Trip Report
Tooled at Castle Rock

by bluering
Monday February 11, 2008 12:43pm
So I arrive at Castle Rock State Park on Saturday and I'm waiting for my buddy to show up. I'm cranking some Rolling Stones in my truck and organizing all my gear and drinking a beer. The parking lots are FULL. Some idiot even parked in between two trees that cuts off another 5-7 parking spaces.

I see a ranger vehicle coming and pray it's not the supertool Miles Standish (real name). Every time this guy sees me he fu*ks with me. He HATES climbers, especially dirtbags. Sure enough he parks and gets out and, yep, it's the world class a$$hole know as Miles Standish. I hide my beer as he approaches and pretend to be busy in the back of my truck. He's studying everyone license plates and is headed my way.

He passes me (after checking my plate) and I say, "Howdy". He returns the greeting. I see a couple of climbers I recognize (Charlie and some other dude) and I go over (Stones still crankin') and say hi. They also relay stories of getting tooled by Miles. I go back to my truck and he's writing somebody a ticket. He comes back by me and says, "You know I can issue a citation for playing music that's audible at 50 feet away?". I say no, let me turn down the music. I then ask if they've ever considered putting a sign in between the trees saying, don't park here, you're blocking a section of the parking lot. He says, "I can write everybody here a ticket for parking perpindicular to the road, not parallel." I'm like, WTF? I didn't know that was a law either.

This guy just cruises around finding ways to f%ck with people. He gives law enforcement types a bad name.

A$$hole!

  Trip Report Views: 4,735
bluering 		About the Author
bluering is a trad climber from Santa Clara, Ca..

Comments
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Feb 11, 2008 - 01:10pm PT
Khanom, actually my wife recommended that. I don't want the guy to lose his job or anything, I just wish he'd lighten up a little bit.

I guess it could have been worse, though, he could've wrote me up instead issueing a dickish warning. It does seem as though he has a pretty bad reputation. I talked with other rangers about reopening the Valley Of Stone nad they say to ask the head ranger (Miles Standish) and they kinda looked at each other and said, "good luck with that", as if to say do really want to initiate conversation with that prick?
graniteclimber

Trad climber
The Illuminati -- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Division
  Feb 11, 2008 - 01:10pm PT
Miles Standish tools cyclists also.

http://actcarchive.home.att.net/crr01_da.htm



http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/lgwt/08.23.00/cover-0034.html
Wade Icey

Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
  Feb 11, 2008 - 01:11pm PT
so you WERE breaking the law but you weren't tooled? why so angry?

once had my car locked in the goat rock parking cause we watched the sunset and my partner f*#ked his ankle walking out. -no parking after sunset- so the rig is locked in. I walk to the nearest phone (castle rock parking) call the number on the kiosk and a ranger shows up, all smiles, gives me ride back to goat, unlocks the gate, verifies that my buddy's ankle is f*#ked up then proceeds to run plates and write me up for parking after sunset. When questioned, the officer, still all smiles, explained that he thought a judge might find my explanation reasonable and I should try to pitch it in court, but I was nonetheless, breaking the law and his job was to cite me not judge me.

And then, as he gives me back my ID he says "You know, you're lucky I just locked the gate. I could have had you towed."

Wonder if that was Miles Standish.


Edit-Nope, wasn't him. Doesn't every area have a resident supertool? (memories of Flat top) seems like it just goes with the territory, like PO, and mosquitos.
deuce4

climber
Hobart, Australia
  Feb 11, 2008 - 01:18pm PT
Hi Khanom-

Off topic, but I just met someone with your same name. Was told that it meant "chrome" (as in the metallic color), and was also the term for the first day of spring.

nice name!

On topic: I had all my climbing and camping gear stolen at Castle Rock once, way back in the 80's. It was devastating, took me years and years to recover (and I spent my first winter in Yosemite sleeping in an ice puddle in a cheap tent due to my expedition tent having been stolen). No "tools" there back then. So it's good and bad, though this guy sounds like he needs a life.
Wade Icey

Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
  Feb 11, 2008 - 01:42pm PT
Hey Riley

hope you're well.
Wish I would have had you there to set him straight. For my part though, I've had pretty good results adhering to the policy of keeping a low profile and, if I have to think about opening my mouth, I'd best keep it shut. I also try to practice what I'm always preaching to my students;

"If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

cheers,

wade

ps: got spring plans for the big f*#ker? EC08
rhyang

climber
SJC
  Feb 11, 2008 - 01:44pm PT
I avoid Castle Rock SP on weekends like the plague. Weekday afternoons are much less crowded if you can swing it.

