Friction Slab Illegal?
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:51 am
Is climbing on the friction slab illegal? Here is what went down...
Sometime around July of 2010, a buddy and I drove all night to get to the red. It was late by the time we rolled in, but we just weren't tired and had that itch to climb. I had climbed at the friction slab on previous trips, so I suggested we pass up Miguel's and whip out the headlamps for some slab sending before setting up camp. It was maybe sometime between 12am and 3am. We parked the car at that pull off a little way down the road and hiked up to the roadside slab.
We spent maybe 15 minutes climbing the two routes on the front side when a cop car rolled on by going south. We didn't think much of it and continued our climbing. Maybe 5 minutes went by and we saw the cop coming back down the road towards us. He stopped at our parked car, turned on the lights, got out, and proceeded to approach the slab, flashlight in hand. I descended, and walked over to the cop asking him what the problem was, not thinking I was doing anything wrong. He immediately started yelling at us, claiming we were trespassing, breaking the law, etc. etc. He was threatening to take us to jail and everything. My buddy, who isn't as strong of a climber, was still on the slab when the cop yelled at him to get down faster. Under the pressure, my friend slipped and fell, twisting his ankle a bit. The cop then proceeded to tell us, and I quote, "If I ever see you guys or anyone else climbing on this property again, I will not hesitate to cut the rope, I don't care if you are fifty feet up!". I thought this statement was a bit over the top personally.
Needless to say we immediately explained that we were not trying to break any rules and had the upmost respect for the law. I then proceeded to show him the guidebook, and the entry for the friction slab. He seemed to hesitate a bit, as if deciding whether or not to take us in. Luckily he chose to give us a warning and let us go. He claimed that the property was owned by the Natural Bridge State Park and climbing was prohibited, and suggested that the entry be taken out of the guidebook.
I am only writing this because I would like to know if this guy knew what he was talking about, or if he was just bullshitting and giving us climbers a hard time. If it truly is illegal to climb at the friction slab, maybe it should be noted in the guidebook. Anyone have any idea on this one?
Thanks for your insight.
Sometime around July of 2010, a buddy and I drove all night to get to the red. It was late by the time we rolled in, but we just weren't tired and had that itch to climb. I had climbed at the friction slab on previous trips, so I suggested we pass up Miguel's and whip out the headlamps for some slab sending before setting up camp. It was maybe sometime between 12am and 3am. We parked the car at that pull off a little way down the road and hiked up to the roadside slab.
We spent maybe 15 minutes climbing the two routes on the front side when a cop car rolled on by going south. We didn't think much of it and continued our climbing. Maybe 5 minutes went by and we saw the cop coming back down the road towards us. He stopped at our parked car, turned on the lights, got out, and proceeded to approach the slab, flashlight in hand. I descended, and walked over to the cop asking him what the problem was, not thinking I was doing anything wrong. He immediately started yelling at us, claiming we were trespassing, breaking the law, etc. etc. He was threatening to take us to jail and everything. My buddy, who isn't as strong of a climber, was still on the slab when the cop yelled at him to get down faster. Under the pressure, my friend slipped and fell, twisting his ankle a bit. The cop then proceeded to tell us, and I quote, "If I ever see you guys or anyone else climbing on this property again, I will not hesitate to cut the rope, I don't care if you are fifty feet up!". I thought this statement was a bit over the top personally.
Needless to say we immediately explained that we were not trying to break any rules and had the upmost respect for the law. I then proceeded to show him the guidebook, and the entry for the friction slab. He seemed to hesitate a bit, as if deciding whether or not to take us in. Luckily he chose to give us a warning and let us go. He claimed that the property was owned by the Natural Bridge State Park and climbing was prohibited, and suggested that the entry be taken out of the guidebook.
I am only writing this because I would like to know if this guy knew what he was talking about, or if he was just bullshitting and giving us climbers a hard time. If it truly is illegal to climb at the friction slab, maybe it should be noted in the guidebook. Anyone have any idea on this one?
Thanks for your insight.