Why did you tie my rope to a rock?

I was shocked that another climber would do this. A couple days ago (January 13) you tied the end of my rope to a rock and then stacked two other rocks on top of it. Why? What did I do to you?

I was out that day replacing an old anchor. I wasn't climbing, it was too wet in Red Rock (Las Vegas) with all the recent rain. But you were climbing. (BTW the route you did that day was a route that I put up.)

You were on your way out while I was heading up to the top to pull my rope. As we passed each other, I responded to your "hi" and asked you to call your dog so I could pass by. You did so and everyone went on their way. That was the extent of our interaction. It was late in the day, nearing dark, and no one else was around so I know it was you.

After my rope wouldn't pull up, I hiked back down to the base and found the crime. Regardless of why you did this, and beyond just being a dick thing to do, it was childish and potentially dangerous.

This really had me bummed about the climbing community. I do believe it's a small minority that would even consider doing something like this to another climber, let alone actually do it. But the fact that this happened while I was out working hard to improve old anchors for everyone's safety and enjoyment, by someone who just climbed a route that I put up while it was definitely too wet to climb, really had me down on the community.

Still I had work to finish, so I went back the next day and came upon a group of climbers at the base of the wall. They immediately asked if I was local and if it was too wet to climb. They thought it was too wet and so were just hanging out. After chatting a bit I went up to get to work and they thanked me for my bolting efforts and later gave my wife (who stayed at the base to protect my rope haha) some $ to contribute! And these guys, from out of town, didn't even get to climb anything. That was a very nice gesture and I want to thank those guys. The $ aside, it was the renewed faith in other climbers that they didn't know they provided to me that I appreciate so much.

When I am out at the crag and I see ropes blowing in the wind with nothing attached to them or person, I will tie them to something. At least here mice will obliterate a rope quickly. Maybe they were trying to save your rope from blowing into a cactus or mud. At least in that picture a light gust looks like it could have put your rope in cactus. Or maybe they were being dicks.

Thanks for your hard work. Rebolting is all the worst parts of bolting.

KrisGwrote:

I was shocked that another climber would do this. A couple days ago (January 13) you tied the end of my rope to a rock and then stacked two other rocks on top of it. Why? What did I do to you?

I was out that day replacing an old anchor. I wasn't climbing, it was too wet in Red Rock (Las Vegas) with all the recent rain. But you were climbing. (BTW the route you did that day was a route that I put up.)

You were on your way out while I was heading up to the top to pull my rope. As we passed each other, I responded to your "hi" and asked you to call your dog so I could pass by. You did so and everyone went on their way. That was the extent of our interaction. It was late in the day, nearing dark, and no one else was around so I know it was you.

After my rope wouldn't pull up, I hiked back down to the base and found the crime. Regardless of why you did this, and beyond just being a dick thing to do, it was childish and potentially dangerous.

This really had me bummed about the climbing community. I do believe it's a small minority that would even consider doing something like this to another climber, let alone actually do it. But the fact that this happened while I was out working hard to improve old anchors for everyone's safety and enjoyment, by someone who just climbed a route that I put up while it was definitely too wet to climb, really had me down on the community.

Still I had work to finish, so I went back the next day and came upon a group of climbers at the base of the wall. They immediately asked if I was local and if it was too wet to climb. They thought it was too wet and so were just hanging out. After chatting a bit I went up to get to work and they thanked me for my bolting efforts and later gave my wife (who stayed at the base to protect my rope haha) some $ to contribute! And these guys, from out of town, didn't even get to climb anything. That was a very nice gesture and I want to thank those guys. The $ aside, it was the renewed faith in other climbers that they didn't know they provided to me that I appreciate so much.

You keep mentioning the climbing community in the same breath as you are really only talking about one person. This one person may have even had good intentions as puppy dog face mentions.  You’re a dork. 

A couple things come to mind for me. Having spent much of my life around busy parks there is a phenomenon I call "monkey see monkey do" where if folks see someone doing something they go and try to do it themselves. This may explain them climbing, they saw your rope up so it must be ok.

