Dumb things other climbers have said

Not to be rude. Just saying, debates over systems and who says what is not nearly as entertaining as "Dumb things climbers have said"

"Where is the Rope?" (Conversation had by two climbers after exploding their packs at the base of the route)

"I love climbing sandstone, Joshua Tree was my favorite!"

"Mind if I clip this Hammock into the first bolt on your route?"

I agree Chris, and I didn't intend to start an argument about anchor cleaning at all with my comment. I actually figured it was so self-explanatory as to why this was a dumb move that it would just be understood without discussion. Silly me, I guess...

Abram Herman wrote:I agree Chris, and I didn't intend to start an argument about anchor cleaning at all with my comment. I actually figured it was so self-explanatory as to why this was a dumb move that it would just be understood without discussion. Silly me, I guess...

Well, to be fair, most everyone seems to have gotten it. The only exception seems to be someone who could probably fill this thread with their own quotes.

Alright MP, it's time to revive this thread. This thing was providing me with days of entertainment and now work is taking way too long without the ridiculous musings of misled climbers. Please help make work funny again!

"I use a GiGi, anything else is just asking to drop your friend" (Yeah, I spelt that just like she said it)

"Can you hold still I'm trying to take a picture?" (belayer to leader while trying to capture both in the frame)

"How am I supposed to lower you?!" (Panicked belayer jerking on release handle of GriGri while death gripping the brake hand) Kudos for maintaining the brake hand!

"Ow Ow Ow Ow OW OW" (Climber's hair sucked into belay device while repelling, he came to a complete stop thirty feet from the ground, required another climber to provide an improvised rescue)

"What do you mean, how do we get down? I'll just lower you right?" (At the base of a 500ft wall)

"Have you seen that guy from 60 Minutes?"

csproul wrote: Well, to be fair, most everyone seems to have gotten it. The only exception seems to be someone who could probably fill this thread with their own quotes.

I am still genuinely curious as to what you do at the top of sport climbs, after you have done what you need to do, do you just throw your self off? Last time i checked your supposed to have your weight on your rope before you even unclip from the anchor.

that guy named seb wrote: I am still genuinely curious as to what you do at the top of sport climbs, after you have done what you need to do, do you just throw your self off? Last time i checked your supposed to have your weight on your rope before you even unclip from the anchor.

Okay, assuming you're not trolling...

Clip to the anchor with a sling girth hitched to your harness. Have your belayer give you a bunch of slack. Feed a bight through the rings. Tie a figure-8 on the bight and clip this to your harness with a locking carabiner. Now untie your original tie-in knot, have the belayer take you tight, remove the sling and lower. Take note that you are never off belay.

If you really don't know this Google "how to lower off a sport route." I think there's even video.

that guy named seb wrote: I am still genuinely curious as to what you do at the top of sport climbs, after you have done what you need to do, do you just throw your self off? Last time i checked your supposed to have your weight on your rope before you even unclip from the anchor.

Ignoring the consistent smug condescension, nothing about this explains why you would call to be taken off belay in a lowering scenario.
Please, enlighten us.

And Seb continues to add to the list.

Seb, calling off belay is stupid, and unnecessary. Even if you don't remain on belay on your end while cleaning, if you are lowering there's no reason for your belayer to let go of the rope, just to put it back on again a moment later. And it opens up the opportunity for disaster.

You do have a point people should be confirming their set up before they go off direct - which is the true root cause of many lowering and rappel accidents, but never being off belay is one potential countermeasure to this.

BOTH checking your set up prior to unclipping, AND not being taken off belay are best practice here.

Brian L. wrote:Seb, calling off belay is stupid, and unnecessary. Even if you don't remain on belay on your end while cleaning, if you are lowering there's no reason for your belayer to let go of the rope, just to put it back on again a moment later. And it opens up the opportunity for disaster. You do have a point people should be confirming their set up before they go off direct - which is the true root cause of many lowering and rappel accidents, but never being off belay is one potential countermeasure to this. BOTH checking your set up prior to unclipping, AND not being taken off belay are best practice here.

