DOGS!

5Seven Kevinwrote:

Jesus dude there's a difference between trolling and being completely useless and reiterating your uncreativity in every reply.

Can we lock this thread now? We're at the definition of insanity. People doing the same dumb sh%t expecting different responses 

Not the response you thought you'd get from your trolling?  It's not like your posts were productive or creative.  Besides, this thread doesn't deserve any amount of creativity or thought be put into posts.      T1

Wait-  there is one remaining useful thing to wring from this thread….my near death experience at the hands of sheep.  This could save your own life someday.

So there I was, freshly bailed from a solo North Face Matterhorn attempt (when you’re the only one on the mountain, it should tell you something.  This time I listened)   But I listened too late to catch the last ride down.   So I decided to just explore and take the long way home.  I wandered down across the north face and crossed the Zmuttbach to the north side, taking trails up under the Gabelhorn heading back towards Zermatt.  Some of these trails are thin, with steep and long drops below.   In typical “Mountain Murphy’s Law”, at just such a narrow steep section, I met a frickin herd of sheep coming the other way.   Hmmm, “how’s this gonna work” I thought.   Well, the sheep had the answer…just knock this bloke off the mountain!
I tried to stick as close as possible to the high inside of the trail, but somehow a couple hundred pounds of insistent ram got between me and the inside wall and then suddenly I’m being pinballed by sheep to the outside cliff edge where a bone crunching, tumbling end awaited. Having no choice, and no crag dog help in sight, I yelled and spazzed out, bringing a slight pause to the flow of sheep, which gave me just enough time to weave back up towards the wall and get a bit higher before the flow resumed. This time I aggressively kicked any fuckers that tried to get between me and the wall and eventually it was over. I estimated several hundred sheep passed.

I skipped any more impromptu climbs or trail explorations and headed straight for beers in the valley.

Sometimes, even to this day, I get triggered by a few of Fritz’s gote pics, as those sheep had the same “fuck you” look in their eyes.  Most experienced alpinists only think of sheep in terms of pleasure, but they can definitely kill ya if you let your guard down   

Mark!  That's a terrible story!  

What I have learned now is that even Fritz's goat pictures, which I love deeply, can inspire fear.  A good reminder that context is everything.

Bruno Schullwrote:

Mark!  That's a terrible story!  

What I have learned now is that even Fritz's goat pictures, which I love deeply, can inspire fear.  A good reminder that context is everything.

Indeed. the reason I've been so "triggered" by this dog issue is that I grew up in Tanzania, where packs of semi-feral dogs roamed, not to mention baboons. I quickly learned to carry a big stick with me everywhere I went, or risk being shredded by those small mangy, but aggressive mutts. Now, whenever a dog growls, or barks at me, I get a visceral response to respond aggressively. It doesn't matter if it's Aunt Gertrude's Pekinese, or any other dog. I think dogs can sense that reaction in me and are in turn somehow triggered towards me. I wish it wasn't so.

Once, while mtbing in Upper Bidwell Park above Chico, I was accosted by two Great Danes that burst out of the bushes, growling and circling me. They had their tails and ears docked, and large pig-hunting type collars on. I'm sure they were guarding someone's illegal grow or cook house. After what seemed an eternity, with me backing down the trail, trying to keep my bike between them and me, and doing my best to sound full of bravado, they disappeared back into the brush. From then on I've always carried a small can of bear spray and a 7 inch Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife that was my great grandfathers. I also painted a grimacing face on the top of my helmet, in the hopes of keeping Pumas at bay. Learned that trick from a NatGeo show on the Sundarban honey hunters.

From then on I've always carried a small can of bear spray and a 7 inch Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife that was my great grandfathers.

Sounds like Standard Kit for modern sport climbing venues  

Mark Pilatewrote:

 Most experienced alpinists only think of sheep in terms of pleasure,

I think we know the same alpinists.

Great stories Mark and Glen. Best MP dog thread yet.

Dogs, goats, sheep, sport climbers, alpinists, beastiality, what more could a thread have?  Thread of the year? 

Am I the asshole for bringing my tortoise to rifle? 

Julius Grisettewrote:

Am I the asshole for bringing my tortoise to rifle? 

You can learn a lot about a tortoise owner by how they set their helmet on the ground.

I would be pretty offended if a tortoise ate the lettuce from my sandwhich at the crag.

Bruno Schullwrote:

I would be pretty offended if a tortoise ate the lettuce from my sandwhich at the crag.

Unless you put your sandwich on the ground next to him with the lettuce sticking out that's impossible. He is 5" tall... It is full effort for him to eat a dandelion.

Julius Grisettewrote:

He is 5" tall...It is full effort for him to eat a dandelion.

Wonderfull example that life is always relative.  Thanks for that :)

Hey Mark, how you feeling? A bit more at peace with the world? A bit less frustration for dogs and their owners? A bit more climbing and rad sends, the kind that melt away your cares and concerns? 

Tell us, how are you, Mark? 

+1000 Mark

There is such strong support for the OP’s view on this issue (and has been repeated in many other forums), it’s mind blowing that dog owners still don’t get the message and believe they are an exception.

apogeewrote:

+1000 Mark

There is such strong support for the OP’s view on this issue (and has been repeated in many other forums), it’s mind blowing that dog owners still don’t get the message and believe they are an exception.

Oh I soooo want to change a couple or words in this . . .

Todd Berlier wrote:

ill put this as succinctly as possible:

1. mp is hardly representative of the real world.

I think MP is pretty representative of outdoor climbers.  I don't know that I've ever met a climber outside who didn't have an MP account.  They might not post a lot, but they have an account.

2. if laws are not being broken, its the problem of the people offended

If everyone's standard of consideration for others were "avoid things only if they're illegal" we'd live in a pretty awful world.  I think people have far more decency in general than the line you've drawn.  There are all kinds of really shitty behaviors that are legal and still really shitty.  I'm sure you realize this.

Thanks Nate, for putting that rebuttal far more eloquently and politely than I would have.

Nate Allenwrote:

I think MP is pretty representative of outdoor climbers.  I don't know that I've ever met a climber outside who didn't have an MP account.  They might not post a lot, but they have an account.

If everyone's standard of consideration for others were "avoid things only if they're illegal" we'd live in a pretty awful world.  I think people have far more decency in general than the line you've drawn.  There are all kinds of really shitty behaviors that are legal and still really shitty.  I'm sure you realize this.

This ^^^

Todd Berlier wrote:

ill put this as succinctly as possible:

1. mp is hardly representative of the real world.

2. if laws are not being broken, its the problem of the people offended

3. if laws are being broken and you are offended, confront the owners or report them, hell do whatever you would do (within the law of course) to the asshole. mp aint changing anything

It totally has, for myself and at least one partner. Hearing stories from people who dislike and/or fear dogs has completely changed my outlook on bringing the pooch cragging. Basically that was a total shit post, except #2.