As of last year, I experienced this first hand when some friends were cleaning a route. My friends trundled some rocks off and inadvertantly scared the hell out of (close call?) a mentor, and sick Squamish legend only to tell him to fuck off during a spat. (from what i was told, I was not there). On this same route, I have photos of me rapping into this thing bolting some anchors and then came across a very large and loose ledge (it was later launched off and exploded into the forest). I was freaked to even stand on it. I did not even touch it and as a matter of fact, on route I replaced a basketball chunk of granite that teater-tottered: I rapped with it in my lap, and placed it on a safe ledge.

Lets face it, route cleaning on a 1000? face is ridiculously dangerous and can or will kill someone if you do not take the necessary precautions.

1) using bright yellow caution tape - flag areas in the danger zone (yeah it takes time)
2) post dates of activity on the approach trail (don’t be lazy, do this every day you clean)
3) don’t damage other routes for your own gain (thinking of the sketchy rats nest of rocks, branches etc left at the top of arrowroute when I topped out after Crap Crags was cleaned)
4) post it on this and other forums
5) THINK, before you act. Maybe you can live with it, but you won’t know until you killed someone.

My climbing partner and I had the opportunity of almost dying when we were opening our packs under Grey Waves in the Bow Valley on Kid Goat.  There was a sudden crash above, and as we looked up the sky was filled with rocks.  The first ones started landing about 5 m away.  Needless to say, we made it, but one rock struck a tree that was between it and my partners head.

There was a sign on the trail (on sheet of paper held down with rocks), but as it was our first time there, we unknowingly split off the trail about 20 m before the sign.  There could have been a lot more clear markings right at the parking lot. 

The rocks were sent down by people cleaning a new route near Grey Waves.

Funny, this story was quite different when it was told to me, sensationalized? Regardless it was not until this incident, was due care considered in your route development. However, your experience is not the only close call to happen in Squamish Chris, there have been several. The trail is right up against the base, at every crag/wall in Squamish.

I am referencing ALL new route development. As someone that has gone to the base to recover, I’d like to nip this one in the bud - if at all possible.

Cheers

all these lessons summarized: clearly mark the trail in all possible areas, online and all access points at the trailhead, warning of extreme harzard / rockfall. Another friend was mentioning the fact that hikers would still come to the base of the routecleaning, even with the caution tape. Clearly mark the signs with extreme hazard to deter hikers from coming to the base. make the signs extremely visible as well.

-Mike

Make sure you date them and then remove the signs after the fact so others have faith in what the signs say. kinda like Kiewit and those workers ahead signs when you know nobody is working ahead so keep on moving down the highway at 100K hr. Hoping nobody is really working down the highway.

Peace