I don't call off belay i shout that i'm safe, once i'm safe my belayer can do what ever they want, they can stay on belay or come off i really don't care, prior to me being lowered i get taken in tight so i can un clip, i then get lowered no drama, all the systems are confirmed before i even un-clip literally impossible to fuck up.

Chris.Schenhoffer wrote: "I use a GiGi, anything else is just asking to drop your friend" (Yeah, I spelt that just like she said it)

Yay! Our second contestant for "dumb things other climbers have said" in the 'dumb things other climbers have said" thread.

You do realize there is a device called a GiGi, not to be confused with GriGri which is an auto blocking belay device and probably the inspiration for today's auto blocking devices.

Thanks Greg! Well aware. Beats the hell out of squabbling thread wrecking over the particulars of sport wanking.
PS She was holding a brand new shinny GriGri 2 and had no idea what to do with it or what it was called.

I was totally going to let this go but I can't. When was the last time you saw some greenhorn bouncing around with a plaquette?

Umm. A new climber calling a GriGri a GiGi. Wow. Totally crazy. The nerve!

No nerve. However, it's dumb that the predominant paradigm in climbing these days for the newcomer is that an assisted arrest belay device is the only choice. Tubers and plaquettes have worked well longer than you or I have been climbing. The fact that this climber didn't know the name of the device was just an added bonus.

that guy named seb wrote: I don't call off belay i shout that i'm safe, once i'm safe my belayer can do what ever they want, they can stay on belay or come off i really don't care, prior to me being lowered i get taken in tight so i can un clip, i then get lowered no drama, all the systems are confirmed before i even un-clip literally impossible to fuck up.

Well we can add this to the list...

that guy named seb wrote: literally impossible to fuck up.

Especially that part.

that guy named seb wrote: all the systems are confirmed before i even un-clip literally impossible to fuck up.

You've clearly never climbed anywhere where you can't see or hear your partner at the end of a route.

The general consensus's method of lowering (at least within this thread for the last page or so) only requires one word to be heard, your partner's call for "take!".

OR, if you've communicated properly with your belayer before starting the route and they know they're going to lower you, they should be bright enough to recognize through the movement of the rope that you're at the anchor and breaking it down. Once they see a ton of slack drop, they should know full and well to take that all in and take you tight. Requires zero words to be heard, even if you can't see your partner.

Seb, maybe you should think more about my new favorite quote:

"It's not cool to not know what you're talking about!" -The Pres

that guy named seb wrote: literally impossible to fuck up.

Not impossible, but whatever floats your boat. Arguing on the internet wont change anyones mind.

I still don't understand why you feel the need to call "safe" or any other word that could be taken as the same as an "off belay" command. Care to explain why?

Dogmatic. It's the only way to be.

ClimbLikeAGirl wrote: You've clearly never climbed anywhere where you can't see or hear your partner at the end of a route. The general consensus's method of lowering (at least within this thread for the last page or so) only requires one word to be heard, your partner's call for "take!". OR, if you've communicated properly with your belayer before starting the route and they know they're going to lower you, they should be bright enough to recognize through the movement of the rope that you're at the anchor and breaking it down. Once they see a ton of slack drop, they should know full and well to take that all in and take you tight. Requires zero words to be heard, even if you can't see your partner. Seb, maybe you should think more about my new favorite quote: "It's not cool to not know what you're talking about!" -The Pres

That's the beauty of my method, no words need to be said, if my partner suddenly has a shit ton of rope being taken out he knows i'm safe, me being taken in on the rope also still works, even on the longest of routes.

that guy named seb wrote: That's the beauty of my method, no words need to be said, if my partner suddenly has a shit ton of rope being taken out he knows i'm safe, me being taken in on the rope also still works, even on the longest of routes.

But you just said:

that guy named seb wrote: I don't call off belay i shout that i'm safe, once i'm safe my belayer can do what ever they want, they can stay on belay or come off i really don't care, prior to me being lowered i get taken in tight so i can un clip, i then get lowered no drama, all the systems are confirmed before i even un-clip literally impossible to fuck up.