After a full on day climbing on sat my friend Jim and I thought we would go to a resonablly accessable crag and have a couple of easier climbs on sun.  Well, we werent the only ones there, no surprise there. That didnt so much bother us, but, as i was doing my first trad gear lead more people turned up.  ??? By the time i had finished my lead, got Jim up the route & abseiled down, we found our bags being used as a pillow and a backrest.  Needless to say we packed up quickly and were outta there.  As we are upacking the gear we found we are missing a few nuts & carabiners, not impressed, where have crag ethics gone, if its not your gear, leave it well alone!!

That's terrible!! I think gear thieves are like modern day horse thieves these days - really low!

I too hope that maybe it was misplaced. We climbers have to stick together.

On a good note -- Huge Congratulations on your first trad lead! That part can't be sullied by possible gear theft

Hooray!!!

You should post some pics in the Gallery about your climbs for inspiration for us all

No way, if someone wants to swear that's their perogative, they have every right to as you do not to.

I'm a swearer myself, I find that I only do it when I'm trying really hard to do a particular move and I've either made a silly mistake or I'm just not 'in the zone' on the day.  A quick yell of a swear word releases, quickly, the pent up anger or the silly frustration and then I'm over it again.

You really are best to let it go over your head, even laugh at it.  I always laugh at fellow climbers who are swearing their heads off.