I'm not going to start an argument about how important global warming is or is not, but I think it was a cool idea and wish there were more people in this country with that kind of passion, even if it were about issues I don't support. I don't, however, think that the banner should "stay," no matter how they put it up. Do you really think it should stay up forever? If I did a ground up FA of a new route in Arches NP or even just Yosemite, would you want the banner that I put up to stay forever?

Hey all - I'm a regular rc.com reader, and I was also one of the climbers who hung the banner on Rushmore today. I was sort of curious when someone would bring it up on one of the forums.... ;)

Sadly, no, we weren't ground-up. There are existing bolts placed all over the monument, used by the parks rope-access team for cleaning the monument. That said, we did use a number of pieces of trad gear for anchoring our lines, and anchoring the banner.

And as you can see from the video - it was insanely windy. We had a rough go of it - but safely deployed the banner, with no damage to the monument, or injuries to any of the climb team.

There's a newly edited video up at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A9_xj77rcQ

I'm pretty sure that nobody at Greenpeace thought that the banner would stay up for more than an hour or so -- they knew that the impact would be made. The banner stayed up for about an hour before they finally removed it.

The banner made ZERO impact.

Hey all - I'm a regular rc.com reader, and I was also one of the climbers who hung the banner on Rushmore today. I was sort of curious when someone would bring it up on one of the forums.... ;)

Sadly, no, we weren't ground-up. There are existing bolts placed all over the monument, used by the parks rope-access team for cleaning the monument. That said, we did use a number of pieces of trad gear for anchoring our lines, and anchoring the banner.

And as you can see from the video - it was insanely windy. We had a rough go of it - but safely deployed the banner, with no damage to the monument, or injuries to any of the climb team.

There's a newly edited video up at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A9_xj77rcQ

The banner made ZERO impact. The majority of the American people know that the idea of man made global warming is a crock of shit and it is nothing more than a marketing scheme for the government to raise taxes and centralize power via regulation.

Those of you who believe global warming is man made are just contemporary counterparts to the ancient dupes who believed that Aztec rulers had to sacrifice a disgusting amount of people so the sun would rise. There was a consensus that this had to be done.

History is rife with governments creating religions and manipulating the hordes so they can hold onto their power. However, most of you GW zealots are too uneducated to have the slightest grasp of history. Then again, zealots are never deterred by facts, so it would not matter anyway.

Hell, I'll bet 99% of the dopes who believe that global warming is man made cannot describe the difference between a model and empirical science based on the scientific method.

Hey all - I'm a regular rc.com reader, and I was also one of the climbers who hung the banner on Rushmore today. I was sort of curious when someone would bring it up on one of the forums.... ;)

Sadly, no, we weren't ground-up. There are existing bolts placed all over the monument, used by the parks rope-access team for cleaning the monument. That said, we did use a number of pieces of trad gear for anchoring our lines, and anchoring the banner.

And as you can see from the video - it was insanely windy. We had a rough go of it - but safely deployed the banner, with no damage to the monument, or injuries to any of the climb team.

There's a newly edited video up at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A9_xj77rcQ

Hey all - I'm a regular rc.com reader, and I was also one of the climbers who hung the banner on Rushmore today. I was sort of curious when someone would bring it up on one of the forums.... ;)

Sadly, no, we weren't ground-up. There are existing bolts placed all over the monument, used by the parks rope-access team for cleaning the monument. That said, we did use a number of pieces of trad gear for anchoring our lines, and anchoring the banner.

And as you can see from the video - it was insanely windy. We had a rough go of it - but safely deployed the banner, with no damage to the monument, or injuries to any of the climb team.

There's a newly edited video up at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A9_xj77rcQ

Here is a link to the official Greenpeace video that was taken during the protest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A9_xj77rcQ

Rock on, Greenpeace.

PS - it's on the front page of yahoo and I'll bet it will be on every major news broadcast tonight. Of course, I have no idea how you measure impact.

PS - it's on the front page of yahoo and I'll bet it will be on every major news broadcast tonight. Of course, I have no idea how you measure impact.

The banner made ZERO impact. The majority of the American people know that the idea of man made global warming is a crock of shit and it is nothing more than a marketing scheme for the government to raise taxes and centralize power via regulation.

