This cartoon is based on a memorable descent from Triassic Sands in the Black Velvet Canyon. We were climbing with two parties close behind us, party number two hot on our tails and party number three howling, screaming, and crying their way up the crux pitch. With all the commotion and yells echoing through the canyon, we decided to rappel after the third pitch instead of continuing, and party number two followed us down. Soon there were six climbers cramped together on this semihanging belay, with one climber crying, her partner admonishing her, ropes being dropped on top of us, a pee break, and us just trying to get out of the zoo as fast as we could. We ended up convincing the crying couple to rappel down with us, since they didn’t have an extra rope to do the double-rope rappel. As we were walking out, my partner Bob commented that he only thought shitshows happened on the easy climbs where no one really knows what they’re doing, but Triassic Sands proved that higher grades won’t protect you from chaos!
Kate Otte is a Senior Contributor to The Climbing Zine.
This piece was published in Volume 15 of The Zine. Score a copy through one of our bundle sales here.
