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General Climbing Discussion

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People and their Cars 8-Jan-2005 At 7:13:48 PM Rock Weasel

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Environmental impact? What a joke! There are many areas (not just at Araps) that could benefit from some enhancement of accessibility. That horrid collection of weeds near Voodoo wall at Araps could surely use a trimming. Arapalies is a climbing area, people go there to CLIMB. If you want to appreciate the many species of natural weed that we have, go to the Grampians. Who goes there to 'bushwalk'? I hate walking up those hills and gullies...The sooner the monorail is installed, the better off we will all be. No more tracks, just air conditioned comfort and that voice over the loud speaker...'Now stopping at Watchtower Faces.'
Mt Arapalies is defined by its use as a climbing area...Hence the odd bolt, the smattering of walking tracks, etc. Why all the concern about the crappy vegetation? There have been too many climbs upon which I have had to remove little piece of shit shrubs to get at the rock...Electra being a good example. I do not support removing every tree form the Arapalies area, but let's remember that it is a climbing area, and that access to the cliffs is important.
Noatably, the people who protest about all manner of Araps related developments (food van, etc.) are all from the same demographic. They all lived through the New Wave era, they all live in Natimuk and consider themselves to have a responsibility to preserve Araps for future generations. So we can all experience living in squalor at the Pines, rather than have access to the good basic amenities that they use every night back at home in Natimuk. Living for weeks on end in a shitty tent...now thats worth preserving. Claw, Carrigan and Louise all had to live in crappy conditions, but that doesnt mean that they preffered to, or that we ought to do the same.
If I had the means, Id start that caravan park accross the road from the pines myself, but alas, I am a pov. I dream of the day when my machette doesnt have to come out of the rack bag, but I doubt that I will be leaving it at home anytime soon. Just check the credentials of those who are protesting about access and the environment...They may just be trying to preserve their own glory days rather than benefiting the climbing community. Oops, they are the climbing community (just ask them!)