It saddens me to see such desecration of our national monument. There is a time and a place for all actions, and I feel this action was sadly put in the wrong place.

No matter what your views are on global warming, I am not impressed in such things.

As far as impact? What kind of climbing backlash will result from this? What kind of change is going to come from this politically?

to me I only see negatives coming from this, rather than a positive.

I think a better venue would have been off a buiding in a big city. If I saw someone putting something like this while I was climbing, I would want to cut their ropes! I wouldn't cut them, but I would want to...

As far as impact? What kind of climbing backlash will result from this? What kind of change is going to come from this politically?

From now on climbing on Rushmore shall be illegal.

There's your backlash.

Sheesh.

DMT

Why do I get the feeling that you don't think terrorism is a crock of shit, and you are fine with having your freedoms taken away to monitor that?

This from Time.com: "85% — say global warming is probably happening, according to a new TIME magazine/ABC News/Stanford University poll. An even larger percentage (88%) think global warming threatens future generations."

Sadly Joseph, your post is the one that reaks of zealotry. Then again, zealots are never deterred by facts ... please educate yourself rather than relying on faulty, pseudo-historic analogies.

"Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F)during the last century.[1][A] The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that increasing greenhouse gas concentrations resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation are responsible for most of the observed temperature increase since the middle of the 20th century.[1] The IPCC also concludes that natural phenomena such as solar variation and volcanoes produced most of the warming from pre-industrial times to 1950 and had a small cooling effect afterward.[2][3] These basic conclusions have been endorsed by more than 45 scientific societies and academies of science, including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries.[4]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming

I thought it was already illegal. Rushmore looks like choss anyway.

Yah, quoting what Wikipedia says about global warming makes one look exceptionally intelligent... Smart like a dump truck eh?

You mean smart like cheesetitting bold tags?

It saddens me to see such desecration of our national monument. There is a time and a place for all actions, and I feel this action was sadly put in the wrong place.

No matter what your views are on global warming, I am not impressed in such things.

As far as impact? What kind of climbing backlash will result from this? What kind of change is going to come from this politically?

to me I only see negatives coming from this, rather than a positive.

I think a better venue would have been off a buiding in a big city. If I saw someone putting something like this while I was climbing, I would want to cut their ropes! I wouldn't cut them, but I would want to...

It saddens me to see such desecration of our national monument. There is a time and a place for all actions, and I feel this action was sadly put in the wrong place.

No matter what your views are on global warming, I am not impressed in such things.

As far as impact? What kind of climbing backlash will result from this? What kind of change is going to come from this politically?

to me I only see negatives coming from this, rather than a positive.

I think a better venue would have been off a buiding in a big city. If I saw someone putting something like this while I was climbing, I would want to cut their ropes! I wouldn't cut them, but I would want to...

Desecration? With no lingering physical trace? I must disagree. If people want to know about desecration educate yourselves a bit about the inputs and outputs of a fucking hamburger.

Its really easy for people(wealthy mostly) who are uneducated about, and insulated from, the consequences of the trait of our society to externalize costs not experienced personally ('corporately') to deny the role and sensitivity of the organisms and processes that make our lives and industries possible, or that maintaining those systems Must be a priority, that its just another relative truth. Makes it easy to get bent out of shape over trivial actions that have no material effect in the world while ignoring all the things that really do cause harm. Learn a bit about the struggles of the disenfranchised, worldwide, and you'll learn why the ideals we attach to all of our monuments are a fucking joke, and, very likely, what pollution is and why actions like this that force discussions are dare I say patriotic and humanitarian.

Desecration? With no lingering physical trace? I must disagree.

Desecration? With no lingering physical trace? I must disagree. If people want to know about desecration educate yourselves a bit about the inputs and outputs of a fucking hamburger.

These basic conclusions have been endorsed by more than 45 scientific societies and academies of science, including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries.

Why do I get the feeling that you don't think terrorism is a crock of shit, and you are fine with having your freedoms taken away to monitor that?

This from Time.com: "85% — say global warming is probably happening, according to a new TIME magazine/ABC News/Stanford University poll. An even larger percentage (88%) think global warming threatens future generations."

Do you deny this statement?


You can check these facts if you want. The National Academies of Sciences do agree that man-made global warming is real. So do many other scientific organizations. Just because it is on Wiki doesn't mean that it isn't true.