Of course I can't actually climb for 6 more months, so tell me how was it :)
Bruce Morris

Trad climber
Soulsbyville, California
  Feb 11, 2008 - 02:14pm PT
Miles is just a strict constructionist who enforces the letter of the law. He's also the Law on the Skyline after dark.
Off-Width Loving Crack Whore

Trad climber
SLO
  Feb 11, 2008 - 02:15pm PT
3 weeks ago I saw Mr. Standish hand out a ticket to a guy for having window tint that was to dark. This was after the poor guy spent 45 minutes looking for a Ranger to pay the parking fee (the box was out of envelopes).
Since I was waiting for an envelope too I walked over from my truck 8 feet away, asked for an envelope and proceeded to fill it out/pay. So I walk back to my truck to read my license plate and he walks up next to me sees that there isn't a stub on my dash and starts writing me a ticket. I'm thinking "is this really happening?". I let him know that I just got here and that there weren't any envelopes so I was waiting for him to bring some more because I'm also paying for camping and parking for my friends truck. He then gave me the look of death and mumbles something about paying first before parking. So I reiterate that there weren't any envelopes and I was waiting for him to show up, but I'm paying right now... "so ummm thanks." More look of death and mumbling about "Kids throwing away the envelopes."
For the next two days every time I saw him he would ask me if I had paid the parking/camping fee, twice on Saturday, and three times on Sunday ( bad memory perhaps???, harassment perhaps???) At one point while packing up to head off to another area he walked up to us and asked if we "Had enough?" and were "Leaving yet?"

Of course this was nicer then last time when another Ranger wanted to impound the motorcycle I had in the back of my buddies truck because it was registered non-op and accrding to him "He couldn't allow it to be seen on the roadway." I have since investigated this and found that super dick robo Ranger's interpretation of the law was way off. It's perfectly legal to have a non-op vehicle on a trailer or on the back of a truck.

I think a letter writing campaign is in order.
kev

climber
A pile of dirt.
  Feb 11, 2008 - 02:27pm PT
Bluering,

Hahaha,

We got pseudo tooled in the pinns sat pm. We were leaving to head out of the west side to camp and got stopped for not having a license plate light. Yes I know it's illegal but I suspect it was because he had just seen us and 4 or 5 other dirtbags in the parking lot. HOWEVER, although the stop seemed BS, he ran our info told and let us go. I've had a few similar incidents with rangers over the years and MOST (but not all-let us not forger "officer poopy pants" aka "crispy cream" in TM) have been these check you out run your license/plates and let you go. I'll watch out for this dude at CRSP though.

kev
Hardman Knott

Gym climber
Mill Valley, Ca
  Feb 11, 2008 - 02:29pm PT
You guys should definitely report this idiot. He reminds me of a notorious ranger
in Marin who takes glee in busting Mt Bike scofflaws for riding on trails. The kook
actually pulled a gun on a friend of mine for riding a fuçking bike without any
provocation whatsoever. We need to hold the higher-ups accountable for such bullshít.
WBraun

climber
  Feb 11, 2008 - 02:35pm PT
Hahahaha LOL Riley

I so wish you would have been around on Valley Sar back in the day when Duecy, Russ, etc etc were around.

You would have fit right in .....
graniteclimber

Trad climber
The Illuminati -- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Division
  Feb 11, 2008 - 03:03pm PT
While the local newspaper was doing a ride-along, he cuffed and placed someone in the back of his patrol car, for RIDING A BIKE, and left him unattended while responding to antoher call. His excuse was that the person making the othe rall may have been "in cahoots" and just trying to create a diversion.

http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/lgwt/08.23.00/cover-0034.html

Standish spotted a young man named Page with a prohibited item on the trail: a bicycle. Before he could issue a citation, another young man ran onto the scene, shouting breathlessly about "some dude strokin' in the bushes," apparently right off the trail.

At that moment, Standish later reflected, his first thought was that John the shouting man was in cahoots with Page and was only raising a commotion to enable Page to escape without a citation.

Standish said afterward that he interpreted "strokin' " to mean someone was having a stroke or possibly a seizure. In order to respond to this medical emergency but not lose the now-angry Page, Standish handcuffed the young man, placed him in the truck and ran down the trail with John. Along with extensive training in natural resource management, field work, first aid and park administration, Standish is also a fully licensed peace officer and as such carries a law enforcer's trappings, including gun, handcuffs and club.

Down the trail, Standish discovered a situation that was actually a 314: the law enforcement code for indecent exposure. Although only John had seen Patrick allegedly fondling himself, Patrick did make some incriminating and embarrassed remarks to Standish--not enough grounds for a citation, but enough for Standish to take down Patrick's name, address and other personal data as a matter of course.

After sending Patrick on his way, Standish returned to Page, completed the citation process and cut him loose from the handcuffs with the admonition: "In the future, you have to make certain you know which trails you can take a bike on and which ones you can't."

Hardman Knott

Gym climber
Mill Valley, Ca
  Feb 11, 2008 - 03:29pm PT
That sums up nicely what a kook this wanna-be cop is...

