RRC Archives

Christian wrote:what is a "drove"? I know I should know this and maybe once did know but the meaning escapes me.

Good question Christian, for this instance of "droves of people", here's what Merrium-Webster had to say:

Main Entry: 1drove
Pronunciation: 'drOv
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English drAf, from drIfan to drive -- more at DRIVE
1 : a group of animals driven or moving in a body
2 : a large number : CROWD -- usually used in plural especially with in <tourists arriving in droves> <stayed away in droves>

I think that the use of either the #1 definition or #2 definition would be dependent on whether or not you had read Thesenga's article. I've only read the email banter surround it but I think it would be safe to say his purpose would be to keep Southern Ill. bouldering safe for droves of people, #1 definition, whilst Sandy was probably meaning it in the #2 sense of the word.

Really, though, definitions are quite funny. M-W probably meant the #1 definition as in terms of a herd of cattle walking as if one unit, whereas the image in my head is a herd of elephants working their way within someone's body. (Oh that poor soul.) It really is a miracle that we can communicate at all and I'd hate to think about all the things that have been mistranslated for a lack of cultural understanding.

Yikes. (I think I had a Tomdarch out of body moment.)

Ballss wrote:Isn't he the fucko that set fire to an entire rock formation at Jtree in a drunken stupor on New Year's Eve last year?

to answer that question check this link...

http://www.camp4.com/morerocknews.php?newsid=461

And Thesanga's explanation at...

http://www.sportclimbing.de/news/news.p ... 2003&show=

Dear meetVA, thank you for that carification. My head is full! I think I knew that but everything is a little cloudy upstairs. 8)

Yeah..if you plan a trip to Jackson Falls in the summer bring a pound of chalk, your mighty sport rack of 6 draws, multiple bushes to clean all the moss off, a HUGE can off insect repellant and I towel to dry off after each route. And guys those things that hang between you legs..new name..TCU Tick Collecting Unit! The ticks at Jackson Falls are so much fun in the summer!

Summer in SoIll isn't much fun. But the Fall and nice days in the winter are amazing! But it is great to try a route/problem when it's hot and humid and you are beat and sweaty, then come back on a cool, dry day and just crank on it because you're feeling great and you stick to everything!

Regarding the original 'bashing' article, he did have a bit of a point about some of the problems being mossy and having dirty top outs. Last time I was down there, there were a bunch of good problems that had 'grown over' and weren't so much fun.