Throwing Rocks off Cliffs

Read the following as a rant, a PSA, or just me sharing an experience.

 

Twice this summer I have nearly been hit by rocks thrown by people at the top of the cliff, many big enough to easily kill. In July, a lot of rocks came down from the top of the Main Wall at Lover's Leap. It lasted for about 20 minutes, and they were landing in different locations (near Tombstone all the way to near Hospital Corner. The pattern, differing locations, and period of time in which it lasted strongly leads me to believe this wasn't natural. 

Then, last Sunday the same story happened to me at the Black Wall in Donner (base of Mr. Clean). We yelled at the top of our lungs, but the rocks kept coming down. After we retreated half way down the approach, we could see several people standing at the very top. We clearly watched one of them toss another rock off. We yelled again, they looked at us, then casually walked out of view. While we couldn't make out exactly what they looked like, we could make out their physiques and color of one of their shirts. This time though, I was angry enough to go look for the trundlers, and we actually caught up to them on the PCT and confronted them. I questioned them and their story changed enough to feel pretty damn confident these were our guys. While I really wanted to deliver a dose of backcountry justice, we were outnumbered 2 to 1, not really wanting to be on the wrong side of the law, and there was a very slight possibility that it wasn't them. So in the end, they just had to endure a rather aggressive lecture from me about not throwing rocks off cliffs. Anyway, if you see these idiots out near your crag, make sure you wear your helmet.

In more urban parts of the east coast the rocks have all been tossed so all that's left is bottles and cans. I have been sprayed with Coke and beer from CT to NH, they throw full containers around here

Thanks for chewing their ass off at least. Not sure if their rock throwing would constitute criminal negligence in CA. I imagine it would if they continued to throw rocks after they knew people were under them.  

Remember this? https://www.outsideonline.com/1918036/death-pete-absolon

Ryan Pfleger wrote: Thanks for chewing their ass off at least. Not sure if their rock throwing would constitute criminal negligence in CA. I imagine it would if they continued to throw rocks after they knew people were under them.  

Remember this? https://www.outsideonline.com/1918036/death-pete-absolon

Quite the story. Thanks for posting. Unlikely the non-climbing, rock trundlers would see it, but a stark reminder of the danger of "just throwing a rock."

This post violated Guideline #1 and has been removed.

Benjamin Chapman wrote: Don't get so worked up...rock throwing, trundling, rolling rocks off precipices is human nature, especially is locations that have easy access to the summit. Wear a helment!

I was climbing in Wyoming, at the bottom of a canyon, and I kept hearing small pebbles hit the (very slow moving) water. Then a rock the size of a brick, one that would cream my helmet and my skull in one smooth motion, hit the water.

I shouted up “the next motherfucker who throws a rock is getting tossed themselves”The 8 year old culprits and their mother were, I am told, very surprised at that. My partner, who was building an anchor at the top when I shouted that, told me that the local guidebook author then educated said culprits on why you shouldn’t throw rocks in climbing areas.
In any case, if you think any helmet will protect you from a 10 pound rock at terminal velocity, you’re in for a painful surprise.

Petsfed wrote:In any case, if you think any helmet will protect you from a 10 pound rock at terminal velocity, you’re in for a painful surprise.

That’s why they call it terminal ;)

Benjamin Chapman wrote: Don't get so worked up...rock throwing, trundling, rolling rocks off precipices is human nature, especially is locations that have easy access to the summit. Wear a helment!

Are you saying it's "no big deal"? You might think differently if rocks were being thrown down where you're climbing.

Benjamin Chapman wrote: Don't get so worked up...rock throwing, trundling, rolling rocks off precipices is human nature, especially is locations that have easy access to the summit. Wear a helment!

1/10

Benjamin Chapman wrote: Don't get so worked up...rock throwing, trundling, rolling rocks off precipices is human nature, especially is locations that have easy access to the summit. Wear a helment!

What was the point of this post?

Benjamin Chapman wrote: Don't get so worked up...rock throwing, trundling, rolling rocks off precipices is human nature, especially is locations that have easy access to the summit. Wear a helment!