He cuffs and stuffs and cites the Mt biker, and lets the BushWacker™ off with a warning.(!)

Typical M.O. of a wanna-be cop...
Tahoe climber

climber
Davis these days
  Feb 11, 2008 - 05:34pm PT
Got a stern talking to from one of the PO's there, too.
But he didn't give us a ticket, though we were parked there - and in the park (though ignorant of the rule not to be).
He was mean, but in the end didn't cite us since we kept our mouths shut and said yes, sir a lot.

TC
billygoat

climber
Pees on beard to seek mates.
  Feb 11, 2008 - 06:31pm PT
If you have any complaints whatsoever, write a letter! It doesn't matter whether you want this guy to keep his job or not--that's for his supervisors to decide. What matters is that his bosses have been officially informed about his conduct. Without a paper trail, this guy is free to do his job however he pleases. Public input is vital to any sort of action.
Hardman Knott

Gym climber
Mill Valley, Ca
  Feb 11, 2008 - 06:39pm PT
Amen, Billygoat!
Hardman Knott

Gym climber
Mill Valley, Ca
  Feb 11, 2008 - 06:41pm PT
He was smart enough knott
to risk getting shot
by a mentally unstable
wanna-be cop...
dirtbag

climber
  Feb 11, 2008 - 06:52pm PT
He cuffed a mountain biker?

That's outrageous!
Mighty Hiker

climber
Outside the Asylum
  Feb 11, 2008 - 06:54pm PT
A few letters or e-mails to the person's superior may help, especially if phrased constructively and politely.

I'm not familiar with Castle Rock. (Except the one in Washington.) Do local climbers there help with looking after the place, e.g. an Adopt-a-Crag or such?
graniteclimber

Trad climber
The Illuminati -- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Division
  Feb 11, 2008 - 07:35pm PT
Publicly suggesting shooting cops, running away from cops, stealing their cars, etc. won't win you any points with his bosses. They only undermine the letter-writing campaign.
tdk

climber
puhoynix
  Feb 11, 2008 - 07:55pm PT
A couple years back I pulled off Skyline briefly to let some people out of the car so as to shorten their walk in to Goat Rock, the car is still running, people clearly getting out and unloading gear, Miles roars up and threatens to ticket me for illegal parking. Another time he inspected my truck, saying "good thing you have a plate on the front or I'd have to ticket you". Wrote a letter, but since he's still at it, apparently it didn't do much good.
Hardman Knott

Gym climber
Mill Valley, Ca
  Feb 11, 2008 - 08:09pm PT
dirtbag asks:

He cuffed a mountain biker?

That's outrageous!


Knott nearly as outrageous as pointing a gun at someone's face for the knott-so heinous crime
of riding on a hiking trail in Marin - someone who was clearly unarmed and posed no threat.
Jingy

climber
Random Nobody
  Feb 11, 2008 - 08:45pm PT
bluering - I have to say that yes, that man is THE TOOL. But I have to say a couple of things about your story I don't agree with, namely "I'm cranking some Rolling Stones in my truck and organizing all my gear and drinking a beer."

- This just seems to be asking to be Tooled.
Sorry, but you are only attracting attention with the music at volume. And just so you can hear your Stones,... it's pretty bad eticit. And while drinking a beer? Yeah, you were asking for it.
When in the Castle Rock area, I always assume that Climbers are hated, even though we bring in revenue equal to or more than the tourons. So I act accordingly. This does not mean I walk around constantly looking over my shoulder while lighting up one smoke or another, but I don't start the day by attracting attention to myself. I grab my gear and hustle to the crag. I've never had this problem, though now that I've said it, it just might happen next time I'm there.

- I go on:
"The parking lots are FULL. Some idiot even parked in between two trees that cuts off another 5-7 parking spaces."

- I don't have a remedy for this. I have parked in that spot before and luckily there was plenty of room elsewhere for people to park, so I didn't think anything of it. But, yes, noobs have to learn that parking space is limited and people should make as much room for others as possible.



"He passes me (after checking my plate) and I say, "Howdy". He returns the greeting. I see a couple of climbers I recognize (Charlie and some other dude) and I go over (Stones still crankin') and say hi. They also relay stories of getting tooled by Miles. I go back to my truck and he's writing somebody a ticket. He comes back by me and says, "You know I can issue a citation for playing music that's audible at 50 feet away?"."

- This, I have a problem with! I understand I just told you to lower the volume above, but when Tool starts making up new law out of nowhere, I have a problem with the tool.
At this point, I would have asked to see the book he got that law out of? If it was local law, I might have fought it, but then again , you did the right thing in turning down the music. You were on a public road, patroled by CHP. Let them write the ticket if they think its too loud. That jackass, TOOL!



