I've been to this site, and it really is a marvel. Years ago I cut my teeth as a climber moving between the slot canyons of the southwest and the Cascades of the PNW. I'm reminded of the hand...
I've been to this site, and it really is a marvel.
Years ago I cut my teeth as a climber moving between the slot canyons of the southwest and the Cascades of the PNW. I'm reminded of the hand drawn maps that canyoneers would share within a close knit community. Some of these canyons only had one passable route, even with climbing gear, and required leaps of faith, like entering unlit cracks with no easy return.
There were signs of indigenous people's in really improbable places, some that have probably only been seen by the climbers in the region. With a general fear of modernizing access to these areas and wanting to keep less respectful people and climbers away, I wonder if there will ever be a catalog of these old maps and routes. I was the youngest in my old group and I'm the last who still climbs, either because of age or death.
I have an old waterproof container of maps going back to the 60's and 70's, that were handed down from older climbers. The tragedy is, I'd never share them outside of the community, and I'm a world away now. They mark not only routes, but things like visible veins of precious minerals, water basins, and pockets of old bones and fragments of tools. I'd rather the knowledge be lost for a new generation to discover than to cause a mining operation or an excavation to move in and destroy them.
I was also amused to see the person on the video wearing the exact shoes in the exact color that I have on right now.
I've been to this site, and it really is a marvel.
Years ago I cut my teeth as a climber moving between the slot canyons of the southwest and the Cascades of the PNW. I'm reminded of the hand drawn maps that canyoneers would share within a close knit community. Some of these canyons only had one passable route, even with climbing gear, and required leaps of faith, like entering unlit cracks with no easy return.
There were signs of indigenous people's in really improbable places, some that have probably only been seen by the climbers in the region. With a general fear of modernizing access to these areas and wanting to keep less respectful people and climbers away, I wonder if there will ever be a catalog of these old maps and routes. I was the youngest in my old group and I'm the last who still climbs, either because of age or death.
I have an old waterproof container of maps going back to the 60's and 70's, that were handed down from older climbers. The tragedy is, I'd never share them outside of the community, and I'm a world away now. They mark not only routes, but things like visible veins of precious minerals, water basins, and pockets of old bones and fragments of tools. I'd rather the knowledge be lost for a new generation to discover than to cause a mining operation or an excavation to move in and destroy them.
I was also amused to see the person on the video wearing the exact shoes in the exact color that I have on right now.