Joseph Healy
07-02-2008, 09:50 AM
Opening On Wednesday, July 2nd
========================
Pre-opening tasks were completed Tuesday afternoon with Kyle and Geoff Silverman swapping out the lower climbing signage while Hanmi Hubbard-Meyer and I rapped into the Peregrine scrape (nest) to document it. We then all headed up to do the rock fall survey for the opening and for the railroad (any big stuff) and we're good to go for tomorrow's (Wed.) opening as we didn't see any particular show stoppers.
SE Corner Rockfall
==================
That said, however, there has been very recent rock fall high, high above the SE Corner base, probably on the high rubbled face right below where the wall tops out into the trees. How recent? Very recent. Kyle and Geoff were watching us from the tracks and as we hit the last rap to the ground they migrated up to the start of the SE Corner to get ready to head up the Corner for the survey. They were over there maybe 15 minutes max and in that time two chunks came down - one slightly bigger than a softball, the other about the size of a football - exactly right where everyone stands hanging out talking before stepping over the big, high-angled rock to start the first pitch of the Corner. We spent our few short minutes there behind the downhill side of the bigger trees which is where I had Hanmi belay me from as I headed up the Corner.
This isn't the sort of rockfall situation we can do anything about in a pre- or post-opening work session, as at the moment we don't know the source of the rockfall. We do know it is from high above the spot in the SE Corner route where you come down from the Land of the Little People Ledge to the spot where you can either go straight up to head for the tourist trail to the west, or, you can head east up the slab dihedral up to the SE Corner ridge. It is the little alcove above the SE Corner "chimney". There is now rock accumulated and stacked there and there are hard impacts in the beginning of the slabs heading up to the SE Corner ridge. Jim Opdycke and Kyle will be investigating this further in the next couple of days to see if they can locate the source of this rock fall. At the moment I'd say helmets ought to be considered mandatory anywhere around the SE Corner area and over the holidays especially.
SE Corner Raps
==============
The webbing on the SE Corner raps is faded but completely solid and only three years old. It will be swapped out for new webbing sometime in the next couple of days, but for now it's still bomb despite how it looks. On these raps again be particularly careful of your feet and rope so as not to dump stuff on folks below. I believe the upper raps are a bit to the left of the current rock fall hazard, but I would still make my way down all of them as quickly as possible without rushing. Also, do not add any slings of any kind to any of the rap stations at Beacon, they are all actively maintained.
SE Corner Bottom Line
==================
My current take on the situation is that we did not and I would not hang out, dwell, socialize, daudle, tarry, or otherwise spend any more minutes at the base of the SE Corner than absolutely necessary to get on the route and then I'd be inclined to move fairly fast. Any more than that I'd be against the rock at the top of the path up by 'Wrong Gull' or behind one of the trees. We've cleared and stacked all the loose rocks we could find that are located above the SE Corner from Grassy Ledges on up. Consider 'Cruisin' or one of it's fine neighbors as an alternative to the first pitch of the Corner as well.
In general, the standard Beacon warnings apply in spades this year - mind where your feet and rope are at all times and and put care into every movement, particularly up on Grassy Ledges and above. Think about draping your rope on bushes, or slinging branches rather than dragging it on the path where it might dislodge rocks. Also, don't throw any rocks off anywhere - if you find one or more that are a potential hazard, please stack them up somewhere safe and out of the way for the next cleanup work session.
Tourist Trail Gate Closure At Dusk Over Holidays
=========================================
No fireworks are allowed at the BRSP and because of a history of folks shooting them off the top of Beacon Rock, the tourist trail gate will be closed and locked at dusk over the holidays starting Friday. This means if you are going to be climbing late you'll have plan things out. If it's getting towards dusk then rap off Grassy Ledges. Do not, under any circumstances, try coming down and swinging the gate. As of a near accident two years ago the park is dead set against going around the gate when it is locked for any reason. Please don't do it - just don't head up late off Grassy Ledges over the holidays - rap off them, otherwise it could cost you indivdually and all of us collectively. This is a temporary measure and after the holidays the gate won't be closed until after dark.