"I say no, let me turn down the music. I then ask if they've ever considered putting a sign in between the trees saying, don't park here, you're blocking a section of the parking lot. He says, "I can write everybody here a ticket for parking perpindicular to the road, not parallel." I'm like, WTF? I didn't know that was a law either."

- Um, isn't there a sign right across the road warning to park parallel. Its a space saving technique. I'm surprised the Tool didn't see it that way? This is obvious f%king with and should not be tolerated. Turn him in to his boss ASAP.


"This guy just cruises around finding ways to f%ck with people. He gives law enforcement types a bad name."

- I second that motion.

- True, this guy does seem to go out of his way to make life difficult for others, specially climber types. I think it has something to do with late-life-bed-wetting issues or something. Abuse of power, at any level, is still abuse. And that's even if you're only following the letter of the law.

- In parting, just don't attract attention to yourself, you shouldn't have this problem.

- Post Standish Edit:
Just read the artical from above. Standish states:
"I use this and Highway 9 as major thoroughfares for patrolling. Highway 9 actually belongs to the State Parks Service; most people don't know that," he said."

- That's funny... How much money do you think the park system pays to maintain Highway 9? I'd like to see that rule. And if thats the case, what are all those CHP doing out there catching motorcycle riders all the time? Isn't that the job of the Rangers?

- Someones confused, maybe its me? Maybe this is also a self-promotion thing, kinda like "They can't do without me because I watch this whole area like a hawk..."
cintune

climber
  Feb 11, 2008 - 10:41pm PT
Some men you just can't reach.
stevep

Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
  Feb 11, 2008 - 11:35pm PT
Seems like a LEO with a name like that, if he comes over to hassle you, the best thing you could do would be to put on your best John Wayne drawl and say:


"Well Howdy Pilgrim!"
Wild Bill

climber
Ca
  Feb 11, 2008 - 11:36pm PT
Whatever you do, don't let things get out of hand like this - someone will get hurt. In this case, the cop got killed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8olEn237h8
graniteclimber

Trad climber
The Illuminati -- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Division
  Feb 12, 2008 - 12:12am PT
"Whatever you do, don't let things get out of hand like this - someone will get hurt. In this case, the cop got killed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8olEn237h8 "

They both ended up dead. How senseless.

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/collision_course/

The cop may have enjoyed spraying the driver in the face with his pepper spray, but was it worth his life? The driver didn't draw on him until after he was sprayed. Gratuitously pepper spraying someone doesn't justify being murdered, but it is a good way to provoke it.
malabarista

Trad climber
Portland, OR
  Feb 12, 2008 - 12:19am PT
I think this is the guy who had my friend's car towed while we were climbing in the park back in early 2000? Was he here back then? We had just come back from several months in Europe and my friend had out of state plates (Arizona) which had recently expired. He was getting new CA plates and we had just rented an apartment. The car was towed to Beaver Creek, it was after hours and we had no cell phones or way to get help. We had to call collect from a payphone to an old college buddy. The bill came to around $700. The a-hole had the nerve to ask us what the hell we were doing to in California. I've never met bigger f*#ktard!!!
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Feb 12, 2008 - 11:13am PT
Jingy, you make some good points. I probably did deserve a "talkin' to", but this guy seems to derive a lot of pleasure from messing with peoeple.

Best to just keep a low profile around there and avoid him.
mojede

Trad climber
Butte, America
  Feb 12, 2008 - 03:28pm PT
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=372606783094503566&q=ice+t-cop+killer&total=3&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

How times have changed.
Wade Icey

Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
  Feb 12, 2008 - 03:39pm PT
A_P = LEO?
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
  Feb 12, 2008 - 03:50pm PT
As Stevep said, with a name like Miles, you know the
guy is taking on everyone in the world, who're all his enemies,
overcompensating for something he really lacks, like balls.
Caveman

climber
Cumberland Plateau
  Feb 12, 2008 - 04:11pm PT
"How times have changed."


Nothing has changed.



"A_P = LEO?"

One, or close to one.
cintune

climber
  Feb 12, 2008 - 04:30pm PT
The best tactic is to avoid areas frequented by tools. If that's not possible, then try to blend in and lay low. They can't f*#k with you if they don't notice you. Any other approach is a calculated risk.
jstan

climber
  Feb 12, 2008 - 05:24pm PT
Don't youse guys read? From the California section of today's LA Times:

AUDIT CITES LAPD UNIT ON REVIEWS

...The 34 page report by the Police Commission's Inspector general raises questions about the Department's ability to police itself............

...in 29 (out of 60 cases) it found some sort of flaw......

..Deputy Chief Mark Perez, head of Internal Affairs said, "We take these things very seriously".............. saying "they( the reports) rarely if ever affect the decision of whether to discipline officers."

There. Do you all feel better now?
cleo

Social climber
wherever you go, there you are
  Feb 12, 2008 - 05:36pm PT
Miles Standish is not the only frightening cop at CRSP...

