Hope you get your gear back and figure out how to keep it from getting lost again.

On Saturday night Nov. 27, I along with 2 friends were climbing in Echo Cliffs. Due to loss of daylight/visibility mixed in with the heavy rain we were unable to hike back to the lot (Sandstone Peak) getting horribly lost. We had to leave gear behind in a last ditch effort for survival in search for any kind of shelter. By 3am Sunday morning, we were rescued by getting airlifted by the Ventura Sheriff helicopter. We had left the gear along the riverbed down there somewhere. Wish I can be more specific but left a trail of neon orange tape around in the case we were able to get back to it. The rack included:

1 BD harness, 1 black harness, 1 bike helmet, 1 reverso, 2 trango equalizers, 2 atcs, 1 pair green Evolv shoes, around 10 biners locking/non-locking, assorted runners, orange/yellow Evolv chalkbag, etc…

If found, please PM or call me at 310-941-7258.

Help another fellow climber recover what was lost in a due to unfortunate circumstances. Thanks!!!

No offense, but the rules of booty are clear. If you bailed and left gear behind, it's gone. No one has any responsibility to give it back to you.

Whoever gets there first just scored some gear. If someone finds it all and does feel like giving it back, they are doing you a big favor and are essentially giving you their own property. Reward beer or cash would be highly recommended, as well as a whole lot of thanks.



It's one thing if a team of climbers has to bail due to an accident or injury. The gear is still booty, but climbers are more likely to have some sympathy.

I can't tell who's a bigger idiot, you or the OP.

Please explain? I'm always happy to hear alternate opinions.

Nevermind, obviously you're the bigger idiot.

transattic - Sounds like an epic. Hope you get your gear back.

Ah, the memories. In Shoo's defense, I recall when I first began climbing and walking into what I thought was a christmas tree full of booty. (AKA cave with pre-placed QD's) I thank my mentor at that time for quickly educating me on what could have been a path to the darkside. Throughout the years I've even donated a few here and there. Good Karma goes a long way.

Shoo - I can see where possession is 9/10th the law. I figure it comes down to personal ethics. Here's some food for thought.

Role reversal: I would hope that someone at the very least attempted to locate the original owner. (In this case, me.) With social media where it is you can almost find anyone these days. Or, should I accept it and consider what's lost is lost forever?

If I accept the latter, then what about the following scenarios:

The many sport crags with all those climbing projects and hanging draws.

Bail carabiners/quickdraws vs. gear left at the crag.

Fair or foul?

Just curious...

There's this wonderful world of gray.

On Saturday night Nov. 27, I along with 2 friends were climbing in Echo Cliffs. Due to loss of daylight/visibility mixed in with the heavy rain we were unable to hike back to the lot (Sandstone Peak) getting horribly lost. We had to leave gear behind in a last ditch effort for survival in search for any kind of shelter. By 3am Sunday morning, we were rescued by getting airlifted by the Ventura Sheriff helicopter. We had left the gear along the riverbed down there somewhere. Wish I can be more specific but left a trail of neon orange tape around in the case we were able to get back to it. The rack included:

1 BD harness, 1 black harness, 1 bike helmet, 1 reverso, 2 trango equalizers, 2 atcs, 1 pair green Evolv shoes, around 10 biners locking/non-locking, assorted runners, orange/yellow Evolv chalkbag, etc…

If found, please PM or call me at 310-941-7258.

Help another fellow climber recover what was lost in a due to unfortunate circumstances. Thanks!!!

It's funny how we're all confused and angry. Simply said, I didn't really have the energy to write a 10 page report to draw everyone's sympathy right after my revival. I didn't post my story on facebook and tell all my friends about this unfortunate adventure either. All I was asking was for your kindness only if you happen to run into my rack.

All I can tell you is that my each of us had been to Echo Cliffs once before. One friend (3 of us stranded) had previously escorted out a couple of friends (not stranded) 3 hours earlier and was familiar with the trails. But as soon as it hit 4pm it got dark and started raining. We didn't have any waterproof jackets or boots. With weak 10-30 lumen flashlights (1 headlamp), we hiked back the way we thought we came. At a certain point on the trail we hit a dead end. After searching for 30 mins for the main trail, we hesitantly decided to take the riverbed, which should have led us to the picnic tables thus the main trail. A friend was carrying the rack on his shoulder (not in a backpack) that required steadying with one hand, on the other hand, there was a flashlight. The riverbed rocks were slippery and we could not rely on our feet at all. Visibility dropped dramatically as my glasses fogged up from the 40 degree F and showering rain. Every step we took we created the new path. We had to break branches, stomp vegatation, walk through streams, and such. After all this struggling, my friend wanted me to throw away my 50-pound pack, but I refused. He instead tossed the rack so he could stay balanced, free a hand, and prevent any more ensnaring from the wild branches/thorns. That was a good idea at the time. Finally, after 3 hours of hiking in this freezing, hopeless condition (talking about going 1/5th the normal speed), we decided to take shelter in a tiny cave. Luckily someone else had already stayed here before as we could tell from a wooden plank covering the top of the cave held by a wooden pole. We could not build a fire with any dry leaves, branches, or kindling we found nearby. Even after shaving twigs for an hour, the lighter could only burn some topo printouts and subway wrapping, but the tinder would just cherry out. Luckily, I pulled out a dry northface down jacket, which I gave to a friend. I had a nylon thermal long sleeve and pants, which I threw on. My second friend had it the worst as he was only wearing a thin wind breaker, 2 tee's, and pants. Still drenched and with a fire, we huddled closely throughout the night. The time went by slowly without a chance of sleep. At 2:30am, my friend heard a chopper in the distance and started yelling for us to get out there and signal with our flashlights. I was so delirious that I tried to ignore his words in an attempt to doze off and maintain the little warmth I had left. Of course, we eventually got up and strobed our lights, and they quickly located our base. After the helicopter made it's third round, the ranger dropped down and guided us to the highest ground around. After a 10min hike,b the chopper was hovering along the edge of the hill where we had to climb in one by one. We got a 30 second ride to the parking lot where my brother, friend, and sheriffs were waiting to greet us. The End.

Lesson of story: leave 2-3 hours earlier than the expected sunset since it is a canyon, and everyone should pack enough equipment for survival.

And a special thanks to those who did not judge me and offered their assistance. Everyone else should have hearts like yours.

Maybe you could have worn the bike helmet while attempting to hike out.
Did you ride your bike to the trailhead?

How many people out there would think that every single bolt of every single route in a cave would be booty?

I tried staying quiet and reserving my judgement, but now that I heard the whole story; I want to believe, even more now than I did before, that you are trolling.

:/

Lesson of story: leave 2-3 hours earlier than the expected sunset since it is a canyon, and everyone should pack enough equipment for survival.