Original Post

pkeds · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 30 Sep 26, 2019 · Broomfield, CO Maybe I'm an asshole but i think ur all good and offered way more than I would have. No one was injured and they seemed like they had adequate gear, you cant baby sit everyone. A good benighting is good for the soul and brings forth lessons learned. Cathedral is a shit show even during the weekdays and is a beacon for many kooks. I'm shocked you didnt see worse off parties. Shit I would have gotten impatient and drank the 4 beers you had originally left for them.

Greg Davis · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 10 Sep 27, 2019 · Unknown Hometown If it was an emergency you should have called emergency services if not then it's just courtesy to help slow teams but I would recommend as your punishment to slap yourself in the face 3 or 4 times so you know not to do it again.

Tradiban · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 11,610 Sep 27, 2019 · Unknown Hometown If they ended up dead, it's your fault!



If they ended up alive, you helped them learn a valuable lesson.

Bill Lawry · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 1,711 Sep 27, 2019 · Albuquerque, NM This personal story may not soothe your soul much, Anon. Still ....



Three friends and I started together up SE Buttress. Later, my rope partner and I waited a couple hours on the ledge near the base of the chimney for the other two. By then, thunder was sounding about 5 miles to the south with rain over there. But that weather cell was not coming our way. Yet the incoming weather direction made it not possible to see what actually was coming our way. Otherwise, the skies we could see were mostly blue.



First time up for all of us on Cathedral Peak.



The weather, our overall slowness, the timidness of one of us, and the relatively unusual sounding walk off led me to decide to bail.



SuperTopo’s Tuolumne Free Climbs 2nd ed. identifies a way to bail rightward from the bottom of the chimney. Takes two raps on a single 50m rope. We bailed that way and were all back at the base in short order.



Most would agree a climb party is responsible for themselves no matter who else is around. And counting on some unknown party to make it easier for you can have its own problems. The other party you were with likely sees it this way as well .... or needed the lesson from the school of hard knocks.

Noah R · Joined Nov 2018 · Points: 0 Sep 27, 2019 · Burlington, VT They are probably stoked to get a free rope. I would be. Its like anti-booty. When the unskilled and unprepared get gear for free.

Bill Lawry · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 1,711 Sep 27, 2019 · Albuquerque, NM About the “asshole” part ...



Giving up resources to another unknown party - gear, clothing, time, the original thought out plan, etc - is not something we think much about. I have definitely given up too much too soon in the mountains and paid for it later.



Some providing aid have died as a result while the relatively unprepared ones who were aided survived.



The lesson for me was to more slowly, more gradually, more carefully give up my resources / plans in those situations.

Redyns · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 60 Sep 27, 2019 · Unknown Hometown long story short, it was a typical day out climbing at a crag that attracts climbers of all experience, regardless of race, religion, or gender.

Kevin Hovey · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 0 Sep 27, 2019 · la mesa So you drank four beers, three under an hour, and then drove on mountain roads at night. That's the asshole move.

Matt N · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 385 Sep 27, 2019 · Santa Barbara, CA Tradiban wrote: If they ended up dead, it's your fault!



If they ended up alive, you helped them learn a valuable lesson. What if they got a DUI? ;) ;)

Bill Lawry · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 1,711 Sep 27, 2019 · Albuquerque, NM Kevin Hovey wrote: So you drank four beers, three under an hour, and then drove on mountain roads at night. That's the asshole move. Uh. No. He did not say that. We pulled out the chairs, and drank several beers over the course of over an hour, watching shooting stars and smoked many cigarettes until finally deciding to head back to Mariposa. And the one at the base does not count given the time needed to hike out. And the one at the base does not count given the time needed to hike out.

Kevin Hovey · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 0 Sep 27, 2019 · la mesa Uh. Yes. He did post that.



Upon reaching the base of the route (and my stashed beers) we no longer felt the wind, and were comfortable (warm) enough to drink a beer and smoke a few cigarettes before hiking out. It wasnt for another mile or so until we turned around and, through the trees, I was almost certain I could see headlamps cresting over the west side of the mountain.



When we finally got back to the cars, I stashed four beers underneath the other teams car and left them a note to look underneath.



We pulled out the chairs, and drank several beers over the course of over an hour, watching shooting stars and smoked many cigarettes until finally deciding to head back to Mariposa.

pkeds · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 30 Sep 27, 2019 · Broomfield, CO I interpreted the OP that they polished off a keg in 37 minutes

I'm Trying · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 0 Sep 27, 2019 · Unknown Hometown Robert Rowsam wrote: I just saw the title as "Am I an Asshole / An Open Apology to" and was really hoping it was Tradiban... hahahaha me too