One named J. Rule threatened us with jailtime because we were entering our cars 15 minutes past sunset (it was still light, around 6:20 pm). He had us stand behind "a line" (imaginary) and screamed violently when one of us, completely astonished, apparently moved past "the line".

Us = 3 women and an infant. Yea, we're a scary bunch.

The cops at Big Basin Redwoods, however, have been very kind and reasonable.
Joe

Social climber
Santa Cruz
  Feb 12, 2008 - 06:38pm PT
cleo, did you complain or write a letter?
I agree with previous posters. make some appropriate noise when that happens by contacting the employer. letters on file don't go away and ultimately may be brought up in performance reviews and can make a difference.
no reason to be treated that way.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Feb 12, 2008 - 06:46pm PT
FWIW, Miles and company deal in an area where they have to be self sufficient. The nearest back up is going to be miles away.

However, there is a long history of Miles and company absolutely going after the barest infractions.

When we worked with him and Stu Langdoc and some Santa Cruz folks on the Castle Rock Climbing Committee, Miles actually was constructive and not 'up in people's faces'. I think the guy is just looking to be treated fairly and not have cigarette butts, and glass and beer cans left in the park. But with so many users, abuse of the park is bound to happen, so maybe he's burned out on it all.
James

climber
My twin brother's laundry room
  Feb 12, 2008 - 06:50pm PT
My friend got a parking ticket up there once for being slightly over the parking line. It seemed excessive. I haven't had any confrontations with the rangers at the park but I'm rarely there on weekends.
bler

Boulder climber
Bay Area, CA
  Feb 12, 2008 - 08:18pm PT
someone should accidentally drop some tacks behind his cruiser ;)
Nefarius

Big Wall climber
Fresno
  Feb 12, 2008 - 08:24pm PT
A more fair/factual assessment would be that he's a power-tripping prick, Munge. Pretty simple. It really annoys me to no end when people give the "it's a hard/stressful job, blah, blah, blah" crap in defense of guys like this.

But then again, if people aren't writing letters or doing anything about it, why bother whining about it on an Internet forum. Seems pretty pointless. And while it may seem pointless to write letters, makes calls or what-have-you, at least it's making an effort.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Feb 12, 2008 - 08:47pm PT
agreed, when it's time to be civil, it's time to be civil, which is most of the time, and when it's not, it's definitely not.

We don't pay taxes to support LE to not serve the public good.






sidenote- not directed to anyone in particular...

We all know that dogs, alcohol and smoking is not permitted in the park correct? odd, I couldn't find a public source indicating alcohol was not allowed, maybe I'm mistaken.

"due to high fire hazard, smoking is prohibited on the trails within Castle Rock State Park.

Dogs are not allowed on the trails or in the campground."
Mtnmun

Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
  Feb 12, 2008 - 09:10pm PT
Alcohol is allowed in the State Parks as far as I know. It is not allowed on the State beaches in Santa Cruz.

What does a park ranger make these days? $30,000 plus a house to live in? He loves the power of abuse.
cintune

climber
  Feb 12, 2008 - 09:13pm PT
Doesn't look like a desert, though.
http://www.us2monkeys.co.uk/hols/images/
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Feb 13, 2008 - 11:45am PT
As far as I know there is only a 'No bottles allowed' restriction, no visible mention of alcohol. I always bring my Heineken keg-cans.

Now, if you've ever been to Summit Rock (home of teen-aged drunk boys) you'd see why there's a glass restriction. I was 3rd-classing up a gully to set a route and f-king 32 ounce bottle came flying passed me, with 2 feet. I never found the little bastard who chucked it.

Oh, and Summit is posted as 'Alcohol restriction - no alcoholic beverages allowed'. Cans and bottles. Kinda weird because I think they're the same park. It's right down the street.

Whatever.


Edit: Since we're posting pics to prove it ain't desert, here's more...
Cal Ridge...
Platypus Rock...
mojede

Trad climber
Butte, America
  Feb 13, 2008 - 11:50am PT
bler, tacks only work on bicycle tires--try roofing shingle nails, the short ones.
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Feb 13, 2008 - 11:52am PT
Summit Rock's Tree Surgeon route.


Bouldering in a hail storm at Indian Rock (w/ keg-can)
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Feb 13, 2008 - 12:08pm PT
I hear ya, Rok. I just wanted to post some pics.
rhyang

climber
SJC
  Feb 13, 2008 - 12:18pm PT
Oh yeah ... good times. More pics please :)
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Feb 13, 2008 - 02:03pm PT
Rhyang, you want more, you got it.

Some of these are obscure but Bruce will known them all. They're all in his fabulous guidebook.


