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What is everyones stance on college outdoor pursuits groups? I hear they are not welcomed. I climb frequently in my area and participate in these trip quite often. We have 3 or 4 good 12a/b climbers in our group and are very respectful of nature and other climbers. Why all the hate?

GTFO

Size. Big groups are a pain in the arse for everyone else and extract a heavy toll on the area.

What is the difference between a college group and six or eight people climbing together. Nothing.
Don't worry about the hate because you are in college. Just break up the group if there are a bunch of people with you.

I agree, a group of 6-8 people is annoying too. Most college groups I have seen are more like 10-12 or more though.

So...what is th difference between a group of 10-12 and three groups of 3-4? Same number of people! A large group, especially one with only one or two lead climbers actually take up less climbs than a bunch of small groups each with their own lead climbers.

I've been out before and seen large groups, or what I thought was a large group taking up an entire wall only to find they were a bunch of groups with no prior connection that had somehow merged into each other because they started talking, got along, used each others top rope, what have you. Similarly, I've seen small individual groups that turned out to be part of the same main pack that split up and went their own way.

The problem that I have seen with some college groups is the hogging of routes. They will get somewhere early, hang a bunch of popular easy routes, and then sit there all day and not let anyone else climb. Of course this is not all college groups, but it is some of them. I could really care less, because I couldn't tell you the last time I wanted to get on a route a college group was on.:spray:

Flip55 wrote:What is everyones stance on college outdoor pursuits groups? I hear they are not welcomed. ..... Why all the hate?

the stress of climbing near so many people belaying so poorly.

No hate here. (Muir Valley) Well, maybe just a little envy, because outdoor pursuits clubs were not a part of our college life back in the cave ages.

We have had very good experience with many college outdoor pursuits groups. They have come to Muir on their trips, been responsible members of the climbing community, and are welcome. Several have even pitched in to help with trail work during their visits, and used that as part of their learning experience.

We do ask that groups of more than six climbers contact us in advance, letting us know what days and in what areas they plan to climb in Muir, so that we can avoid serious overcrowding by multiple large groups on the same wall at the same time.

All members of the visiting group must execute a Waiver, preferably on-line before the trip, and that those under 18 must have the waiver executed by a parent or a legal guardian on paper, a copy of which is in the possession of the adult leader.

We appreciate the groups who have adequate adult supervision for minors and don't:

• Bring inexperienced climbers without having appropriately-trained leaders or guides present.

• Put many ropes up on a series of adjacent climbs and hog them all day, just because they have strength in numbers.

• Come from a gym environment with no outdoor climbing experience with no training in outdoor skills, e.g., not top roping and/or lowering with their rope through the fixed anchors, rather than their own draws.

• Park their over-sized vehicle in such a way that it blocks traffic.

• Expect me to provide a trash can for them to clean out the bus they have been "living in", expecting me to pack it out for them. I am not a trash collector.

• Take the extra rolls of toilet paper I have put in the bathrooms, because it is will be handy to have when they are camping.

• Forget to practice LNT ethics.


Liz

drivel wrote:

Flip55 wrote:What is everyones stance on college outdoor pursuits groups? I hear they are not welcomed. ..... Why all the hate?

the stress of climbing near so many people belaying so poorly.

Hate to say it but so true!!!!!!!