Goto Chockstone Home

  Guide
  Gallery
  Tech Tips
  Articles
  Reviews
  Dictionary
  Links
  Forum
  Search
  About

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

  Shop
Chockstone Photography
Australian Landscape Photography by Michael Boniwell
Australian Landscape Prints





Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User
Carry on climbing gear @ Sydney Airport: problem 15-Jul-2006 At 7:12:42 AM The Keeper
Message
Yeah, it is getting grimmer and more stupid out there. I tried to take a 60m, 10.5 mm Mammut Flash in a Metolius sling rope bag on as cabin baggage on a domestic flight out of here and ended up being told to re-check it as cargo baggage. The reason - it was on a list - who made the list? - what is the rationale behind each and every entry? I was sorely tempted to engage the young twit security rent-a- cop as to the logic of it all - like what do you think I am going to do - rob the passengers and jump out the door on a 60 m rope at 30, 000 feet?!!! Lassoe the pilot from the rear of the aircraft and threaten to strangle him unless he lands in Coolangatta so I can go climbing in the Great Aussie Death Zone. I realized this was not likely to change matters - maybe he recogonized the rope as a 10.5 mm calibre and is a restricted weapon like an AK-47 or something.
Simply stupid.
Other beauties, going through airport security in Las Vegas as I was heading home after a 10 day stint at Jtree - the 300lb plus hombre security guard, went thorugh my entire climbing pack - cam by cam, biner by biner, etc. Moving at the speed of the Mississippi in winter mode. I barely made my connecting flight. this of course due to their avowed "random" security checks. This was royal bs of course, it is not random at all - if you are classified as "alien" in US parlance you are automatically and mandatorily screened - not once but in this case three times - first with Alaska Air, then the xray gang, and then singled out for another in the departure lounge. This is called job creation.

More you say, well how about the time when I was going through American customs at Skagway, Alaska - en route with my Aussie lad from Warragul - to go tick the Chilkoot Trail in a little hike. I had a can of bear spray and one small pen-size bear banger -. Guess which one I was allowed to bring into the US - - the bear spray of course. No bloody chance for the little pop bear banger. This in a country where you can waltz around the streets of east LA blasting blokes left and right with UZIs, 357 magnum pistols, AK-47s and the like - and they are worried about a little device that shoots a little plastic capsule out that goes bang! Just saw a note on a women and daughter murdered - shot by someone as they were hiking on a little trail near a community in Washington. Boggles the mind it does.

I had no problem getting into Aussie in 2004 or even flying around the place . Of course, I sent my Aussie kid in first to create a distraction and while they were heavily occupied slipped through the matilda security network at the Brisbane airport. Where there is a will, there is a way.

There are 26 replies to this topic.

 

Home | Guide | Gallery | Tech Tips | Articles | Reviews | Dictionary | Forum | Links | About | Search
Chockstone Photography | Landscape Photography Australia | Australian Landscape Photography | Landscape Photos Australia

Please read the full disclaimer before using any information contained on these pages.



Australian Panoramic | Australian Coast | Australian Mountains | Australian Countryside | Australian Waterfalls | Australian Lakes | Australian Cities | Australian Macro | Australian Wildlife
Landscape Photo | Landscape Photography | Landscape Photography Australia | Fine Art Photography | Wilderness Photography | Nature Photo | Australian Landscape Photo | Stock Photography Australia | Landscape Photos | Panoramic Photos | Panoramic Photography Australia | Australian Landscape Photography | High Country Mountain Huts | Mothers Day Gifts | Gifts for Mothers Day | Mothers Day Gift Ideas | Ideas for Mothers Day | Wedding Gift Ideas | Christmas Gift Ideas | Fathers Day Gifts | Gifts for Fathers Day | Fathers Day Gift Ideas | Ideas for Fathers Day | Landscape Prints | Landscape Poster | Limited Edition Prints | Panoramic Photo | Buy Posters | Poster Prints