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Bucksnort Slab Access?

Original Post
Tom Pierce · · Englewood, CO · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

A buddy and I may go out to Bucksnort Slab this weekend for some granite crack & slab stuff. It's been about 3 years since I've been there and I noticed some older posts here about access problems, yet later posters apparently had no problems. I'm aware of the property issue, and have no plans to climb above the first pitch of the Classic Crack, but does anyone know if access is now problematic there? Many thanks,
-Tom

Ralph Kolva · · Pine, CO · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 210

Went to Bucksnort late November and didn't have any problems, a couple of locals stopped by to chat but no mention of us not being allowed to be there. Parking is very limited, I found one pull-out that I was certain wasn't on private land and allowed me to pull off the road; there are several spots that are posted "no trespass" and/or next to drives that we stayed away from (one spot has a sign that somebody pulled out and turned backwards, we avoided it).

Can't say with any authority what the access status is, we were really low key and had a good day on the rocks with no problems. I did check Jefferson County's jmap beforehand to know where the private (non vacant) parcels are located. co.jefferson.co.us/news/new…

RockinGal Moser · · Boulder CO · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 30

Don't park right under the cliff! That goes for any area.
Years ago, my buddy and I climbed the 5.8 crack, can't remember what it's called. He was on the second pitch, a bit off route and a rock came down. Turned out the rock smashed the back window of a car that was parked right next to the approach. We got out of there ASAP.

Monty · · Golden, CO · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 3,520
RockinGal wrote:Don't park right under the cliff! That goes for any area. Years ago, my buddy and I climbed the 5.8 crack, can't remember what it's called. He was on the second pitch, a bit off route and a rock came down. Turned out the rock smashed the back window of a car that was parked right next to the approach. We got out of there ASAP.
So did you leave a note?
RockinGal Moser · · Boulder CO · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 30

We went over to talk to the people on Classic Dihedral about the rock and that's when they told us about their windshield. They asked us to split the cost of replacing it and my partner said: Uhhh uhhh, no! And that's when we ran out of there.

Mike Storeim · · Evergreen, CO · Joined Sep 2002 · Points: 30
RockinGal wrote:We went over to talk to the people on Classic Dihedral about the rock and that's when they told us about their windshield. They asked us to split the cost of replacing it and my partner said: Uhhh uhhh, no! And that's when we ran out of there.
Classy move.
Kirsten KDog · · Edgewater, CO · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 80
Mike Storeim wrote: Classy move.
+1. Ummm really??
RockinGal Moser · · Boulder CO · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 30

Really. I didn't pull the rock off and I didn't park directly under the cliff. I don't see why I should have paid for it.

JoeP · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 0

Rockingal -

Until your last comment, I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt . . . but now you blame the other climbers for parking there? While that may not have been the ideal parking spot, your team caused the damage.

So your partner and you pull down a rock that causes damage to another person's property, you tell the person whose property that you caused the damage to what happened, and when they offer to split the cost for the damage that you caused, you say "no" and run off? Does that about sum it up?

Wow. Have you heard of a concept called taking responsibility for your actions? While you may not have pulled the rock, you were part of the team that did so, i.e. your partner could not have been in that position without your help, thus you are just as responsible as him.

At minimum, I hope you don't climb (or associate) with that partner anymore.

JoeP · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 0

Sorry - I can't quite let this lie.

You are damn lucky that car belonged to climbers. Considering the access issues at Bucksnort, as well as many other crags, had that been a car of a non-climber and you pulled that shit, I wouldn't be surprised if the crag was closed permanently.

RockinGal Moser · · Boulder CO · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 30

I totally believe in taking responsibility for my actions and do so to a greater degree than most people. That doesn't mean I will pay for their mistakes. I did not park my car under the rock.
I don't associate with that partner anymore because he died last summer in a motorcycle accident. I wish he was still around to hang out with.
I relayed this story to let people know it's a bad idea to park under any rock/cliff/wall where people are climbing. If someone parked under the Bastille and a climber inadvertently dropped a rock on the car damaging it, should the climber pay for the damage?

JoeP · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 0

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

It's pretty simple point really - you caused the rock to fall, therefore, you are responsible for the consequences.

Sadly, no matter what is said will open your eyes to it.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266
RockinGal wrote: If someone parked under the Bastille and a climber inadvertently dropped a rock on the car damaging it, should the climber pay for the damage?
You bring up a good scenario, a lookylou is driving by, slows up and gets a rock in the windshield. I would be inclined to pay, especially if they pay half. There must be some liability for the car owner to place their car in a situation where it could encounter rock fall. I bet car insurance companies would assess some percent of blame to both parties if they could. From what I understand, when someone blows through a stop sign and hits your car, insurance still assigns some percent of blame to you.

We always have to weigh what is "right" with perception since climbers are a minority user group.
Mike Morin · · Glen, NH · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 1,355

There are currently no issues with those who actually own the land. You may run into a few folks that tell you, you are trespassing on land that they don't own. Always remember it's a privilege to climb on private property, have fun and be respectful.

Edit- This applies to the "popular" part of the cliff, I don't know for sure what the deal is with the far right side, but there's nothing there to trouble yourself with anyway.

JoeP · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 0

Last point and I'm done. To the extent the climbers made a mistake by parking their car where they did, they were not asking you to pay for their "mistake" rather they accepted their portion of blame and merely asked you to pay for your part by offering to split the cost.

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

Jeeze if only they coulda caused a bazooka cruise missile to go off in a certain direction

Mike Morin · · Glen, NH · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 1,355

I hate to contribute to this thread drift, but well here I go. What if it had been the land owner's windshield?

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

a sequence of gunfire, whiskey for the men, & beer for the horses

Ben Burnett · · NM · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 70
So I was on the way to the crag when a rock was spit up by the car I was tailgating; I think it was driven by "JoeP" (or maybe it was "Mike Storeim" or "Kbird"), anyways I'd like you to pay for half of my windshield, even though I was following too close...

I'm all for taking responsibility, but rock fall is not the fault of the climber. (A rock purposely thrown off a cliff may be another story though) Don't park under a cliff, a rock will fall on your car eventually. Paying for the windshield is what insurance is for.
slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103

i'm kind of not seeing how the rockfall isn't the fault of the climber. the climber pulled on it, and it fell. seems pretty cut and dry. the other folks offering to go half and half, the response (ie sneaking away with your tails between your legs) was knot.

climbing is a frivolous activity. not accepting that the rock fall was the fault of the climber is pretty weak.

Monty · · Golden, CO · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 3,520

Ok, Ok. Analyze this (true story):
I was climbing a route, reached for a "jug" and the basketball sized block came off. Luckily it missed my belayer, but unfortunately it happend to land directly on his dog's leg completely shattering her knee and femur. After finding her, we carried her out on proceeded to the Pet ER.

Now this was a completely freak accident. The odds of this happening are incredibly rare. Yet I didn't blame him for letting his dog sit at the base.

I proceeded to pay entirely for the ER bill and split the cost of the amputation of her leg. To this day I'm ashamed of knocking that block off I and took full responsibility for my actions. Everyone tells me it was not my fault... but ya I don't see how that's any different than knocking a rock on to a windsheild other than the fact that an animal was hurt insted.

my 2 cents

I'm sorry about your friend.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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