Underworld’s Balance Sheet
Underworld’s Hit Man
Underworld’s Gestapo Priest
Guadalupe Roadside Rock
Guadalupe Lower Rock
Guadalupe Lower Rock
View from top of Last Tempatation Rock
Last Temptation…I forgot the name of this one
Pulling the roof on Last Temptation’s Death and Taxes
Stevens Canyon Rock…kinda like my own little climbing gym, 15min from my house
Steven’s Canyon again
Nefarius

Big Wall climber
Fresno
  Feb 13, 2008 - 02:05pm PT
The cool thing is...

Living where I live, with all of the incredible rock surrounding me, and having already made a single trip to Castle Rock, I'll never have to worry about some idiot ranger named Miles. I see no reason to go back.

Well, maybe if I were visiting friends in the area and they insisted... Or hogtied me... And all the bars and sushi joints were closed... I'm sure at some point enough other fun things could be eliminated to get me back.
dirtbag

climber
  Feb 13, 2008 - 02:06pm PT
I knew the name "Miles Standish" sounded familiar!

From American History:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Standish
rhyang

climber
SJC
  Feb 13, 2008 - 02:13pm PT
True Randy - in the winter you have Tollhouse and in the summer you have Courtright (etc).

I could never live in the central valley or sierra foothills myself though... for me Skyline is ~30 minutes from my house, and that's why I go up there.

Fond memories, and hopefully good times to come - thanks bluering :)
graniteclimber

Trad climber
The Illuminati -- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Division
  Feb 13, 2008 - 04:25pm PT
Maybe it would be for the best if Ranger Miles was rotated into a different park where he wouldn't be as isolated and could be properly supervised. They could call it a promotion and even give him a raise. Castle Rock could use some fresh blood.
quietpartner

Trad climber
Moantannah
  Feb 13, 2008 - 04:38pm PT
Too gentle.
Jingy

climber
Random Nobody
  Feb 14, 2008 - 10:43pm PT
bluering - True. I hate to say it, but the guy is a pansy. Yes, he does take his title too seriously and should take a chill pill every once in a while. Maybe if he only went after the biggest offenders, maybe then he can redeem himself, but it's going to take a whole hell of a lot of looking the other way and turning the other cheek for me to give him a good name. I've heard too much bad from this guy to ever see him as a real "Park Ranger".

PS - awesome photos. I don't know why but I can look at climbing photos for ever.
LccMonkey

Trad climber
utah
  Feb 14, 2008 - 11:35pm PT

Well lets track down his bosses e-mail adress and fill it up.
pimp daddy wayne

Gym climber
Manchester, VT
  Feb 15, 2008 - 01:22am PT
"you may know you are harmless, but they have to assume you are trying to kill them. its self preservation. they don't know you, nor you them. "

Yeah.........
Patrick Sawyer

climber
Originally California, now Ireland
  Feb 15, 2008 - 06:43am PT
The dude cuffs a guy for having a bicycle on a trail. Man, that is tight.
Lost Arrow

Trad climber
The North Ridge of the San Fernando
  Feb 15, 2008 - 10:04am PT
People that become LEO have mental health issues. That's just my observation. They get off on the power trip.

Lost
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Feb 15, 2008 - 11:30am PT
WTF happend to Majid's Summit/Castle Rock thread? Anyway, I'll probably go up there again and say Hi to my buddy Miles. Anybody else going this weekend? I'm still not sure whether it'll be Castle or Summit though.
cleo

Social climber
wherever you go, there you are
  Feb 15, 2008 - 12:19pm PT
Did I write a letter of complaint? No, I should have, and thought about it for a while. Why not, you ask? Well, it seems that the ranger-abuse at CRSP is well, well documented and known, for one, and for two, I really wanted to write a commendation letter for the two really awesome LEOs (in 2 separate incidents) that we met at BBSP along with the complaint letter at CRSP, but of course, I didn't have the names of those officers. I suppose I could try harder to find, or guess at their names (both were female, incidently). It just seems more legit and believable to send in compliments with complaints.
cleo

Social climber
wherever you go, there you are
  Feb 15, 2008 - 12:27pm PT
Have a chat w/ J. Rule too, fattrad.
Bruce Morris

Trad climber
Soulsbyville, California
  Feb 15, 2008 - 01:32pm PT
The whole problem is that State Parks, in particular the administration at CRSP, is definitely anti-climber and anti-climbing. Miles attitude is just a reflection of the attitude of the higher ups. And, of course, they aren't getting sufficient funding from the State. In fact, there have been nothing but lay-offs up there for the past 20 years, which means that Miles is it, the only law on the Skyline, except for one CHP patrol a day. After dark, Miles is the man with big iron on his hip. When Planet Granite tried to run outdoor classes at Castle, State Parks tied them up with so many regulations that they ultimately abandoned the program. The whole place is basically anti-climber, but since they make their money off climbers, they're caught in a Catch 22 situation. Miles is easy to get along with if you always defer to his authority while being calm and polite.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
  Feb 15, 2008 - 01:47pm PT
With great respect Bruce that is not good enough.

