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.

Not that it is exactly environmentally friendly, but gasoline poured down the hole works just fine without lighting it. Best done after dark when all the critters are in the nest and somehwat less active because of the lower temps.

Covering the hole won't do anything, they'll easily make a new one.

I agree with chip that it is probably Yellow Jackets.

Maybe I should head out Thursday night to put similar signs on all the popular climbs I'd like to get on this weekend.

Beware the cougar on High-E...

Tonight would be an ideal time to get 'em. A long shot of bee killer into the hole would work, but wouldn't be as much fun as the big ball of flame. I've usually shied away from such tactics but when we start getting stung just hanging around the yard at home, well, they asked for it. A good precaution is to get pretty well covered in heavy clothing first. You never know if junior and a couple of his buddies are out late and getting all pumped up about themselves.

She's gone, saw her walking out with a boulderer.

Nice!

gasoline or an M-80.
ka-BLEWY.

Now That's what I'm talkin 'bout.

Is this for real, or should I call Mythbusters to test this one out?

From what I understood, the guy wasn't just stung a few times...it was more along the order of about 30 times. Of course that is 3rd hand information....but that does constitute a pretty out of the ordinary situation, and a sign is justifiable in that case. No different than some do gooder climber putting a chalk X ona loose flake to warn others.

RR

That trick has saved my ass a few times. I've even used it to climb by two huge wasp nests back in the day when they owned the gunks.

Wasps or Yellow Jacket (can't tell the difference by sight, other than unlike bees, they can each sting multiple times) have invaded my backyard under a rock this summer and three cans of wasp insectide later, I think they are now officially dead. Meanwhile, my dog, who has been their main target for attack, will NOT go out anymore, unless forced too, and that is becoming a problem... he is totally traumatized. Don't laugh... it is a sad sight.

They are pretty darn resilient - and whatever anyone intends to do, I would do it after dark, once they are all in and dormant, and shy away from gasoline, as it is a climbing area afterall...

Maybe we should just pour in some crude oil since it is more natural.

If you mean those spray cans used for paper wasp nests, these are pretty ineffective on Yellow Jacket nests in the ground. The best things are powders you squirt in the openings at night, which will blow sideways through the underground passages and which will be further distributed by the insects themselves.

Have a look at

http://www.pestproducts.com/yellow_jacket_elimination.htm

Same thing could be done at the top of Layback. But the public-spirited individual who takes on this task would first have to walk up there during the day and observe the workers flying in and out of the nest openings, which in some cases can be small and hidden by rocks or leaves. The nest openings would then have to be marked so they could be found at night.

As usual, RG presents the rational approach. Still, I feel the fun of the adventure is lessened for the lack of potential explosive carnage.

Great. Just what you want – really pissed off yellow jackets and yellow jacket parts traveling at high velocity along random vectors.

Well, if its adventure you're after, go up there at noon in a bathing suit armed with a flyswatter and jump up and down at the top of Layback.

Explosives are so direct aid.

Maybe two flyswatters.

I'll get the Jackass guys on the case ASAP.

You mean the authors of the new Trapps guide? Cool!