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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Grading Systems 28-Apr-2004 At 8:37:26 PM hex-TROLL

Message

On 21/06/2003 Estey wrote:
>This practice of flagging climbs with a"R" or "X" rating has merit. In
>his 1995? Blue Mountains Guide Bede Harrington used a hand symbol to indicate
>a dangerous climb and a skull and crossbones symbol to highlight deathroutes.
>Wade Stevens used the same symbols in his Wolgan Guide (2001?).
>
>One advantage of this is that shorter route descriptions are necessary.
>This allows shorter guides (as in Bede's case) or more space for guidebook
>writer to describe the colourful history of the routes (as in Wade's guide).
>
>
>I think the symbols complement the Ewbank system, particularly when you
>climb in more obscure areas where it may be hard to get beta on certain
>routes.

' The HEX ' spotted this from the mountain-top --- As my good mate Neilmont has implied (in the ' potty-chair ') : maybe the BEST way to retain the ' Australian-ness ' of the grading-system, is simply to have Ewbank number + funky symbol...(+ of course, good quality guide beta,as suggested above...)