He should know which side of the bread has the butter.




Still, all the complaints I read here are nothing compared to my little forced bivy/Grade V at the Clark County Correctional Center after being busted climbing in Valley of Fire.
Torture, hog-tying, beating, and the coup de grace, a kick to the head while I was on the ground.


But I sued them successfully for violating my civil rights under color of authority.



Thats how it is done folks.

(or just whine on the internet)
rhyang

climber
SJC
  Feb 15, 2008 - 02:10pm PT
But is it not the case that other crags on Skyline are under different jurisdiction: Indian Rock and Summit Rock are inside Sanborn-Skyline county park (Santa Clara county parks) and Skyline Slabs (such as it is) is inside the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Once during a summer weekday I and my partner did get out kind of late from Summit Rock and one of the rangers advised us that he was about to write us a ticket. He was pretty cool.

It's also interesting to note that Castle Rock SP is technically inside Santa Cruz county ..
Bruce Morris

Trad climber
Soulsbyville, California
  Feb 16, 2008 - 01:42am PT
The Sanborn-Skyline County Park rangers are much more pro-climber than the authorities at Castle Rock State Park. Might be nice if they busted the night time bottle-breakers at Summit Rock though. Aquarian Valley, Devil's Canyon and Skyline Slabs are all under the MROSD, who, again, are very anti-climber. However, a working agreement was reached with them back in 1996 that allowed people to climb in those areas as long as they didn't add any new bolts. In return, the MROSD left all the old climbs in place without stripping them of bolts and hangers (which they had done in 1995 on the Betty, Green Room and some other new developments).

Definitely a patch work of authorities up along Skyline Boulevard(CA 35. Plus, you've got to factor in the local landowners, many of whom don't like Castle Rock's popularity with the climbing public.
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Apr 3, 2008 - 03:53pm PT
Anybody wanna climb on Skyline this weekend? My regular partners have been busy lately.

Hell, I'd even settle for a bouldering partner, although I don't own a crashpad.
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Apr 3, 2008 - 06:18pm PT
bump for a Skyline partner this weekend.
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Apr 4, 2008 - 01:04pm PT
last bump for a partner this weekend. Anybody? I'll lead! I'll bring the beer too!
MZiebell

Social climber
Prescott, AZ
  Apr 4, 2008 - 01:06pm PT
Maybe I missed it: did anyone find his supervisor's name and phone number?
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Apr 4, 2008 - 05:46pm PT
Seriously now, last bump for a freakin' partner this weekend!!!

I'm actually trying to talk one of our engineers into going, but he ain't got gear, so....
murcy

Gym climber
sanfrancisco
  Apr 4, 2008 - 10:13pm PT
bluering! gimme an email or a call if you have my #.
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Apr 5, 2008 - 12:30am PT
Hey murcy, gimme a call tomorrow at 8am or later, I'll be gone by 11am

408-261-1366

this post will self destruct after confimation, I can climb sat and sunday. Call....
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Apr 5, 2008 - 01:53am PT
dude, just go to the valley

that's what we're doing.



look for the white painter pants

ciao,
M
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Feb 25, 2009 - 12:03pm PT
bump for lotsa Bay Area pics...(and Miles Standish pics)
ohhyesss

Boulder climber
San Jose, California
  Feb 25, 2009 - 02:07pm PT
This is absolutely hilarious, I hope he reads all these responses!! And for the record i have had my Miles encounters too. All I have to say is Karmas a b!tch Miles!!! I love the pics posted of him. This is supertopo at its finest
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Jul 10, 2009 - 08:14pm PT
Hey anybody else going up there tomorrow?

Kev is bailing to the Shuteye and my other partner wants to go late Sunday.

Me, I was stoked on going tomorrow.
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
  Jul 10, 2009 - 08:25pm PT
i got a 5 dollar rei generic harness from 1970, but it works...

you know, the one in the mesh bag?

looks like a frikin dive shop bag or somthin.

i mean your goin,'oh, there's my sherwood reg, cool," then its just a harness, wtf?

at least i don't just sit there on the rock, making clicking noises with my tongue, like this guy on indian last week, i walk around the whole rock, and he is still therer, same spot, making that clicking noise, like that was gonna help him up.
i mean, fire or retire, right? wtf?
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Jul 10, 2009 - 08:34pm PT
Looks like I got a partner, you should show up too, Dr., I'll belay yer ass up!