That all said, we're open - enjoy.
========================
Pre-opening tasks were completed Tuesday afternoon with Kyle and Geoff Silverman swapping out the lower climbing signage while Hanmi Hubbard-Meyer and I rapped into the Peregrine scrape (nest) to document it. We then all headed up to do the rock fall survey for the opening and for the railroad (any big stuff) and we're good to go for tomorrow's (Wed.) opening as we didn't see any particular show stoppers.
SE Corner Rockfall
==================
That said, however, there has been very recent rock fall high, high above the SE Corner base, probably on the high rubbled face right below where the wall tops out into the trees. How recent? Very recent. Kyle and Geoff were watching us from the tracks and as we hit the last rap to the ground they migrated up to the start of the SE Corner to get ready to head up the Corner for the survey. They were over there maybe 15 minutes max and in that time two chunks came down - one slightly bigger than a softball, the other about the size of a football - exactly right where everyone stands hanging out talking before stepping over the big, high-angled rock to start the first pitch of the Corner. We spent our few short minutes there behind the downhill side of the bigger trees which is where I had Hanmi belay me from as I headed up the Corner.
This isn't the sort of rockfall situation we can do anything about in a pre- or post-opening work session, as at the moment we don't know the source of the rockfall. We do know it is from high above the spot in the SE Corner route where you come down from the Land of the Little People Ledge to the spot where you can either go straight up to head for the tourist trail to the west, or, you can head east up the slab dihedral up to the SE Corner ridge. It is the little alcove above the SE Corner "chimney". There is now rock accumulated and stacked there and there are hard impacts in the beginning of the slabs heading up to the SE Corner ridge. Jim Opdycke and Kyle will be investigating this further in the next couple of days to see if they can locate the source of this rock fall. At the moment I'd say helmets ought to be considered mandatory anywhere around the SE Corner area and over the holidays especially.
SE Corner Raps
==============
The webbing on the SE Corner raps is faded but completely solid and only three years old. It will be swapped out for new webbing sometime in the next couple of days, but for now it's still bomb despite how it looks. On these raps again be particularly careful of your feet and rope so as not to dump stuff on folks below. I believe the upper raps are a bit to the left of the current rock fall hazard, but I would still make my way down all of them as quickly as possible without rushing. Also, do not add any slings of any kind to any of the rap stations at Beacon, they are all actively maintained.
SE Corner Bottom Line
==================
My current take on the situation is that we did not and I would not hang out, dwell, socialize, daudle, tarry, or otherwise spend any more minutes at the base of the SE Corner than absolutely necessary to get on the route and then I'd be inclined to move fairly fast. Any more than that I'd be against the rock at the top of the path up by 'Wrong Gull' or behind one of the trees. We've cleared and stacked all the loose rocks we could find that are located above the SE Corner from Grassy Ledges on up. Consider 'Cruisin' or one of it's fine neighbors as an alternative to the first pitch of the Corner as well.
In general, the standard Beacon warnings apply in spades this year - mind where your feet and rope are at all times and and put care into every movement, particularly up on Grassy Ledges and above. Think about draping your rope on bushes, or slinging branches rather than dragging it on the path where it might dislodge rocks. Also, don't throw any rocks off anywhere - if you find one or more that are a potential hazard, please stack them up somewhere safe and out of the way for the next cleanup work session.
Tourist Trail Gate Closure At Dusk Over Holidays
=========================================
No fireworks are allowed at the BRSP and because of a history of folks shooting them off the top of Beacon Rock, the tourist trail gate will be closed and locked at dusk over the holidays starting Friday. This means if you are going to be climbing late you'll have plan things out. If it's getting towards dusk then rap off Grassy Ledges. Do not, under any circumstances, try coming down and swinging the gate. As of a near accident two years ago the park is dead set against going around the gate when it is locked for any reason. Please don't do it - just don't head up late off Grassy Ledges over the holidays - rap off them, otherwise it could cost you indivdually and all of us collectively. This is a temporary measure and after the holidays the gate won't be closed until after dark.
That all said, we're open - enjoy.