Another thing is trail etiquette and how to go about teaching/asking people to change their ways. The dog incident you mention sounds familiar as I have a dog that is usually leashed for behavioral issues and when I pass people with dogs running loose(illegally) I try and tell them they should consider leashing their dog because mine will try and eat theirs if it comes close. The reactions are usually negative because I probably have a bitch face when I'm telling them. I also probably have a bitch face when I explain to people post holing on ski trails that they should consider other ways to go. I try to go out of my way to avoid folks in the outdoors now, especially the post pandemic shit show these days.

Best to post this in the Nevada forum, but I doubt they will see it regardless.

I'd check to see if they ticked the route on MP and then you can ask them directly.

Fixed rope etiquette is to tie it off when your back on the ground and leaving it in place for another day so it doesn't whip everywhere, but yeah that makes no sense if they know you are up there using it... Cactus, etc is the only thing that seems reasonable... but if they secure it that strongly obviously it would make it difficult to rap or pull the rope up... so I'm just going to have to say they are gumby and didn't fully think through what they were doing... or were dicks.

Desert Rock Sportswrote:

...so I'm just going to have to say they are gumby and didn't fully think through what they were doing... or were dicks.

Never attribute to malice what may be the result of incompetence.

climbs sometimes wrote:

is sense micro dog aggression  

Same, I think there was more than a casual dog interaction, at least from one of the parties.

Hank Caylorwrote:

Same, I think there was more than a casual dog interaction, at least from one of the parties.

I feel like a bag of dog doo would leave a clearer message.

The owner probably doesn’t pick up poo though.

Marc801 Cwrote:

Never attribute to malice what may be the result of incompetence.

Or ignorance. I patrol Stoney Point during rain and when it’s wet. I figure it’s about 7 out of 10 who just don’t know about wet sandstone. The other 3 know but don’t give a rip. One fellow was even prepared enough to bring a blue tarp to put down on the mud to keep his pads from getting muddy! Fucken ass hole!
So KrisG… look at it this way- you now know a ass hole, but several others who are knot. Keep doing the good work, thanks. 

A few things:

I disagree with the etiquette of tying off someone's rope for ANY reason. If it's not mine, I don't touch it. If I come upon a rope hanging I leave it alone. Usually, if no one is around, it's tied off, but not always. I personally don't leave ropes hanging ever. They're an eyesore for others and I don't want to draw attention to a route before it's completed.
Regardless, the difference here is that I passed by the offending climbers about 80' from where the rope was hanging. They knew I was using it, I saw them watching me from the base of the route they did (drills tend to attract attention of anyone nearby). There was no question it was mine and in active use. I can't imagine it was done with good intention.

Would you walk over past a stranger that you just watched get off a rope and tie it off and stack 50lbs of extra rocks on it?

My extrapolation to the climbing community vs. just the two climbers was predicated on the sheer number (dozens) of climbers I saw out climbing on the wet rock. Both that day, the next day, and the dozens of previous times I've seen it. I didn't elaborate on that as it wasn't the point of the post. Also, I said specifically that I know it's only the one person and most others wouldn't do that. Then, I even gave an example of how members of the climbing community can be upstanding and give back.

Regarding the dog comments: There was no negative interaction with the dogs. I'll elaborate. There were two of them, one was on a leash, one was not (the dogs not the climbers). The leashed dog was standing directly in my path with no way to get around. I walked up and greeted the climber "hello". I then said ver batim, "Can you call your dog please?" He obliged. The dog moved back toward him, and I continued on my way. That's it.

Trying to introspect, was I the friendliest person ever, no perhaps not. But I wasn't rude either. As mentioned in the OP it was getting dark and I needed to get up to the top of the cliff to retrieve my rope. And it just doesn't matter in my opinion anyway, you just don't mess with other people's stuff. Especially a life line like a rope.

