Beacon Rock: 2008 Opening Safety Notes (Important!

[JosephH]

Opening On Wednesday

====================

 

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.

[kevbone]

At the moment I'd say helmets ought to be considered mandatory anywhere around the SE Corner area and over the holidays especially.

 

Thanks for all the work JH.....I would agree with the helmets.....but would take that a step further and say you should wear your helmets anytime you climb. ANYWHERE

[pink]

even at the rock gym

[kevbone]

One does not climb at the rock gym.....one socializes

[pink]

One does not climb at the rock gym.....one socializes

[pink_chalk]

Thanks for the update JH!

[KaskadskyjKozak]

At the moment I'd say helmets ought to be considered mandatory anywhere around the SE Corner area and over the holidays especially.

 

Thanks for all the work JH.....I would agree with the helmets.....but would take that a step further and say you should wear your helmets anytime you climb. ANYWHERE

 

should you put your name on it too?

[TimL]

Where can you pick up a guide to Beacon?

[Off_White]

At the moment I'd say helmets ought to be considered mandatory anywhere around the SE Corner area and over the holidays especially.

 

Thanks for all the work JH.....I would agree with the helmets.....but would take that a step further and say you should wear your helmets anytime you climb. ANYWHERE

 

should you put your name on it too?

 

I dunno, maybe you should ask a, uhm, mountie?

[denalidave]

At the moment I'd say helmets ought to be considered mandatory anywhere around the SE Corner area and over the holidays especially.

 

Thanks for all the work JH.....I would agree with the helmets.....but would take that a step further and say you should wear your helmets anytime you climb. ANYWHERE

I usually wear mine even hiking down the climbers trail before roping up. Some of those missiles have bombarded the trail too. Plus, you look so cool with your brain bucket on, right...

[Dechristo]

At the moment I'd say helmets ought to be considered mandatory anywhere around the SE Corner area and over the holidays especially.

 

Thanks for all the work JH.....I would agree with the helmets.....but would take that a step further and say you should wear your helmets anytime you climb. ANYWHERE

 

should you put your name on it too?

 

some might benefit from their name backwards and a mirror

[billcoe]

Where can you pick up a guide to Beacon?

 

TimO will sell you that or a real pretty and artistic topo. Here's Tims site: link

 

Click the 5th tab down for the guidebook though (that has more in it than just beacon).

[Peter_Puget]

I'll try to grab a pitch Saturday afternoon if I can get permission.

[Farrgo]

I can vouch for the rockfall issue. Climbed Cruising to the Corner earlier today and saw quite a bit of rockfall coming off to the West. Of course, there were a couple climbers out and they might have been trundling... not sure.

[JosephH]

Fargo, did you actually see it coming down and if so, what size, where from, and do you have any idea where it may have landed (roughly)? I'll check on that, but again, no one - me included - should be deliberately tossing rocks out there at this point without coordinating with the BRSP Staff (and the railroad). If you run across any rock you feel poses an immediate hazard and you can't just stack it off to the side in some nook, then please pm me or post up here.

 

Thanks for the heads up...

 

[ Note - 11:30pm: I just checked with Kyle and Jim O. who were up on Grassy Ledges and Uprising today. They weren't tossing anything and didn't see or hear anything either (Kyle at least, haven't talked to Jim yet...) ]

[denalidave]

I noticed one rather large and very loose boulder on the upper exit trail coming off YW/SE Corner. It was on the right side of the trail (climber's right), about 40-50' from the fence. It will probably need more than one person to move it to a "safe place" but won't take much to dislodge it either.

[JosephH]

Dave, do you mean on the walk-off through the trees after finishing the SE Corner ridge ramp? And by 'fence' do you mean the tourist trail railing?

[denalidave]

Dave, do you mean on the walk-off through the trees after finishing the SE Corner ridge ramp? And by 'fence' do you mean the tourist trail railing?

Yes, on both questions.

[pink]

[JosephH]

Pink you wily-wascal, you better be climbing and staying in shape...

 

Dave, how far off the trail?

[Farrgo]

JosephH,

 

I can't tell where it originated from, but I guess it was from above the standard SE start. I saw a couple volleys of rock come down and they all landed beyond the trail away from the tracks. Pretty good sized rocks too, wear your helmet.

[denalidave]

Pink you wily-wascal, you better be climbing and staying in shape...

 

Dave, how far off the trail?

Pretty much butting up to the trail. I may be off on the 40-50' from the touron trail but it was just as you transition from the really loose rocky part of the trail to where it is more forested. I will be out on Friday am w/Fargo and maybe we can move it. If I see you, I will try to show it to you or maybe mark it with some branches or cairns next to it.

[JosephH]

Farrgo, it's hard to pitch good size rocks far enough out to not hit anything on the way down so I'm guessing we still have an unknown source of active rockfall high up on the wall. I'll be out over the weekend and looks like I'll have to switch from monitoring Peregrines to monitoring rocks until we find where it's coming from and whether there is anything we can do about it.

 

Dave, I'd appreciate it if you mark it somehow, but please don't try moving it - even that we'd have to look into with the BRSP if it's that big. I'll pm you with my cell# and give me a call when you get on a route to head up that way.

 

To everyone, if you're out in the coming weeks and see or hear any significant rockfall, please pm me or post up on this thread - thanks.

[JosephH]

Just bumping to the front page for the 4th weekend...

[JosephH]

And one last time...