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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User
An international bolting debate 23-Jan-2011 At 11:51:35 AM egosan
Message
On 23/01/2011 Musique wrote:
>I always wonder why people chop bolts, When the rock is already damaged.
>I'm sure in the Lama case they weren't craply bolted - and I know it's
>wrong what they did, especially with lots of natural protection - but any
>one else climbing could opt to use the bolts, since the rock is already
>damaged.

The rock has no intrinsic value, no soul, no anima. Damage to the rock is entirely irrelevant to the bolting argument. At least in the eyes of this climber. My arguments against bolting and for chopping on occasion are selfish. Just like the person who bolts a route does so for selfish reasons.

There will be much blah blah blah, I do it for community, I do it for safety's sake, I do it for nature, for the children, for the future. All bullshit.

People bolt and in the same vein chip because they want to climb that route. They want to climb that route in a fashion that they enjoy.

When someone bolts a route that someone else likes to climb without bolts then more argument rages. They may call each other names, they may argue this and that, but in the end, it is all selfish.

They bolter wants bolts and the chopper doesn't.

I like Messiner's treatise on the murder of the impossible (http://upwardtrail.multiply.com/journal/item/1) . I climb the way I do be cause I enjoy it. I get something out of the fear and uncertainty. Bolts reduce that uncertainty. They reduce the commitment I am making by leaving the ground. Even if I don't clip them it, I still could should things get hairy or go wrong. Just their presence effects my experience of the climb.

That is why just don't clip them is a hollow argument, Musique. It does not address my motivation for climbing.

Some share my views. Others don't. In the end it is about what experience people want from climbing. All the other arguments are only empty justifications. Unfortunately these conflicts are resolved with power tools and there are far more willing bolters than willing choppers.

There are 14 replies to this topic.

 

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