Desert Rock Sportswrote:

Best to post this in the Nevada forum, but I doubt they will see it regardless.

I'd check to see if they ticked the route on MP and then you can ask them directly.

Fixed rope etiquette is to tie it off when your back on the ground and leaving it in place for another day so it doesn't whip everywhere, but yeah that makes no sense if they know you are up there using it... Cactus, etc is the only thing that seems reasonable... but if they secure it that strongly obviously it would make it difficult to rap or pull the rope up... so I'm just going to have to say they are gumby and didn't fully think through what they were doing... or were dicks.

I thought it more likely that the offenders would see it in the general forum as I assume they're from out of town since they were climbing multipitch, on wet rock, with dogs.

I did think to check the ticks, but it was fruitless, thanks.

Gumby? Maybe. Damn that's a bold thing to do for the ignoramous right after you see me actively using the rope. I don't know.

I hope you learned your lesson

M Mwrote:

A couple things come to mind for me. Having spent much of my life around busy parks there is a phenomenon I call "monkey see monkey do" where if folks see someone doing something they go and try to do it themselves. This may explain them climbing, they saw your rope up so it must be ok.

Another thing is trail etiquette and how to go about teaching/asking people to change their ways. The dog incident you mention sounds familiar as I have a dog that is usually leashed for behavioral issues and when I pass people with dogs running loose(illegally) I try and tell them they should consider leashing their dog because mine will try and eat theirs if it comes close. The reactions are usually negative because I probably have a bitch face when I'm telling them. I also probably have a bitch face when I explain to people post holing on ski trails that they should consider other ways to go. I try to go out of my way to avoid folks in the outdoors now, especially the post pandemic shit show these days.

You seem angry ...

Princess Puppy Lovrwrote:

When I am out at the crag and I see ropes blowing in the wind with nothing attached to them or person, I will tie them to something. At least here mice will obliterate a rope quickly. Maybe they were trying to save your rope from blowing into a cactus or mud. At least in that picture a light gust looks like it could have put your rope in cactus. Or maybe they were being dicks.

Thanks for your hard work. Rebolting is all the worst parts of bolting.

Don’t alter other people’s set up unless you know FOR SURE they need the help.

Doesn’t sound like the perp had a motive so let it go as bad luck.

Guy Keeseewrote:

Or ignorance. I patrol Stoney Point during rain and when it’s wet. I figure it’s about 7 out of 10 who just don’t know about wet sandstone. The other 3 know but don’t give a rip. One fellow was even prepared enough to bring a blue tarp to put down on the mud to keep his pads from getting muddy! Fucken ass hole!
So KrisG… look at it this way- you now know a ass hole, but several others who are knot. Keep doing the good work, thanks. 

Has anyone been climbing at Stoney the past few days?  

Is it a good idea to replace bolts when the sandstone is wet?

Tradibanwrote:

Don’t alter other people’s set up unless you know FOR SURE they need the help.

Doesn’t sound like the perp had a motive so let it go as bad luck.

It’s all context dependent. I really can’t stress the mouse stuff enough, I have lost probably 3 ropes, a helmet, a bucket, a shirt to those critters. If there is a pile of rat poop on the ground and no one around I would at least move the rope out of rat poop. Sometimes I drape my rope strategically so I can pull it but it’s not on the ground. If I saw a rope blowing in the wind and rope getting drug through a cactus I would at least coil it in my shirt. This situation I would have left it alone. 

landow 69wrote:

You seem angry ...

I laugh at idiots doing moronic things more often then not. I would get really angry at all the out of town gymbos tearing up the place and being rude at my home crag, most experienced climbers would be. 

Best of intentions gone awry, imo. Probably thought it was a micro-trax line and they were protecting it from chafing or something.

Def pita for you though!

Yes... but a microtrax line makes no sense... you don't tension a line that strongly if you are rapping back down it.

Oh hello--I was in the second group. We visited Cactus Joe's as you suggested and were able to get some climbing in before the rain drove us out. Thanks again for your work!