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?