The gov. has found a new way to tax us, period.

Most Americans can't do basic algebra. I've done years of modeling complex systems, and I know more than 99.9% of Americans do about the relability of said models. The GW models are a crock, give me a number you want and I'll come up with a legitimate looking model that justifies that number.

All that man-made GW hysteria proves is that if you tell non-thinking people something often enough they'll believe it.

There are great reasons to reduce fossil fuel dependency, GW isn't one of them. The gov. has found a new way to tax us, period.

According to the EPA, the world has been cooling the last 11 years. But CO2 levels are rising, how can that be, bogus correlation anyone?

Considering that our government seems to be dragging it's feet, kicking and screaming, over reduction of emissions and such, I'd be interested to read just what new taxes you are referring to.

Please - take your time and outline well. Educate me; I'm just a simple person who got lost in HS Algebra while I was out sick for a few days.

from what i've read (i cant provide sources blah blah) the earth's temperature goes in cycles w/ on top of a slight upward slope. so its basically a upward trending line + a sinusoid. during the upturn of the sinusoid (which happened in the 90's or so) the change in earth temperature is rising at an increasing rate. This is what they used to "predict" the temperature of the earth in X years. so how did they extend it? well what else is increasing at an increasing rate? an exponential function. this means that each (year/decade/centure) it is (depending on the exact numbers they used and such) an order of magnitude hotter.

for example lets look at the stock market. if you go way back to when the stock market started you will see that there are peaks and troughs. so we could use all these years of back data to help predict what the economy is generally going to do (not exact number but the flow of things). you would come up with a sinusoid (look it up if you dont know its shape) so omg i dunno if you guys noticed the economy has tanked recently. lets look at the past 12 months and make our model from that. if we did it would be just a line that goes down and down faster and faster (an exponential).

OMFG THIS MEAN THAT THE ECONOMY IS JUST GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND THAT MEANS IT WILL NEVER GET BETTER!

thats bascially what you global warming guys are doing.

now im not for super inefficient cars (im an engineer, how could i be?) or spewing gross shit all over our planet, but i dont honestly believe humans are making it get hotter and hotter every year. if thats what it takes to get a 50 mpg car then i guess thats cool, but im not going to sweat over GW (haha, see what i did there?)

dynosore: feel free to correct me. i dont do too much modeling

Hey all - I'm a regular rc.com reader, and I was also one of the climbers who hung the banner on Rushmore today. I was sort of curious when someone would bring it up on one of the forums.... ;)

Sadly, no, we weren't ground-up. There are existing bolts placed all over the monument, used by the parks rope-access team for cleaning the monument. That said, we did use a number of pieces of trad gear for anchoring our lines, and anchoring the banner.

And as you can see from the video - it was insanely windy. We had a rough go of it - but safely deployed the banner, with no damage to the monument, or injuries to any of the climb team.

There's a newly edited video up at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A9_xj77rcQ

Hey all - I'm a regular rc.com reader, and I was also one of the climbers who hung the banner on Rushmore today. I was sort of curious when someone would bring it up on one of the forums.... ;)

Sadly, no, we weren't ground-up. There are existing bolts placed all over the monument, used by the parks rope-access team for cleaning the monument. That said, we did use a number of pieces of trad gear for anchoring our lines, and anchoring the banner.

And as you can see from the video - it was insanely windy. We had a rough go of it - but safely deployed the banner, with no damage to the monument, or injuries to any of the climb team.

There's a newly edited video up at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A9_xj77rcQ

Eco terrorists.

...No self respecting climbers I know would try to impact the sport as negatively as they did.

I don't really have an opinion one way or the other about someone hanging a banner on Rushmore, and I think that some of the evidence that humans are causing global warming (and what consequences that might have) is dubious at best, but that's neither here nor there.

