I've just returned from yosemite valley and enjoyed watching the climbers descend up the face of El Capitan. As I was watching through the binoculars, I couldn't help but notice dozens of climbing ropes and other equipment hanging from the face. No climbers were present even after a few days of checking back. Aren't climbers to pack all equipment out after the climb is done? We do they leave their stuff on the wall? Isn't this an environmentlly incorrect practice?

-- Bradley Kimball (BKJammer2@aol.com), April 08, 2001

Answers

Hi Bradley, Climbing a 3000 foot wall can take a day, four days or weeks depending on the route the climber(s) choose. The gear you saw "hanging" on the face of El Cap was probably part of a climbing teams fixed lines. If you are unfamiliar with climbing equipment, and it sounds like you are, you may have observed different ropes and other gear in the same place on a popular route. Even if they were the same ropes I can assure you that any gear left on El Cap does not stay there long. For the most part, climbers are an eviromentally conscience group. My experience has shown me that tourists tend to leave a lot trash and other litter in enviromentally sensitive areas and generally show little regard for their own environs as well. Ignorance seems to be a common theme with these types. I'm sure you rode a bicycle into the valley and certainly stayed on the trails in El Cap meadow Bradley. People in glass houses...

-- --wayne (climbharder@hotmail.com), April 08, 2001.

CHONGO CHUCK is the answer to the ropes that are up to big sur for the last at least year!!!!!!!!!!!

-- fuck nut (ism@alpin-ism.com), September 15, 2001.