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General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Proficiency of beginners 22-Sep-2003 At 6:10:50 PM DC

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Speaking of this practice of bumblies climbing with little or no experience and no supervision. I was climbing at araps on one of the easy organ pipes route and a group rock up with what looked to be either hired gear or uni gear. There was a group of about 4 and they looked like they had learnt a few things but not enough. Any way there was a guy there who was telling them what to do. Initially I was ignoring them but I couldn't help hearing the guy start telling them how they should belay the second and thought I'd better listen in to see what he says. My major concern was that this guy was telling them to clip in to the anchor themselves and then belay off themselves. Hence the only link to the anchor for the second was the belayer. Not good I'm thinking. So I say shouldn't you tell them how to set up an anchor and belay with the belayer being independant of the anchor. I got told to mind my own business. No accident insued as they were on easy ground but I was thinking what could have happened if there was. Belayer stuck, second stuck and injured and none of them with a clue what to do other than to drop the second down and hope that they didn't make matters worse.

My 2 cents worth.