To the 'Birdman' who regularly frequents this wonderful problem: I've run into you numerous times and you seem like a very quiet and reflective person. But on occasion, you choose to broadcast music or (my unfortunate experience most recently) a VERY lengthy interview from some guru neurological psychologist from your boombox at a fairly high volume, easily heard by all in the general vicinity. Please tone it down (or better yet-off). I hope I'm speaking for others when I say - this problem, in this setting is a truly special place. Music or whatever, broadcast for all to hear, is an unwelcome intrusion (and I must add, especially in a National Park, off-trail, no matter how popular or crowded it is). Thanks and peace.

Want his home phone #? He don't blab on the forums much I would guess.

Just a thought: Maybe make your complaint in person, at the time of the incident, instead of this passive agressive spraying on the internet that he will never see.

Expecting some kind of solitude or wilderness experience at Gunsmoke is like expecting a full set of teeth and absence of tats in Wal Mart patrons...happens occasionally, but don't expect it. Between the posing shirtless OC gym climbers, the helmeted n00bs, some carhartt wearing trustahippies smoking dope, and the old dudes like me silently burning you off for fun, it's a g@$%amn circus over there.

John and everything that goes along with that...his music, his OCD style workout, his ability to show me 100 eliminates, and slowly getting to know him over 6 years and probably 50 interactions, defines what the Gunsmoke is all about for me. He coached me on the cruxes when I couldn't even complete it, he showed me an endless string of eliminates when it got too easy, and was spotting the first time I managed High Noon. Long live the Birdman.

What? Another Birdman?

People wear helmets on Gunsmoke?

The Birdman is a different dude. Every time I saw him (haven't been there in several years), he was as silent as the rocks. But, yeah, the place is a gym. Can't really pretend it's pristine backcountry.