Parking lot police

To Exum Mtn Guides, Sawtooth Mtn Guides, Idaho Mtn Guides and to whomever left this note on my car:

“Hey Asshole!
Way to give climbers a bad name. Proudly displaying your GUIDE SERVICE logo and specialty license plate, but too lazy to find proper parking. Yes it’s a cluster fuck but you know better. I will never recommend your service to any of my clients who may be looking for a Red Rock guide.
Sincerely,
Exum Mt Guides
Sawtooth Mt Guides
Idaho Mt Guides”

I can understand why you had strong feelings about seeing a climbing guide’s car in a handicap parking space at the second pullout, Red Rock Canyon. I too might get upset when I see things I don’t understand or don’t agree with.

By leaving this note on my car, you assumed that a climber and guide cannot be handicapped. I wonder what Hugh Herr and Malcolm Daily would have to say about that. I don’t owe you or anyone else an apology, excuses, or any of my personal information. None the less, I am permanently disabled and I have as much of a right as any other permanently disabled person to park in that or any other handicap parking space. I am in pain every step of every day, and some days are worse than others. You should take a few steps in my shoes before you judge me.

It was very windy yesterday. I placed my handicap placard on my rear-view mirror before I got out of my car. When my client opened his door, the placard must have blown off, because I found it on the passenger seat when I returned to my car later that day. I was unaware of this or I would have re-hung it. If you would’ve just glanced inside my car, you would have seen my handicap placard on the front passenger seat.

Again, I don’t owe you anything, but I am an active volunteer in Red Rock for trash removal, graffiti removal, and most recently building and deploying a new Restop dispenser box at the first pullout.

Who made you the parking lot police? What makes you so much better than the rest of us? What happened to giving the benefit of the doubt or minding your own business? By leaving this note on my car you instantly became the asshole.

I can promise you I will never recommend any of your listed guide services to any of my clients! Your arrogant and self-righteous attack on me clearly and strongly reflects on your care and consideration for your fellow climbers. All of my climbing friends and clients deserve so much better than you.

Dan Young

Terrific Post

I hate those anonymous one-sided notes on my car window without knowing anything or my situation. I have no way to answer back! If they could leave an email or phone number I could explain. I don't like walking around thinking someone else thinks I'm a terrible person.

One time in a dirt lot without painted lines I parked between several cars in a row. When I got back, all the cars were gone except mine, with a note that accused me of being a terrible person (in harsher words) for parking in the middle of the lot.

Dan,
Thx for all that you do in our community!
B

ps: how's the hair farming going?

Super rude, sorry for the attack. Keep up with the good works, the community appreciates it!

I don't understand - if you do the approach hikes and the climbs, why do you need a handicapped spot to park?

Not accusing you, just curious. And you don't owe me or anyone an explanation, but it does beg the question. Thanks.

Same thing happened to us, I don't know if they totally missed the tag or what.

Frank, there can be a variety of reasons why handicap drivers would want to park close even though they can climb. Crutching sucks. Longer approaches, even by a few meters, can leave someone too tired to climb.

I posted my photo to FB (won't post it here, I may or may not be flipping the bird) but since you mentioned Mal, here's what he had to say:

"Malcolm Daly Huh?: I use mine when the lot's almost full so there will be a space for some normal. It's just common courtesy."

Another comment from a gimpy friend: "That really grinds my gears. :) I understand that after a long day Mr. Nubs is not the happiest of campers. Sometimes people are just unhappy and I just say to those people, I hope you have a nice day"

And another " The actual reason many of the amputees I know use handicap spots isn't actually closeness to the building, but the space itself is wider and has that handy-dandy no-parking-zone right next to it. I know the loading zone is for wheelchairs, but I don't know any leg amputees who can squeeze into a partially-opened door. Brian has to swing the car doors open all the way in order to get in, due to limited flexibility and mobility.
People think if you can walk you don't need the spot. They're missing the point."

Edited to add - Frank, you're totally fine to be curious! I don't know if I'd call it a fair question, per se, and if you asked the wrong person they might tell you to MYOFB. But I'd rather have a discussion with someone.

And yes, there are many people who *literally cannot walk* but can absolutely climb. See Enoch Glidden.

D Young wrote: I can promise you I will never recommend any of your listed guide services to any of my clients! Your arrogant and self-righteous attack on me clearly and strongly reflects on your care and consideration for your fellow climbers.

Just wondering how you know that the note was written by the weird assemblage of guide services listed at the bottom of the paper plate?

Seems like it could have been anyone with a grudge and a bad attitude, maybe not even a guide, who was trying to puff up his/her status.

It's not my place to offer advice, but if it were me, I might consider calling the main office of the three services and giving them a head's up that one of their guides is out of line, or that someone is impersonating them.

PS Sincere thanks for your volunteer efforts.

That's shitty man. Thanks for your work in the community.

Dick move. True. But how many people would be LMAOing and applauding if this really was a case of improper parking? I don't know why this person thinks they can speak for three guide services though. It's probably a safe assumption that he belongs to one of them, but not all three. You seem like a pretty level-headed guy. I'm sure they're all reputable guiding services- as I'm sure yours is.

Seems like a little internet sleuthing could narrow down who guides for Exum, Sawtooth and Idaho guides...

A harsh note for sure. But consider what they are doing. Basically defending the right of handicapped people to use the parking spot, because they need it. They obviously didn't see your placard, and yes if they looked in your window they would have, but they didn't. And neither would I. I would have looked at your licence plate and rear view mirror.
So yes, the note was harsh, rude, and some people are not very nice. But consider all the angles.

i see this shit all the time... from mustard marks on a spanking new short sleeved shirt to a relish stain from a messy hot dog on a sweet set of slacks, what a waste of a plate. wtf people

RangerJ wrote:Seems like a little internet sleuthing could narrow down who guides for Exum, Sawtooth and Idaho guides...

Let's not witch hunt. The op made it sound like he had the placard out of sight.

You have a great post. I think you owe it to all of those guide service owners to see the post so they can root out who did this.

My guess is it was a guide from each place or something that were on vacation or something I didn't notice anyone being on all three rosters but the services are all idaho based . Regardless they are cowards.

Fuck them anyway Dan .....people who know you know better. Don't sweat them.

^this

That is certainly an upsetting note to see on your car.

But it's really the language that's the issue.
Whoever was upset when he/she saw your car could have written this:

"Hello! As a fellow guide, I am concerned that your parking in a handicapped space, while not having a handicap placard, reflects badly on climbers and on guides in general. Any chance we could discuss this?
John Smith 800-867-5309"

And you probably would not have been upset and would have called them and had a great conversation, and made a new friend.

phylp wrote:But it's really the language that's the issue.

Yeah, leading with "Hey asshole!" generally isn't a good way to start a dialog.

Yup to be treated unfairly is a human experience that knows no boundaries. Some people are Dicks all the time, most of us some of the time. Sorry you were called out unjustly, in hindsight they are probably sorry as well.