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General Climbing Discussion

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Climbing rack in Carry on Luggage 24-Mar-2007 At 1:17:39 PM The Keeper

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Ah, for a simpler world of the past. I tried after 911 to take a 60m Mammut rope in a Metolius rope bag on as cabin baggage - no chance. I entertained but disgarded the notion of embracing a discussion with the security official who made the pronouncment - like what did he think I was going to do - blackmail the passengers by claiming we would exert terrorist pressure on the Wallabies and soften them for the All Blacks at the next World Rugby cup ; attempt to hijack the plane by lassoing the pilot from the back of the plane; threaten a unique incidence of spontaneous combustion leading to robbing them of their loot before jumping out of the aircraft at about the height of Mt. Denali on a 60 m rope - boggles the mind it does. Bureaucracy knows no limits to stupidity.
Given their heartburn with a climbing rope , I cannot imagine getting through with an ice
pick and other dangerous weapons such as a set of crampons, deadly sets of tri-cams which could be used to choke a pilot into flying to 29 Palms and Jtree , or a set of Black Diamond 'aluminum" knuckles, or overpowering the passengers senses with a well placed set of "seasoned' climbing shoes; and oh yes , that white powerdy stuff- that would surely drive them to the rim and consultation with the Balinese authorities.
A security guard in Las Vegas spent about an hour going thorugh my gear - piece by piece - I barely made my connecting flight back into god's country.

Something to think about - I took a can of bear spray and a bear banger into US Customs once on a hiking foray to the Chilkoot Trail. I was not allowed to take the bear banger into the US - this in a country where Dick Cheney practices takes out target practice on local lawyers, and where folks are packing 357 magnums in east LA and creating the basis for new video games. Boggles the mind. It is only getting wierder out there which is all the more reason to find a nice quiet spot and go climbing!!!

Sounds like Kiwi land is still sane - all the more reason to spend quality time there - ah the joys of an isolated island environment! :)