I got your gear

Today I hung from a locker hand jam
And removed your red #1 cam.
Over the years you have given me so much,
Hexes and nuts that fall out with the slightest touch
Bail biner after bail biner,
I feel bad as your rack must grow leaner.
Random bail gear comes and goes,
But on almost all of it, your light blue tape doesth show
I have filled out my rack
And nearly exploded my pack
With your light blue taped gear

Who knows how long some of it sat
For I find it on the most obscure routes in the South Platte
I’ve learned you hate walk offs, traverses, and runouts
And that the unknown often fills you with doubts.
Or maybe I have it all wrong
And simply your partner isn’t that strong
So they leave all your gear behind
Where it sits for me to come and find.
Still I wonder, who are you light blue tape gear man?

But do not fret as your gear was not left in vein;
One man’s loss is another man’s gain.
So I thank you, even though we’ve never met
As you’ve built me a nearly complete set.
One which I gave to two young lads just beginning their career
Who opened the box and gave a great cheer
As they stared at all your light blue taped gear.

Nice job! This is a great piece. You should have sent this in to Alpinist (maybe you still should?).

And what is it with the blue tape? Like many others, I used to mark my gear with blue tape, until I realized the rest of the climbing world did as well and switched to something else.

brilliant Jason.

Regifting booty? Wasn't that "owed" to the light blue tape man.
Hey, wait a minute, I know someone who uses light blue tape! Gimmie back my camalot!

Nice job, Jason. That's a very well done poem. Thanks for the smile it brought me!

Double thumbs up!

I had yellow taped gear in the 70's, then had to go dual colors with blue and yellow cuz of so many similar markings. Soon it will be three stripes I'm sure. Thinking of adding hot pink next.

PM sent for my missplaced gear...

hahahahahaha jason!!!! that's hilarious!!

Oh man, have you spent much time around Durango, we might have to talk, i could probably use some of those stoppers back :-)

Rich Farnham wrote:Nice job! This is a great piece. You should have sent this in to Alpinist (maybe you still should?). And what is it with the blue tape? Like many others, I used to mark my gear with blue tape, until I realized the rest of the climbing world did as well and switched to something else.

Agreed on both, perhaps it would be nice in Freedom of the Hills, under the marking your gear section.

a.d. The gear may belong to Anonymous Coward.