mattp Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 (edited) Climb: Aurora Bridge-Dropping Coils Date of Climb: 6/30/2006 Trip Report: I bought a new rope last night, and at lunch time I took it to the Aurora Bridge to dangle it over the edge and shake out the kinks before I take it climbing this weekend and get all tangled up. I tied it to the guard rail so I wouldn’t drop it, and fed it out over the edge, and I guess some passing driver thought I looked suspicious and called 911. Just as I was finished coiling it back up again, two police cars pulled up and the cops jumped out and were ready to wrestle me to the ground if I tried to jump or maybe start a protest or something. "What are you doing?" They demanded. “Untwisting a new rope,” I replied. "What are you doing?" (Again) “Untwisting my rope. (Again). “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” (One more time). Obviously, answering the question wasn’t working, so I asked one of my own: “did you think I was going to jump or something?” They demanded I climb over the fence to stand next to the police car and I said I didn’t really want to climb over the barrier that was there to protect pedestrians. I said “I’m sorry to cause you all this trouble,” and they told they weren’t going to arrest me or anything, but I still had to get in the car so they could drive me off the bridge. Be warned. Suspicious persons on the Aurora Bridge will be phoned in by someone who has a cell phone and just wants to do you a favor. Gear Notes: Dress slacks and shirt. Approach Notes: Pedestrian walkway. What would have happened if I did this on Friday night? How about if I wore some wild costume? I can understand the concern, sort of, but me thinks Seattle drivers and police are a little over-reactive here. Edited June 30, 2006 by mattp Quote
fenderfour Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Don't do it Matt, you've got too much to spray for!!! Quote
catbirdseat Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 That's a funny story. I'm glad you weren't arrested. If it had been Layton, there would have been some sarcastic comment and that would have been all the excuse they'd need to give him a ride downtown. By the way, what rope did you get? Quote
DirtyHarry Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Three dudes are dangling their units off a bridge, peeing. One guy says to the others, the air sure is cold. The next guy says, the water's cold down there too. Then the third guys says, yeah, water sure is deep, too. Quote
catbirdseat Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Yeah, you sanitized it. I was an ethnic joke. Quote
Weekend_Climberz Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 I bet with my hippy long hair they would have hooked me up with a free ride, too. Downtown that is. Quote
lI1|1! Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 i once knew this guy who got arrested rappeling off the Montlake bridge. The cops confiscated his rope as evidense so we used his friends rope which was really, really beat up. so i'm rapelling down his friend's rope and there's like holes in the mantle and then one section where the mantle is completely seperated so i stop on a ledge and pass the gap through my belay device and then rap the rest of the way down quickly because i think the rope is going to break. cops are dangerous. Quote
DirtyHarry Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Yeah, you sanitized it. It was an ethnic joke. Joke? True story. Happened to me the other day. ... water was really deep too. Quote
Tophervw Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 What is the total height of the Aurora Bride (read...how far would you drop off the end?) Quote
catbirdseat Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Yeah, you sanitized it. It was an ethnic joke. Joke? True story. Happened to me the other day. ... water was really deep too. Watch out for snapping turtles. No joke, either! Quote
Alpinfox Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 ...Dangling Cord[/b] "Dropping Coils" would have been a better name for this route. p.s. Should have told the cops you were trying to lasso a sailboat mast and go for a little waterski session. Quote
mattp Posted June 30, 2006 Author Posted June 30, 2006 Allright then. The guidebook is not out yet, so I've updated the name. Quote
underworld Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 maybe the cops just didn't understand the double rope system. Quote
StevenSeagal Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 You forgot the 'descent beta': handcuffs, bright lights, dog bites, electrode hooked to genitals, one step towards a safer America. They must have thought they were Above the Law.I should have been there. Quote
sobo Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Allright then. The guidebook is not out yet, so I've updated the name. Don't forget to update the name in your TR over in the Alpine Lakes forum. Quote
Lowell_Skoog Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 You did this on the Aurora bridge? Man, you asked for it! Next time you might try using the 20th Ave NE bridge in the Ravenna neighborhood. It's pedestrian only. But then again, maybe it's not high enough. How long is your rope? You might have to un-twist half the rope at a time. Quote
JayB Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 I think they'll leave you alone if you're wearing a helmet and have some home-made wings on your back. Quote
mattp Posted June 30, 2006 Author Posted June 30, 2006 Ravenna might be a good choice as there are not so many "good samaritans" driving by. How about Husky Stadium? A 60 meter rope touches down on a grassy lawn just north of the service drive leading to Adobe at the north end of the bridge. Quote
JayB Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Tacoma Narrows with goggles and snorkel might be a good bet. Quote
lizard_brain Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Yeah, you sanitized it. It was an ethnic joke. Joke? True story. Happened to me the other day. ... water was really deep too. Tell me about it... Quote
JayB Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 If you ever re-cage your soul by sportclimbing at Exit 38, I bet the bridge on the old RR grade would work. Quote
TREETOAD Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 That's a funny story. I'm glad you weren't arrested. If it had been Layton, there would have been some sarcastic comment and that would have been all the excuse they'd need to give him a ride downtown. By the way, what rope did you get? You would have been shot dead if you had black hair a mono brow and a beard....and rightly so I might add. Quote
sobo Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 You would have been shot dead if you had black hair a mono brow and a beard....and rightly so I might add. This, from a Canadian? What has the world come to? Quote
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