It always fascinates me how caring and eco-conscious climbers generally make themselves out to be. I mean, let's be real with ourselves here: We often drive hundreds of miles in our gas burning cars, camp in pristine wilderness, strap on shoes (made from petroleum and leather and shipped from China), tie in to a nylon rope (also made from petroleum, and probably shipped from China), and load ourselves down with all manner of aluminum biners and pro (all of which uses massive amounts of electricity to produce and then is shipped overseas) so that we can feel good by not killing ourselves doing something that the vast majority of people would say is a downright silly pastime. Then we turn around and say "damn all you people who are destroying the planet for no reason!" In other words, if it's something we want to do (and don't get me wrong, I love me some climbing), then it's perfectly justifiable, but everyone else are just irresponsible assholes because they throw out their junk mail instead of recycling it. Hypocrisy, anyone?

If people want to know about desecration educate yourselves a bit about the inputs and outputs of a fucking hamburger.

Hypocrisy, anyone?

I'm not going to start an argument about how important global warming is or is not, but I think it was a cool idea and wish there were more people in this country with that kind of passion, even if it were about issues I don't support. I don't, however, think that the banner should "stay," no matter how they put it up. Do you really think it should stay up forever? If I did a ground up FA of a new route in Arches NP or even just Yosemite, would you want the banner that I put up to stay forever?

Everyone likes to complain about other people and make fun of the stuff they do, without realizing that they are quite similar in their behaviors (as you pointed out).

Possibly, but not necessarily. If everyone practiced a bit of moderation, certain people probably wouldn't feel the need to push their environmentalism to such an extreme.

I'm not perfect in every aspect of my life with regard to environmental issues, but I do take a lot of measures to reduce my footprint. I don't expect other people to be perfect either, but I do expect them to make some effort to moderate their consumption and impact.

I thought it was already illegal. Rushmore looks like choss anyway.

I have quite a bit of self-respect, and I would have joined with that project in a second.

I've read through this entire thread three times now... and although many posts are loaded with left wing spew, this one just seems to jump out at me. Doesn't anyone care about access issues anymore? Choss or not (this dumb ass obviously knows nothing about the area), ...blah blah blah

Actually, I know a few things about the area:

1. it's in the middle of bum fuck South Dakota
2. it's off limits to climbing
3. it looks like complete choss

Given these three points I see no compelling reason to drive to South Dakota, and while I'm being REALLY frank I could give a fuck if it collapsed into a pile of rubble and am endlessly amused that all of this is pissing people off...

What, you've climbed Rushmore and are here to tell us that despite all appearances in photos and video it actually isn't choss?

Actually, I know a few things about the area:

1. it's in the middle of bum fuck South Dakota
2. it's off limits to climbing
3. it looks like complete choss

Given these three points I see no compelling reason to drive to South Dakota, and while I'm being REALLY frank I could give a fuck if it collapsed into a pile of rubble and am endlessly amused that all of this is pissing people off, especially you.

Go organize an adopt-a-crag or something.

http://online.wsj.com/...733423766063691.html

How's 1.3-1.9 TRILLION in new taxes sound to ya?

Whether you like my point or not, it's a fact that most people have never looked at any of the data or models themselves,

but buy manmade GW because the media rammed it down their gullible throats.

I prefer to not be a sheep and I dig into things to find the truth. I know that's not popular in our spoon fed nanny society. Oh well.

All that man-made GW hysteria proves is that if you tell non-thinking people something often enough they'll believe it.

Whether you like my point or not, it's a fact that most people have never looked at any of the data or models themselves, but buy manmade GW because the media rammed it down their gullible throats. I prefer to not be a sheep and I dig into things to find the truth. I know that's not popular in our spoon fed nanny society. Oh well.

I'll say it again: I'm not a Republican, and I'm for reducing fossil fuel usage. But the GW scare, and cap and trade legislation, are for those who lack understanding.

I have a feeling that if the media had been railing on about the imminent alien invasion for the last 5 years like they have about GW, people would be watching the heavens waiting for death from above.

Awesome! I appreciate your efforts at subversion regardless of my own personal cause. So out of curiosity what kind of charges are the climb team looking at? Trespassing surely. Vandalism? Defacing a national monument?

Most Americans can't do basic algebra. I've done years of modeling complex systems, and I know more than 99.9% of Americans do about the relability of said models. The GW models are a crock, give me a number you want and I'll come up with a legitimate looking model that justifies that number.

All that man-made GW hysteria proves is that if you tell non-thinking people something often enough they'll believe it.

But do we really believe that the world warming a couple degrees will doom us all? Humans are great adapters.

