Monkey Traverse Bouldering

A very large boulder seems to have been recently "relocated" from beneath the final moves of the left side of the traverse. Definately seems like some aggressive and dubious landscaping practices have been employed here. May 20, 2004

That sucks if that boulder was relocated. That thing has threatened to bust my ankle every time I consider doing the top out (for this reason I have never tried it). If we're thinking of the same boulder, it must weigh over 400 lbs, I'm amazed it could be moved. Anyway this boulder was part of the challenge of the problem, it's not the same problem without it. May 21, 2004

George, it actually seems that the boulder that was above the finish hasn't been moved, but smashed to pieces. Indeed, the villian(s) responsible for this have forever changed the character of a decades-old classic and beautiful bouldering traverse. May 24, 2004

The boulder below the finish was moved sometime last fall. The first time I noticed "the move" was immediately after last years Flagstaff trail work and cleanup weekend. I sincerley hoped this was just coincidence.

I posted this disheartening change to the frontrangebouldering.com message board and the overwhelming response would fall in the categories of either "I don't care its just Flagstaff", "its better with the rock moved", or "boulders move... the rains probably did it".

Lame. May 24, 2004

I broke my wrist on that boulder 6 years ago. (Brain Fart) There use be a tree there to (Early 90's) if my memory serves me right. I don't think "Landscraping" is a very good idea. I also think it's kind of Lame. - Chris W. Aug 31, 2004

I [don't] know what kind of jerk would have done something like this, but sometime between August 26 and 27 someone put a bunch of crap all on the good holds. And by crap, I mean definite, human crap. Its pretty disgusting, and I was appalled by this lack of respect for the rock and for fellow climbers. Just beware when you go up here next, as the problem is a little harder now that you have to avoid the feces. Aug 27, 2005

Probably the same person that smeared vegetable oil all over the holds at Morrison. Pathetic. Lame. Totally beat.

What's a safe (i.e., non-contaminating) way to get this mess ofF? Aug 28, 2005

Time will clean it just fine, that some some use after a week+ of baking in the sun. Bring a moist towelette or a dozen. We should be more worried about the person who plays with his dung than the fact that it was done to a climb. Quite strange and disturbing. Aug 28, 2005

Just a guess, but this assinine behavior sounds like a frat initiation prank. Why would a person go all the way up there and do this unless they were put up to it. Anyway, anyone have a portable high pressure power washer out there and willing to clean this up? Aug 28, 2005

Hats off to Matt.He took the initiative to clean The Monkey Traverse. Aug 30, 2005

Just did the monkey and didn't notice any doodoo. Thanks Matt. Aug 30, 2005

Likewise, thanks Matt.

Of course it's all guessing, but I'd be more inclined to attribute this to the late night partiers that have been leaving trash and breaking beer bottles against rocks at Flagstaff for as long as I've been climbing up there, than to a frat prank. Aug 31, 2005

Yep, went up there today and there's still shit smeared all over the holds. Must have been someone who's never climbed it before b/c they hit the non-crucial holds for the most part. Dumb shits, people suck. Sep 12, 2005

Time for some of those large toothed bear traps? Sep 12, 2005

Derek, that kinda looks like Shallow Slot, V4 PG-13. Apr 6, 2013