Do you know the Pete Absolon story?  It's a huge f'ing deal.

People with bad manners is bad enough. Throwing rocks off the top is deliberately trying to kill somebody, in my opinion. Every body carries a camera these days. Get the jerks picture. Call the police/park rangers. Let them know what is going on. Demand signs warning people know of the hazards and punishments for throwing rocks. If somebody gets hurt or killed, identify the throwers. Confront these idiots. Be proactive. I've had to deal with this crap before. It sucks. Eventually, just about every climber will. Stick together. Good luck. I hope nobody gets hurt.

Benjamin Chapman wrote: Don't get so worked up...rock throwing, trundling, rolling rocks off precipices is human nature, especially is locations that have easy access to the summit. Wear a helment!

Dafuq?

Nate Tastic wrote: I know, right? Helmets are for noobs :-P

NOOB!

Sent you a text, you coming to Bowman tomorrow? Sunsplash lot at 8am.

NOOB.

  

My previous post to this same thread was deleted after mentioning a person I won’t name who posted a video on social media of their child purposely pushing a rock off a ledge on Castleton Tower.

Just a reminder that we all need to be aware and remember how dangerous trundling can be. As mentioned above this resulted in the death of Pete Absolon in 2007, when a hiker threw a rock from a peak unaware that climbers were below. Pete died instantly.

http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12200847000/Pete-Absolon-1960-2007

https://www.patagonia.com/stories/culture/community/our-deepest-con/story-20801.html

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=432518

Unfortunately, I think the people who trundle off the top are not the people who will be on mountain project, or even have any idea of climbing.  The person who killed Pete Absalom had no idea there would be climbers below and, though I may be mistaken, I think this is generally the case.  We're rather playing to the choir here, and other than posting signs at the top of cliffs and hoping that some punk isn't just a total jerk, I don't know what can be done.  Helmets are necessary but they really won't help with a fist size rock falling over 20 feet, unless you have one of those old Joe Brown jobs.  

If you anticipate people being above you, whether climbers or normies, BE VERY AFRAID and go climb elsewhere. Have a backup route in mind. The danger is real. Me and my partner almost got smoked by a rappelling party above this weekend when their dangling rope ends dislodged a large rock. It was thanksgiving crowds and we knew it and we ignored our doubts. We shouldn't have been there. Essentially it was our fault for putting ourselves there. 

Not to diminish the careless negligence of people who trundle rocks at crags. Eff those goons, they sound like a-holes and I'm glad Brandon gave them an earful. 

Brandon R - when I was much younger me and a bud were soloing an easy climb. Half way up, a beer bottle exploded not far from me. Hard to assume natural causes! We hollered; more bottles. Top of cliff was overhanging so there was no way they could see us (whoever they, were) and they most likely couldn't hear us either. The bottles stopped, presumably for more drinking. Because of the overhang we decided going up was safer than going down, because we'd be sheltered by the overhang. The climb went up the overhang but via a surprisingly easy variation.  So we topped out.

Man I was going to deliver a lecture and whip me some ass! 

So I went first. Up I came, as if out of the blue. As I scrambled up the last few feet I was just below one of the bottle throwers. When he saw me, arise out of the abyss from his perspective, he startled backwards, fear in his eyes. Thus he felt my coming anger, like Zeus.

Except, he was just startled. I got a look around; 4 dudes, 1 woman (who I knew, it turned out); 4 choppers, 4 jackets that said Outlaws on the back. Yep, one of the local biker gangs from back in then day. I knew the girl from highschool. She and I were both obviously heading down our own bad paths it seems! Anyway, my anger evaporated, as did their surprise. WTF, they all seemed to say at once, lol.

Then my bud popped up and they all went crazy again.

Anyway, they had no idea we were there. They apologized for bombing us and then paid us in beer and stuff for our troubles.

So yeah, Outlaw biker gang took the fight right outta me!

Cherokee Nuneswrote:

So yeah, Outlaw biker gang took the fight right outta me!

If only you had online forums back then - then you'd have unleashed on 'em. 

Fucking A, I'd have typed up a huge piece of my mind!