Its good that we can muck up the place to spread the word of these perils.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nottheduck/2835277418/sizes/l/

Hey, it's better than spray paint!

VICIOUS!
I wonder if they would have bothered to post the sign if they weren't vicious.

Some impressive sense of community service, that one. do we need to start carrying around cans of Raid again?

Only if they're wasps and not bees. I'd be nice if people learned the distinction, but after hearing wasps referred to as bees for 25 years in the Gunks, I'm not holding my breath.

Hey at least they were nice enough to give us the grade of Layback

Yeah... but I bet on the topo they put it as a 5.7!

There is no doubt that on a real high humidity day with condensation water running down the face left of that start chimney, it can feel every bit of 5.7 until you get to slot that first bomber nut. Now some killer bees go messin' with the experience, too! I might have to bump it even higher now, like a 9! Yeah, that's the ticket. I feel better already.

I didn't post the sign, but I can confirm the presence of the vicious things, at least as of about a month ago. I think they are wasps and not bees. I was stung above the eye. It hurt. A lot. Afterward, my partner said to me, "Oh yeah, I heard last week some guy got stung there multiple times." (Thanks, Jeff!)

The nest is in the ground at the base of a small pine tree on the top of the cliff where both Layback and Inverted Layback top out. Someone had placed a small towel at the base of the tree, which I learned later from my helpful partner was intended to cover the nest. The wasps created a new hole next to the towel, however, and are apparently unhappy.

Time for a gasoline/pyrotechnic cocktail! Tell me a flame shooting up off the top of the Nears wouldn't be exciting. Kidding.
Seriously, with the rains we've gotten recently, the vicious critters (probably Yellow Jackets if they are in the ground) are probably not doing so well, although that spot will certainly drain better than most others. If you stay off the nest and don't emit scary pheramones they should leave you alone.
Again, stinging bees/wasps will stop all other activity to clean off antenae of climbing chalk and give you a solid 60 seconds to get away, if you can douse them. Another reason to use loose chalk instead of sissy chalk balls.