Kolob Canyon: found rope in bucket

To all, I found and recovered an old rope that was stashed in a bucket below a wall in Kolob. There was also an aging gallon of water that had been infiltrated by insects. I have your rope if you want it back please pm me.

Not mine.

Here in the Pacific NW, route developers sometimes leave ropes, cleaning gear, and water near the base of some wall for years before getting back. There are just too many distracting projects it seems, but the developer doesn't forget. They usually try to hide the gear though. I don't know if this was the case with the rope you found, but maybe.

I've seen ropes turned green with moss, yet the developer was still planning to come back and finish up...

Karl,

If you happen across stashed gear and water (especially in remote places) please leave it where you found it.

Here's one very general guideline to help you determine if something is stashed versus abandoned...if a rope is in a bucket or a plastic bag it's stashed. If it's laying uncoiled on the ground it's abandoned. Hardware in a bag stashed under something should be respected and left where you find it.

It's PC to carry out contaminated plastic water containers and whatever items have been trashed for later carry out by some developer, however generally it's polite to not take stashed items, to not remove fixed lines.

It's also area specific. For instance, lines left up at Yosemite, Joshua Tree or Red Rocks don't last long without being removed. Someplace like Kolob or Ely ...ropes could hang for years

And IMO it's not good form to post that info on a public forum. The BLM, NPS and US Forest Service or Fish and Wildlife don't look kindly on left gear.

I can understand your point to keeping that info off the radar, but how would you suggest I reach out to the owner so he can have is rope back?
FYI this rope has a very old pattern and I believe it's been there ten years at least.
..and the route's been done.

Weather its stashed or abandoned, if the forest service frowns on leaving gear, then its all bad form... and I would consider it booty.. pack it in, pack it out... leave no trace... I guess im just old school that way..you should have to work for your shit..its so much more rewarding

Contact Ron Olevsky. I think he goes by Piton Ron either here or Supertopo. If it's not his rope, he probably knows to whom it belongs.

Karl,

Now that the deed is done....Posting it here is about the best you can do.

Finding an old rope doesn't mean it's been stashed there since it was new. Developers use old ropes (something you might not be excited to lead on) to clean and work routes.

That way if you accidentally drop a rock and core shot your line at least it wasn't your new $250 bi-color lead rope.

Often full water bottles do not make it through a winter cycle of freeze and thaw as the ice expands and breaks the bottle seal. Those poor bugs just wanted a drink. I would have collapsed the bottle and packed it out.

Please don't be like EeT and feel you're justified to take stashed stuff which doesn't belong to you. We have casual weekend hikers for that; they take your stash and leave some candy wrappers, Propel bottles and feces soiled underwear.

I have a full rack of bootied cams and nuts but those were recovered on routes. When I was a Valley rat, my friends and I used to climb circuits on Mondays and Tuesdays to clean off abandoned gear from the weekend warriors who overestimated their abilities. That is, IMO not the same as taking stuff stashed near the base or fixed on a wall.

The Forest Service (all departments of the Interior) frown on a lot of stuff and they condone a lot of stuff I think is detrimental to the ecology and not well thought through. And the Department of Interior bureaucrats don't have sleepless nights over changing policy to fit whatever is perceived to be an immediate need.

I only mention this because it seems you are trying to do a good deed.

It's more common than you might think to stash ropes, rack, bolting hardware, stick clip poles, battery packs, water and emergency gear at the end of a long approach if you intend to go back in a few days.

I would return it. Fresh h20 and all.

Ironic., that would put me in a situation where I would be the one now stashing gear illegally. Kuait, might have an opinion on this. How old of a rope would you feel ok about using to jug, haul with, etc.? Also let me know if you'd like to climb Ball and Chain this fall. I soloed the first four pitches last year and think a day climb is realistic.

Hey Karl. To keep this short I'll say the rope is your umbilical cord/lifeline. I think it should be taken seriously... its up to the owner to take care of it properly and retire it when needed. As far as ball and chain.. little heavy on the free for me..