News Zion Pine Creek Anchor Warning 4-15-2021

Pine Creek Canyon, Zion, April 15, 2021

I went by Pine Creek on the way back from getting my second shot. I picked up trash, because I did a hike last week with a friend from High School (Jeff Hobbs!) and his fam, and there was trash everywhere...

Anyway, among other trash I found this. There are two sets of bolts before the first rappel in Pine Creek (aka, Rap 0) that SAR uses to get people from the top of R1 to walking terrain. With the current low water (before the first rappel), some people might want to rappel here as the downclimb around that first pothole is inobvious and intimidating.

Someone rigged this up with... 1" thin polypropylene webbing. This webbing is not life-safety webbing. This is webbing used on very cheap backpacks and re-usable grocery tote bags. As I remember (?!) the strength is 600 lbs.

Perhaps more surprising, there was a group that looked like they knew what they were doing that had rappelled off this. Eeek!

DO NOT RAPPEL OFF WEBBING YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE. This webbing is clearly not the 1" tubular we usually use for anchors. If you don't know what you are rapping off, you are just rolling the dice... don't do this.

The tag still being on the rappel ring might be a warning for some...

Like voting should have, I believe there should also be an IQ test prior to being allowed to gorge or climb s/.

Scary more IMO, is that ring rated for rappelling activity? Is is heat treated to the proper condition (if its even heat treatable AL) to meet anchor or rap requirements?

Much thanks for being a great steward of these wonderful places.

Yes, the RING is good. SMC Rappel Ring. I know they have a bad rep these days, not being worth 5000 lbs. But they are just fine when new. They wear out in sandy canyons (well, sandy ropes) quickly.

(warning; snark Do you bring a Rockwell Harness Tester with you in canyons to check the condition of the hardware? (/snark)

Tom

"(warning; snark Do you bring a Rockwell Harness Tester with you in canyons to check the condition of the hardware? (/snark)"

Tom

Maybe I should start bringing a digital hardness tester into the field with me.

Anchor conditions (man made/inserted) by far are the most sketchy part of climbing or canyoneering for me. My mechanical brain is always asking, what kind of drugs was the person on whilst putting in this bolt or clue in? That is of course wildly stereotyping of the majority of the competent bolters out there. However, most of my conversations with climbers, it has never come across their mind.

Reminds me, need to go and get a new baby crescent wrench while I am out at Bucks today.

... and some PC-11 Epoxy Putty, used for filling in the empty holes.

Tom