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The ladder is just below the ledge with father and son, etc. There used to be a root system on this short little slab to scramble up. The rope replaces the roots, which I guess eroded away. Since it is a dynamic rope, it hella stretches when you stand on it, esp. with a full pack.

Keeping in mind this is a FS area, we are not as free to do full scale trail work, but I would suggest that people find a better approch anyway. Maybe keep going along the trail and take the trail along the cliff that is to the right of vison.

I think rope ladders are generally a bad idea. Rerouting the trail (with FS permission of course) to just past the Vision area and back up to the ledge would be best, or a treated wooden ladder or something of that sort.

How much fun would it be to be halfway up the rope ladder (with a full pack) and realize that some critter had chewed through all but three strands of the sheath of the rope? That just wouldn't be fun would it?

My personal policy is to cut down all rope ladders (unless on private land).

rope ladders are gay. these aren't treehouses. they should be cut down and removed like all garbage. do we need safety railing and crossing guards going to the crag? climbing is a dangerous sport and attempts to dumb down the sport only cheapen the whole experience for everyone.

You have to remember that only a small portion of climbers are doing this stuff for anyone else but themselves. Imagine, you and your 3 friends have just driven from Michigan to climb a route you saw in Rays Guidebook, only when you get there the roots used in the past to get up are now gone. What do you do?,
you get out an old section of rope used for misc. purposes and you make a ladder. You climb all day and at days end, much like cleaning the anchors, you choose not to clean your rope ladder, thinking your helping other people who will eventually climb here.... We could have a Red day Gathering and build wooden ladders, and swinging bridges, and possibly even an easily located, by Gps, tool shed with supplies so this does'nt happen again. I agree with the safety aspect, but again we all know who cares and who just cares for themselves.... my 2cents

However, the area in question isn't the beginning of a route, just a shortcut to the cliff. You can easily walk right and around for an extra minute and get to the routes.

We are climbers, climb the stupid thing.

Take your pack off, through it up on top, and climb. Trust me, if you can't climb up that five feet of rock, you will probably have a pretty hard time climbing any of the routes there.

This thread makes my head hurt.

I'm agreeing with Artsay, Andrew, and all the others who care enough to walk around the extra minute. I was giving a scenario of the type who could care a less about the Red except when "They" are in it. I will walk around, all part of the adventure.....

sport climbing is an adventure?