Do it! Waterfall Wall area, er, Castle Rock Falls...


at least i don't just sit there on the rock, making clicking noises with my tongue, like this guy on indian last week

Was he Saharan African, I hear they communicate that way?
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
  Jul 10, 2009 - 08:36pm PT
im there.

which place and what time?

i'm not a poser, we just seem neve5r to be on the same ticket.

this happens.

hey, got my weight down to 160.
6 feet, and 160 = dyno city!
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Jul 10, 2009 - 08:39pm PT
We should be at the Castle Rock Falls observation platform around 10;30/11am or so, we usually rappel in but it depends on the routes. Maybe we'll meet at the platform and decide what to do.
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
  Jul 10, 2009 - 08:56pm PT
cool beans!

i love the stuff u>-p the hill, the muffins rock.

thet would be rock and roll, a muffin and a rock, kind of like the foghat album?

fatrad, i am low on hippy lettuce, sorry, i won't have anything to share with you, ol buddy, ol guy, my friend, with a badge, who i never said a bad word about, in my whole life.

heck, i gave to the fireman's fund last week, ok?jeez, i could be walking into a sting op.

ok, it took me ten years to figure this album cover out, doh!
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Jul 10, 2009 - 09:38pm PT
see you there, if we're not at the observation platform at 10;30-11am, if you're late, we'll be working stuff on the far climbers right...near le Muffins...

We'l hang at the platform and pound a beer though...


And yeah, Foghat is Badass!!!!!!
Wack

climber
Dazevue
  Jul 10, 2009 - 10:01pm PT
An old cowboy had a great expression for Rangers like MS. He called them "Assbarkers", they bend you over, chew the hair off your ass, then bark at the hole. We shortened the phrase to Barker and bark to signal when one is near.

BITD we were shoeing up near the Bates Eliminator with some other climbers when my buddy barked softly. I looked around but saw no Barker and was about to offer to share my "lunch" with the other climbers. My buddy barked again so I just walked away. Turns out MS was undercover disguised as a climber and I didn't recognize him.

i heard a rumour he retired earlier this year, hope it's true.
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
  Jul 10, 2009 - 10:02pm PT
roger, 79 in Boulder Creek tomorrow, winds- 3mph n-nw
barometric press-29.98 and movin
particulate matter-heavy
runway takan 29 Right
elevation 2949 ft +sl
clear for blast off...
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Jul 10, 2009 - 10:23pm PT
Roger that, Dr., see you there.

Wack, I know what the tools look like up there. Even had one put his hand on his service pistol once when I talked him. As if he feared me...it was weak, he was a junior ranger.

I know Miles too....
Captain...or Skully

climber
Boise, ID
  Jul 10, 2009 - 10:24pm PT
I dunno, man.
You're kinda scary. OhOh!
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Jul 10, 2009 - 10:57pm PT
Skully, that's what was weak. I was 6-8 feet away asking him questions about the Devil's Canyon closure and when it would reopen. I was totally non-hostile. And I'm pretty skinny and non-violent looking.

Totally uncalled for.
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
  Jul 10, 2009 - 11:11pm PT
if smiles mandish f*#ks with me, isa gonna beat him over the head with my gitar and rub poison oak on his shrunken sack.

see, certain people get a sack like a bunch of grapes,
have you ever seen the grape that did not develop all the way, kind of half raisin, half grape?
there are usually one or two on every vine.

well, our friend, mr sandfish is apparently the person who has a sack like that.

ok then.

is lawrence welk on tonite?

ah one ah and a two ah...
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
  Jul 10, 2009 - 11:31pm PT
hey ol Blue, you think i'm weird, check out this email i just got from my best friend:

"Ugh- Me get plenty practice on Boatface!- Hey, now you is speakin my language! Why settle for a fishy smellin hole when you can have a hot hard pole? anyway, if You really want to go to Eureka thats fine with me- I can almost garantee you'll get your shlong sucked and if its something you don't want to pursue again that be cool. Let me know what up. its an easy place to find so we could probably meet up there. I'm sure they will both be out at the river working. but if we do get together up there make sure not to spill the beans about Foxy in an inadvertant stoned moment. Leslie fills my need for companionship & intimatcy (sex)- but Foxy fills the warped desire for something twisted beyond the norm. I think that that is really the main attraction- its all just so TWISTED!!!! anyhow talk to Ya later- Modulus"

i mean, wtf, over?

is everybody nuts nowadays?
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Jul 10, 2009 - 11:34pm PT
It's all good, Sprock, everybody gotta 'weird' buddy. Prolly climbs pretty hard though, or fishes, or hunts...whatever. As long as he doesn't go Dahmer's Delight on me, it's cool.

Over...



Alright, I re-read that e-mail...that's f*#ked up, dude! But whatever...
Dapper Dan

Trad climber
Redwood City
  Aug 5, 2011 - 09:54pm PT
Did not get tooled today at CRSP , just some fun climbing at waterfall wall and other crags .

I will be sad when Castle rocks closes down due to budget cuts...
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Author's Reply  Aug 6, 2011 - 09:23am PT
Weird how these are two different threads...

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=534356&msg=1545657#msg1545657
Go
Recent Trip Reports