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Having removed a couple death blocks myself from climbing routes while doing maintenance, I can tell you how scary these things are. They are very heavy, but so
by vhost- 9y ago
Having removed a couple death blocks myself from climbing routes while doing maintenance, I can tell you how scary these things are. They are very heavy, but someone using it as a hand hold can dislodge it very easily.
One block I rapped in on to remove was only being held in place by a stone about half the size of my hand. All I did was push that stone away and then lightly pull with a pry-bar and the entire block plummeted and destroyed the trail I had just performed maintenance on 2 months prior. Better the trail than a belayer or hiker. The block had chalk all over it, so people used it as part of the route. It had to go immediately.
If you are a climber and climb outside often, I highly encourage you to donate some money to the ASCA because they send people who do maintenance new bolts and equipment to make sure routes are safely climbable.
- steveax 9y agoThe ASCA is doing great work on a shoestring budget replacing timebombs.
- lorenzhs 9y agoOnce, when climbing a 7-pitch route in Switzerland, the party below us involuntarily removed a loose block (mostly held in place by vegetation), maybe 30x30x50cm. We had noticed that it was loose and it had a sling fixed next to it as a replacement hold but apparently they didn’t realise. Thankfully nobody was standing below. Super scary though.
- Ntrails 9y agoThank you. That is all
- KGIII 9y agoI don't do much climbing anymore, but I figured it'd be nice to send them a few bucks. So, that's done. If anyone else wants to help keep people safe while they climb, even if you're not a climber, here is the donation link: http://www.safeclimbing.org/help.htm http://www.safeclimbing.org/help.htm They even give you stuff, if you donate more than $25. Somehow, donations sometimes 'feel' more meaningful when you know you're not really going to benefit from it.