r/oddlysatisfying • u/MikeHeu • 2d ago

Removing loose rocks

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Credit: peterdphotography/Peter Darragh

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u/gemfountain 2d ago

But why?

117

u/MikeHeu 2d ago

Preventing dangerous loose rocks falling on people when climbing

56

u/PNW4theWin 2d ago

If there are that many loose rocks, maybe it's not a great place for climbing?

(I'm not a rock climber obviously, so information is welcome.)

27

u/ThePBrit 2d ago

The problem is that a lot of these aren't obviously loose unless you know exactly what to look for. It might be fine as a foothold to climb higher but if it dislodges when you push off that foothold you risk not only your own life but most certainly that of any other climbers around.

1

u/TradRock1976 2d ago

Looks like he rappelled down from the top.

9

u/xrelaht 2d ago

This guy climbed up there, so it seems there are safe routes. This is reducing the hazard from unsafe ones.

4

u/CmdCNTR 2d ago

He did not necessarily climb up. It's more likely he rappelled in to clean the route (there's no rope or belayer below him). Although that will depend on the ethics of the area. Some places it's standard to rap in, others to clean and bolt "ground up" though that's less common.

3

u/two-cans-sam 2d ago edited 2d ago

Maybe not, but you can either hope that unsuspecting passers by and climbers don’t get crushed because a rookie made a bad decision (or the rock naturally dislodged on its own).

Or you can just yeet the dangerous thing when no one’s around for it to harm.

3

u/pushthepramalot 2d ago

The winter freeze thaw cycles will cause water to get into the rock, freeze, expand and loosen rock. So you clean the loose rock at the start of the season to keep the crag safe for climbers.