I don't really have an opinion one way or the other about someone hanging a banner on Rushmore, and I think that some of the evidence that humans are causing global warming (and what consequences that might have) is dubious at best, but that's neither here nor there.

It always fascinates me how caring and eco-conscious climbers generally make themselves out to be. I mean, let's be real with ourselves here: We often drive hundreds of miles in our gas burning cars, camp in pristine wilderness, strap on shoes (made from petroleum and leather and shipped from China), tie in to a nylon rope (also made from petroleum, and probably shipped from China), and load ourselves down with all manner of aluminum biners and pro (all of which uses massive amounts of electricity to produce and then is shipped overseas) so that we can feel good by not killing ourselves doing something that the vast majority of people would say is a downright silly pastime. Then we turn around and say "damn all you people who are destroying the planet for no reason!" In other words, if it's something we want to do (and don't get me wrong, I love me some climbing), then it's perfectly justifiable, but everyone else are just irresponsible assholes because they throw out their junk mail instead of recycling it. Hypocrisy, anyone?

You may be a wizz at the economy, but that statement shows just how ignorant you are about ecosystems. Sure, it may not "doom us all" but I assure you it will have SEVERE consequences.

Edit: To put it in a way you might relate to, consequences that would way exceed 1500$ per family.

What, you've climbed Rushmore and are here to tell us that despite all appearances in photos and video it actually isn't choss?

Actually, I know a few things about the area:

1. it's in the middle of bum fuck South Dakota
2. it's off limits to climbing
3. it looks like complete choss

Given these three points I see no compelling reason to drive to South Dakota, and while I'm being REALLY frank I could give a fuck if it collapsed into a pile of rubble and am endlessly amused that all of this is pissing people off, especially you.

Go organize an adopt-a-crag or something.

... quantify it for me then ...

... but I could make a good case that ...

... You're blowing smoke.

I fixed that for you.

This debate is like abortion, certain sides will never truly agree, because it's the fundamental principles that drive us apart. What this kid should be applauded for is actually standing up for what he believes in.

It's people like that who gave us women's right to vote, and de-segregation of blacks and whites. It's people like that who care enough for a cause to hold their leaders to a higher standard, and demand that their voices be heard.

We heard your opinion already. Put down the whiskey and read what you typed tomorrow.

PS - and I'm being completely sincere here, your photo portfolio is pretty awesome and, in a way, makes me sad. you've been to so many beautiful places and yet seem completely ignorant about how your stance here will negatively impact those places.

I'm full of opinions but it's good to stick to things you actually know something about. I've climbed in the Rushmore area, it's a beautiful area and the climbing is superb and solid, (and a bit run out!) I'd move to Rapid City before I'd move any where in N. Carolina. Sweltering wasteland.

You're exactly right. NC sucks. It's way too hot, even in the mountains, and there is really no climbing either. Unless you are a surfer who likes mediocre waves you should probably just stay out of the whole state.

I don't really have an opinion one way or the other about someone hanging a banner on Rushmore, and I think that some of the evidence that humans are causing global warming (and what consequences that might have) is dubious at best, but that's neither here nor there.

It always fascinates me how caring and eco-conscious climbers generally make themselves out to be. I mean, let's be real with ourselves here: We often drive hundreds of miles in our gas burning cars, camp in pristine wilderness, strap on shoes (made from petroleum and leather and shipped from China), tie in to a nylon rope (also made from petroleum, and probably shipped from China), and load ourselves down with all manner of aluminum biners and pro (all of which uses massive amounts of electricity to produce and then is shipped overseas) so that we can feel good by not killing ourselves doing something that the vast majority of people would say is a downright silly pastime. Then we turn around and say "damn all you people who are destroying the planet for no reason!" In other words, if it's something we want to do (and don't get me wrong, I love me some climbing), then it's perfectly justifiable, but everyone else are just irresponsible assholes because they throw out their junk mail instead of recycling it. Hypocrisy, anyone?

You're blowing smoke.

The 'monument' at Rushmore is, was, and will always be a memorial of desecration.

Apparently, the 2.4 Million visitors in 2008 disagree...

You're exactly right. NC sucks. It's way too hot, even in the mountains, and there is really no climbing either. Unless you are a surfer who likes mediocre waves you should probably just stay out of the whole state.

This is correct.