent of the
right hand corner of the Fin which I've related here somewhere.
The bloody Scot hurled himself from the last pitch and tried to fly
directly back to the lake.
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=833637&msg=833735#msg833735
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