The Judicial System on Rock Trundling

I had posted something on this same subject on SummitPost. It’s about a post I read on the “Fat Cyclist” blog regarding an experience he had after being caught trundling a rock off a cliff at White Rim. Now a post like that makes a climber cringe in a way that most non-climbers will never understand. Any climber whose heard the whiz of a passing stone as it reaches near ballistic speeds also knows the fear it strikes in one’s heart. Over the years a number of similar incidents have occurred with deadly and life altering outcomes. One incident in particular that sticks in my mind is the death of Peter Absolon, a great climber and father who left this world early after having been struck by a rock tossed over a cliff’s edge by a twenty-three year old man. These aren’t just kids out there screwing around in the woods…many of them are adults looking for a few seconds of hollow sophomoric entertainment.

Now if you read the thread that I started on SummitPost, there are several alternative views regarding the incident. I did concede that it’s necessary for climbers, at times, to remove loose rock when establishing routes that have seen little or no previous traffic. Doing so in a responsible and cautious fashion can seriously reduce the risk of ACCIDENTAL rock fall that could put future parties in danger. However, in the interest of remaining fair, this sort of rock trundling technically would fall under the same laws that ultimately led to Fat Cyclist’s day in court. What’s this mean for us? I guess in my own opinion it would mean using good judgment.

If there is no need to go lobbing a rock off a cliff, then don’t do it. If there is a real need to do it, then be damn sure the area is well clear of any soul and yell “ROCK!” like it was your job. As far as this incident is concerned? Fat Cyclist seems to have received an education from the ranger and seemed truly remorseful for his actions, even though his fine seems to reflect the judicial system’s poor grasp on the gravity of his actions. Similarly it would seem that allot of his commenters maybe missing the point as well. Perhaps a friendly but educational response of your own might lead the more receptive of his readership to change their stance on the issue and prevent any future incidents born of ignorance.